VAL KILMER, TOP GUN & BATMAN FOREVER ACTOR, DEAD AT 65
Notable character actor and leading man Val Kilmer passed away at the age of 65. Known for many parts, some of Kilmer’s most iconic roles remain his work in 1986's Top Gun and 1995’s Batman Forever as Iceman and The Dark Knight himself, respectively. Although not a Veteran himself, it’s impossible to separate the Los Angeles native from the military community because of his legacy as Maverick’s rival and friend.
RIP Val Kilmer, Top Gun’s Iceman
Val Kilmer’s role in Top Gun was among many other beloved roles his four-decade career would bring to the big screen, television, theatre, and even video games.
Despite overcoming a bout with throat cancer, it has been reported that Kilmer’s passing at 65 comes due to pneumonia, though future findings may provide an official cause of death.
As it stands, Kilmer’s final movie performance is in the sequel to the franchise that would skyrocket him into fame, 2022's Top Gun: Maverick.
Val Kilmer’s Battle With Throat Cancer
Despite trying to keep things low-key for a while, Kilmer would go public in 2017 about his battle with throat cancer.
Sadly, fighting the disease left the character actor with a raspy voice and shortness of breath because of the medical procedure on his trachea Kilmer underwent.
Rumors about his health swirled, sparking thoughts that Kilmer was dealing with a tumor. An issue Kilmer would address on social media to clarify saying, “I have not had a tumor, or a tumor operations, or any operation I had a complication where the best way to receive care was to stay under the watchful eye of the UCLA ICU. I am praying for a speedy return to the boards as they say. God bless you all and please don’t worry.”
Kilmer was later spotted with what many believed to be a tracheostomy tube, adding to the speculation.
Sharing His Story
The man who portrayed legendary frontman Jim Morrison, brought Doc Holliday to life, and voiced the iconic Biblical figure Moses brought a layer of depth and finesse to every story he played a part in.
Ironically, it was his own story that would be the most difficult to portray.
Kilmer’s career had plenty of ups and downs both including and beyond his health struggles. Through his 2021 documentary Val, the Hollywood A-lister showcased his recovery from throat cancer to a standing ovation at Cannes.
“He's such a layered person, there's the childlike playfulness, but then there's also the deep wisdom of somebody who's been on a spiritual path their whole life at the same time. He's a lot of opposites that make him incredibly interesting, and it's kind of why our film is so interesting,” said Mercedes Kilmer, his daughter, in 2021.
Following the death of his brother, Kilmer was accepted into the illustrious Juilliard School’s Drama Group and was the youngest person to ever receive an invitation at the time.
“I had a unique experience because I just lost my little brother a week before I started school. So it was quite an emotional time for me, and in a way, the extremely high standards and the activity of the School I’m sure were good for me, because I was forced to really challenge myself about my very life, you know—what I believe about life and death. For me, it was a great way to progress out of that difficult time, to be thrown into such a great school,” said Kilmer.
Val Kilmer’s Top Gun Role Sparked a Legacy
While Top Secret!, a spy parody movie in the '80s, may have been Kilmer’s breakthrough on the big screen, it was Top Gun that made him a star.
Playing Lt. Tom "Iceman" Kazansky alongside Tom Cruise, the cool, confident, skilled Navy pilot would prove to be Cruise’s character Maverick’s competitive rival.
Winning the coveted Top Gun Trophy at the end of the first film, Kilmer would reprise his role in the sequel. This time as Maverick’s friend and mentor.
There are several other iconic roles, including being among the few who have played Bruce Wayne. However, Top Gun cemented not only his place among Hollywood royalty but also within the military community as an iconic character.
High-flying antics aside, Iceman was a testament to teamwork, sacrificing your own needs for the common good, and coming together even when we don’t see eye-to-eye.
Rest in peace, Val Kilmer, and thank you for all of the iconic movie moments throughout the years.
Related reads:
