1 week Ago By Alistair McGeorge
Val Kilmer died on April 1 aged 65 (Picture: Getty Images)Val Kilmer’s cause of death has been revealed after he died last week aged 65.The Top Gun legend, who was previously diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015, had been struggling with his health over the last few years of his life.Now, it’s been confirmed in a death certificate from the Los Angeles County Department of Health that he died from pneumonia.
The document, which was shared by TMZ, lists other underlying causes including acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, chronic respiratory failure and squamous cell carcinoma on the base of the tongue.The document also lists malnutrition and a tracheocutaneous fistula as contributing factors.The Hollywood star was cremated on April 7, days after his death.
The Top Gear star died from pneumonia (Picture: Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock)Kilmer’s daughter Mercedes previously said he had died from pneumonia in a statement to the New York Times.He rose to fame after starring as Iceman in 1986 Tom Cruise action classic Top Gun, and later took on the role of Batman in 1995’s Batman Forever.More recently, in August 2020, Kilmer shared the screen with Mercedes for the first time in Paydirt.
His final acting role was a cameo in the 2022 sequel Top Gun: Maverick, and Cruise admitted it was an ’emotional’ moment.‘I just want to say that was pretty emotional,’ he told Jimmy Kimmel in 2023 about the cameo.Tom Cruise paid tribute to his late co-star (Picture: Paramount/Kobal/Shutterstock)‘I’ve known Val for decades, and for him to come back and play that character.
.. he’s such a powerful actor that he instantly became that character again.
’After his throat cancer diagnosis a decade ago, he underwent both radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as well as a tracheostomy, which damaged his vocal cords.‘I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel,’ Kilmer said in Amazon Prime documentary Val.‘I can’t speak without plugging this hole (in his throat).
You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat.‘It’s an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me.’Got a story?If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.
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