The iconic actor Val Kilmer, best known for roles such as Jim Morrison in 1991’s The Doors and “Ice” (Adm. Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky), in 1986’s Top Gun, has died at the age of 65 according to his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, who told The New York he died of pneumonia on Tuesday, April 1, 2025. This follows a decade of medical issues for Kilmer. The actor’s final film fittingly found him reprising his role as ‘Iceman’ in Top Gun: Maverick, though the actor would continue to be involved in the arts with his painting. His final Facebook post, on March 22, 2025, included his last painting. He wrote, “It’s got that late-night glow. Cool tones with a low burn, like when the camp fire cools down but you’re still wide awake.” Rest in peace, sir.

There has been plenty of speculation over Kilmer’s health ever since 2015, when rumors spread of an illness and tumors. He released a statement on his Facebook page then, writing,

“Thank you for all your sweet support. But I have not had a tumor, or a tumor operations, or any operation. I had a complication where the best way to receive care was to stay under the watchful eye of the ucla ICU. Friends have assisted who know my spiritual convictions and have been most sensitive and kind for the extra effort in making sure there’s minimum gossip and silly talk. I am praying for a speedy return to the boards as they say. God bless you all and please don’t worry. Love and deep affection, Val.”

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In 2017, he confirmed that he had throat cancer and had undergone chemotherapy and an operation on his trachea, which resulted in him needing to use an electric voice box to speak. Kilmer continued to deal with health issues, stating that he needed a feeding tube in 2020. Instead of letting the news and gossip columnists define his life, Kilmer took his story into his own hands with a brilliant documentary named Val. While the film features invaluable footage of the actor (mostly shot by himself since childhood), it also features his own narration of his life, written by Val Kilmer but read by his son, Jack. It was an unflinching and intimate look at Kilmer’s life and his medical problems, and remains the most important document about the actor. It’s available on Prime Video.

The Great Movies of Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer is one of those talents where you can’t just point to a couple of works, where you don’t need to prompt anyone’s memory. He has been a cinematic icon and has worked with some of the great directors. This is the kind of actor who turned down a role in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Outsiders at the beginning of his career because he had prior commitments (although it was for a play with Kevin Bacon, Sean Penn, and Jackie Earle Haley, so we get it). He turned down Blue Velvet, too.

Kilmer actually published a book of poetry before his first film, which shows Kilmer in a way we don’t usually see him — slapstick comedy. That first film, the underrated Top Secret!, is another hilarious picture from Zucker, Abrahams, and Zuker (Airplane, Hot Shots). Kilmer was quickly thrust into stardom with Top Gun, a massive hit that has remained in the cultural zeitgeist ever since. From there, Kilmer starred in classics like Willow, The Doors, Thunderheart, True Romance, Tombstone, and the masterpiece Heat. Of course, he became one of very few actors to portray the Caped Crusader, Batman himself; he starred in the hit 1995 movie, Batman Forever. Roger Ebert even wrote, “Val Kilmer is a completely acceptable substitute for Michael Keaton in the title role.”

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Kilmer only made that one Batman film, quickly moving on to 1996’s infamous The Island of Dr. Moreau (in which he actually gives a pretty great performance), the underrated Michael Douglas movie The Ghost and the Darkness, and the memorable action thriller, The Saint.

The 21st century was more difficult for Kilmer, with the actor making many good films that few people remember today, such as The Salton Sea, The Missing, and Twixt. He also starred in some box office bombs, such as The Red Planet, and began making direct-to-video action movies, the late-career fate of many big-time ’80s actors. Nonetheless, Kilmer still gave all-time memorable performance in what are two great films, the phenomenal David Mamet thriller Spartan and Shane Black’s delightful crime comedy, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. So if you’re looking to revisit some of Kilmer’s best movies, don’t forget those two.