Val Kilmer, a veteran actor known for his roles as Jim Morrison and Batman, passed away Tuesday. His family was confirmed with the New York Times. He was 65 years old.
His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, said her father had died of pneumonia. Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, but later recovered.
Kilmer gained fame in the late ’80s and ’90s with his iconic role as Jim Morrison in Doors (1991), Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever (1995), Tom “Iceman” Kazanski in Top Gun (1986), and Gunslinger Dock Holiday in ‘1993’.
Kilmer was born in Los Angeles and attended Chatsworth High School. He was later accepted into the Juilliard School drama division and became the youngest person at the time.
He then became a working actor with an off-Broadway role in “Slab Boys.” At the time, he was on the other two relatively unknown actors, Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon.
His big break came when he appeared in the 1984 comedy film Top Secret! His role as Tom during Tom “Iceman” Kazanski in 1986’s “Top Gun” drove him to Superstarm and established him as a genuine Hollywood main man.
American actors Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise are on the set of Top Gun, directed by Tony Scott. (Photo by Paramount Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images) Las Vegas, Nevada February 12: Val Kilmer Films kills me again at a Las Vegas casino. Two gentlemen from Verona at Eli and Eddie’s broadstage held in Santa Monica, California on September 25th, 2013. (Photo by Jason Laveris/Filmmagic) Film “The Doors”, 1991 Scene Val Kilmer (Carolco/Getty Images) Toronto, September 12: Actor Val Kilmer will speak at the “Twixt” press conference at the “Twixt” press conference at the Tiff Bell Lightbox on September 12, 2011 at the Tiff Bell Lightbox. (Photo by George Pimental/Wiremage) Actor Val Kilmer will visit the United Nations headquarters in New York City, New York to promote 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS) initiatives on July 20, 2019 (Europanewswire/Gado/Getty Images)
Kilmer developed a reputation for being extremely selective in Hollywood and tending to take on roles that challenge him, but he still garnered over 100 film credits for his name.
In 2014 he was diagnosed with throat cancer and boldly recreated his role as Iceman Kazansky in 2022’s “Top Gammaverick” despite using voicebox aid.
He was survived by his son Jack, his daughter Mercedes, and his family and friends.
Source link
