Passed Away from Pneumonia
at the Age of 65
Actor Val Kilmer, who gained great popularity for his roles in the films ‘Batman Forever’ and ‘Top Gun,’ has passed away at the age of 65.
On the 1st (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported that Kilmer died that day in Los Angeles (LA). The outlet cited the late actor’s daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, stating, “The cause of death was pneumonia.” It is known that he had been battling throat cancer since being diagnosed in 2014.
Kilmer made his feature film debut in 1984 with the movie ‘Top Secret.’ Afterward, he appeared in various films such as ‘The Doors,’ ‘True Romance,’ ‘Thunderheart,’ and ‘The Saint,’ establishing himself as a leading male actor in Hollywood.
In particular, he gained worldwide fame by playing the role of Iceman in director Tony Scott’s 1986 film ‘Top Gun.’ The NYT praised, “Kilmer portrayed the cool and cocky rival to the film’s star, Tom Cruise. Kilmer set a precedent by taking on this role as a co-lead or part of a star ensemble.” He later received great acclaim for his portrayal of Batman/Bruce Wayne in the 1995 film ‘Batman Forever.’
In the 1996 film ‘Heat,’ which marked the first time top stars Robert De Niro and Al Pacino appeared together, Kilmer left a strong impression in the urban shootout scenes.
Despite undergoing surgery and battling throat cancer, Kilmer continued his career with appearances in films such as ‘Soldiers Revenge’ and ‘Black Money.’ In 2022, he reprised his role as Iceman in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ after 36 years, helping to drive the film’s global success. At that time, Tom Cruise praised Kilmer’s moving performance, saying, “I was crying and overwhelmed with emotion,” and “He is truly an outstanding actor.”
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