Iconic actor Val Kilmer dies at 65.
By: Quincy Koelliker
Val Kilmer, the actor also known as Iceman in “Top Gun” and Doc Holliday in “Tombstone,” died April 1, 2025, at age 65 due to complications from pneumonia. Kilmer had battled throat cancer for over a decade.
Kilmer was Born Dec. 31, 1959, in Los Angeles and raised in the San Fernando Valley. His father, Eugene Kilmer, was a real estate developer and aerospace equipment distributor, while his mother, Gladys Kilmer, worked in advertising. Kilmer was 17 when he became the youngest student ever admitted to the Juilliard School’s drama program.
Kilmer first appeared on Broadway in 1983 with an appearance in “The Slab Boys.” Kilmer then first appeared in film in the 1984 comedy “Top Secret!”. The film received positive reviews, earning a 76% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a 7.2/10 on IMDb. Kilmer played Nick Rivers, a rock star who travels to East Germany to perform at a music festival, where he falls for Hillary Flammond, portrayed by Lucy Gutteridge.
Kilmer starred in over 65 films throughout his career. He portrayed a variety of characters. He portrayed Batman in “Batman Forever,” Jim Morrison in “The Doors,” and Chris Shiherlis in “Heat”. One of his most memorable characters is his portrayal of stone-cold killer cowboy Doc Holliday in “Tombstone.”
Kilmer once again played Tom “Iceman” Kanzansky in “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022) decades after the production of the original “Top Gun” (1986).
He worked with some of the biggest names in the film industry during his career, including Tom Cruise, Jim Carrey, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Kurt Russell, Sam Elliott, Denzel Washington, and Nicole Kidman.
Kilmer married actress Joanne Whalley In 1988 after meeting her on the set of “Willow”. They had two children: a daughter, Mercedes, born in 1991, and a son, Jack, born in 1995. The couple divorced in 1996.
In 2014, Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer. He underwent many treatments including chemotherapy, radiation, and a tracheotomy. He announced in 2017 that he was cancer-free but continued to face health complications in the years after.
Val Kilmer’s legacy lives on through the iconic characters he brought to life and the impact he made on generations of viewers.
