FILE PHOTO: Actor Val Kilmer attends the Los Angeles premiere of Warner Brothers pictures' "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" at the Grauman's Chinese theatre in Hollywood on October 18, 2005. REUTERS/Mario Anzuoni/File Photo
Legendary actor Val Kilmer passed away yesterday. His daughter, Mercedes, told the “New York Times” that he died of pneumonia. He was 65.
Val started out as a stage actor in the early ’80s, and then became a star in Hollywood after landing early roles in the comedies “Top Secret!” and “Real Genius” . . . followed by “Top Gun”, where he played “Iceman” Tom Kazansky, and “Willow”, where he was Madmartigan.
He got even bigger in the ’90s, playing Jim Morrison in “The Doors” . . . and Batman in “Batman Forever”. (There are plenty of people who would say that Val was their FAVORITE Batman.)
His other credits include: “Tombstone”, “True Romance”, “Heat”, “The Ghost and the Darkness”, “The Saint”, “Alexander”, and ” Kiss Kiss Bang Bang”.
Fittingly, his final role was returning to play “Iceman” again in “Top Gun: Maverick” back in 2022.
Oh, and do you remember this: Val provided the voice of KITT in the “Knight Rider” sequel series that aired in 2008 and 2009. It only lasted one season.
Speaking of his voice . . .
In 2014, Val was diagnosed with throat cancer. He had a procedure on his trachea that damaged his vocal cords to the point where he had extreme difficulty speaking . . . and had to use an electric voice box.
He beat it, and was cancer-free for years . . . but unfortunately, he was forced to deal with ongoing medical treatments throughout his later years.
Despite being a huge star, Val stepped away from Hollywood in the 2000s to explore other interests and spend time with his family. In 2012, he said, “I don’t have any regrets. It’s an adage but it’s kind of true: Once you’re a star, you’re always a star . . . it’s just what level?”
Val is survived by his two adult children, Mercedes and Jack, who he had with his ex-wife, actress Joanne Whalley.
(People / New York Times)
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