Val Kilmer, who featured in a string of high-profile films such as Batman and The Doors before abruptly disappearing from the silver screen, died on Tuesday at the age of 65.
His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed the actor’s death to the New York Times, adding the cause was pneumonia. She said Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and later recovered.
In 2021, Kilmer reflected on his career and cancer diagnosis in the documentary, Val, which featured a trove of video the actor shot throughout his life, from home movies made with his brothers to footage he amassed while making blockbusters like Top Gun, The Doors, and Batman Forever.
As one of Hollywood’s most misunderstood stars, the doc offered a glimpse of Kilmer’s childhood in Chadworth, California, where he and his two brothers grew up making their lo-fi versions of blockbusters. It also followed his journey as the youngest kid accepted to Julliard, and sees him ambivalent when talking about landing the role in the “warmongering” Top Gun.
“I spent decades finding my voice,” Kilmer said in the film, “through characters, though movies.” At the very end, there’s footage of the actor using a voice box to speak, saying, “I’ve tried to see the world as one piece of life.”
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From Rolling Stone US
