Val Kilmer, a veteran actor known for his roles as Jim Morrison and Batman, has died on Tuesday, his family confirmed to the New York Times. He was 65.
His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, said her father died of pneumonia and was surrounded by family and friends. Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 but later recovered.
Kilmer came to fame in the late ‘80s and ‘90s with iconic roles playing Jim Morrison in “The Doors” (1991), Bruce Wayne in “Batman Forever” (1995), Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky” in “Top Gun” (1986), and gunslinger Doc Holliday in “Tombstone” (1993).
Kilmer was born in Los Angeles and attended Chatsworth High School. He was later accepted into The Julliard School’s drama division, becoming the youngest person at the time to do so.
It wasn’t long after that he became a working actor with an off-Broadway role in the “Slab Boys,” opposite two other relatively unknown actors at the time, Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon.
His big break came when he starred in the 1984 comedy film, “Top Secret!” His role as Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky” in 1986’s “Top Gun” propelled him to superstardom and established him as a bonafide Hollywood leading man.
Even though Kilmer developed a reputation in Hollywood as being highly selective and prone to taking on roles that would challenge him, he still amassed over 100 film credits to his name.
In 2014, he was diagnosed with throat cancer and even though he used the assistance of a voice box, he boldly reprised his role as Iceman Kazansky in 2022’s “Top Gun Maverick.”
He is survived by his son, Jack, his daughter Mercedes, and his family and friends.