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Saturday Night Live pays tribute to Val Kilmer after shock death at age 65 Have YOU got a story? Email [email protected] By ASHLEIGH GRAY FOR DAILYMAIL.COM Published: 21:46 EDT, 6 April 2025 | Updated: 21:47 EDT, 6 April 2025 e-mail View comments Val Kilmer was remembered on the latest episode of Saturday Night Live , days after he died at age 65 .
The iconic actor succumbed to pneumonia last week after previously being diagnosed with — and overcoming — throat cancer . His 33-year-old daughter Mercedes confirmed his death to the New York Times on Tuesday. SNL , hosted by Jack Black with musical guest Elton John , paid tribute to Kilmer with a card displayed onscreen at the end of the April 5 show.
Nearly 25 years ago he hosted the December 9, 2000 episode of the beloved sketch show. In a statement obtained by People , Val's two children, Mercedes and son Jack, 29, expressed their gratitude to those honoring their 'extraordinary father's memory.' Val Kilmer was remembered on the latest episode of Saturday Night Live, days after he died at age 65; pictured July 2019 SNL paid tribute to Kilmer with a card displayed onscreen at the end of the April 5 show 'We are so proud of him and honored to see his legacy celebrated,' the actor's kids, whom he shared with ex Joanne Whalley, said.
'At this time, we would like to grieve privately.' The revered Hollywood vet was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and underwent a tracheotomy, which significantly impacted his ability to speak . He was later declared cancer-free.
Read More Val Kilmer's Top Gun co-star breaks silence on his death after Tom Cruise's emotional tribute Former Saturday Night Live writer and comedian Will Forte penned an essay in tribute to Val last week. Published in Vulture , the 54-year-old star revealed that he introduced Val to reality television, and they tried to become competitors on the CBS series The Amazing Race. Forte wrote, 'I used to watch The Amazing Race, and he came back home at some point when I was watching it and was like, "What are you watching that garbage for? Come on, that stuff’s going to rot your mind.
" 'I said, "It’s pretty good. You should sit down and watch it. Give it a try before you s**t on it.
' The anecdote continued, 'So he sat down and he started watching it, and he got really into it. Then, at a certain point, he said, "Will, you and I have to go do The Amazing Race. We have to.
Let’s do The Amazing Race." I’m like, "I am so fully in."' But the plan never came to fruition, as Forte shared, 'We got really excited about it, and then we called our respective agents and managers, and they were like, "There’s no way you guys are doing that.
"' The iconic actor succumbed to pneumonia last week after previously being diagnosed with -and overcoming - throat cancer. His 33-year-old daughter Mercedes (pictured with Val in 2019) confirmed his death to the New York Times on Tuesday One of Kilmer's most recognizable roles was Iceman in the 1986 hit movie Top Gun; pictured with Tom Cruise Kilmer pictured in Los Angeles in 1995 One of Kilmer's most recognizable roles was Iceman in the 1986 hit movie Top Gun. Despite his permanently damaged voice, he made a brief return to the screen in 2022's Top Gun: Maverick, reprising his role opposite Tom Cruise .
It was his last big screen appearance. The Los Angeles native also famously played musician Jim Morrison in the 1991 film The Doors. He went on to star as Batman/Bruce Wayne in the 1995 film Batman Forever.
Val's tracheostomy permanently damaged his vocal cords, altering his speaking voice for the remainder of his life. He reported in 2020 that he had been cancer-free for four years. Saturday Night Live Elton John The Amazing Race Share or comment on this article: Saturday Night Live pays tribute to Val Kilmer after shock death at age 65 e-mail Add comment Comments 0 Share what you think No comments have so far been submitted.
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