Hollywood actor Val Kilmer has passed away at age 65, according to a New York Times report.
Daughter Mercedes Kilmer confirmed he died on April 1st in Los Angeles, the cause of death being pneumonia.
Kilmer gained success, after his Julliard training, when he starred as Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky in 1986’s Top Gun.
With his career spanning over four decades, he was well known for playing 'The Doors' front man Jim Morrison, in the 1991 documentary of the rockstar's iconic career. After this, he played Batman in ‘Batman Forever’ in 1995.
His starring roles then began to dwindle in the late 2000s, but still appeared as a FBI agent in ‘Thunderheart’ and as a title character in ‘The Saint’.
In 2012, he spoke to ‘Hollywood Reporter’ about his absence from mainstream Hollywood.
He acknowledged the unusual career he had, noting that he preferred to hang out with his kids.
In 2021, a documentary ‘Val’ came out, based on decades of archival footage from his life. It showcases the battle he had in 2014 with throat cancer, leaving him nearly voiceless. He underwent both radiography and chemotherapy for the cancer, alongside a tracheostomy, where a hole was made in his neck to help him breathe.
Speaking to NY times, Mercedes said he had since recovered from the cancer.
The doco also highlighted a behind-the-scenes view of his life away from the film set, including the childhood death of his brother, who passed away at age 15, as well as his marriage to Joanne Whalley and his children.
Said children were associate producers, and his son Jack was the narrator.
Rest in peace Val.
