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Val Kilmer, the beloved actor known for roles in Top Gun, Batman Forever, and Tombstone, passed away Tuesday night in Los Angeles at age 65 due to pneumonia, his daughter Mercedes Kilmer confirmed. He was surrounded by family and friends.
Kilmer, who battled throat cancer since 2015, left an indelible mark on Hollywood. Rising to fame as Iceman in Top Gun (1986), he reprised the role in Top Gun: Maverick (2022). He also gained acclaim as Jim Morrison in The Doors (1991) and Doc Holliday in Tombstone (1993), where his line, “I’m your huckleberry,” became legendary.
Tributes poured in following his death. The official Top Gun account honored Kilmer’s lasting cinematic impact, while actor Josh Brolin called him a “smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker.” Director Francis Ford Coppola praised Kilmer as “a joy to know and work with.”
Michael Mann, who directed Heat (1995), where Kilmer starred alongside Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, reflected on Kilmer’s immense talent and resilience.
Despite his health struggles, Kilmer continued working, using AI technology to recreate his voice for Top Gun: Maverick. In his 2020 memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry, he revealed he was initially uninterested in playing Iceman but was surprised to land the role.
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