1 week Ago By Alexandra Snow, Scarlett O'Toole
Val Kilmer's cause of death at the age of 65 has been confirmed. The iconic actor , who shot to fame in Top Gun as Iceman alongside Tom Cruise's Maverick, sadly died earlier this month . He left behind a legacy of memorable roles including his portrayal of Batman in Batman Forever (1995) and his acclaimed performance as Jim Morrison in The Doors (1991).
His final performance was a stirring return as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick in 2022. Off-screen, Val bravely fought throat cancer after being diagnosed in 2014. After enduring a series of treatments like radiotherapy, chemotherapy and a tracheotomy that unfortunately damaged his vocal cords, Kilmer faced a poignant choice that led to a dependency on a feeding tube .
His daughter Mercedes revealed that her father died from pneumonia when she announced his death. His death certificate has now been released, which notes additional contributing factors including "acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, chronic respiratory failure, and squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue." Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) is a variant of skin cancer originating from the squamous cells within the skin, causing abnormal cell growth and changes in the skin's appearance.
Typically, SCCs grow slowly, often remaining localized to the surface epidermal layer. In 2020, Val shared the news that he had beaten cancer and been in remission for four years. His death was not due to cancer, but rather complications like malnutrition and a tracheocutaneous fistula, an uncommon condition following the removal of a tracheostomy tube.
Following the star's death, Val’s family expressed their profound loss through a touching tribute in People magazine. Val's children, Mercedes and Jack, penned, "We are so proud of him and honoured to see his legacy celebrated. At this time, we would like to grieve privately.
" Meanwhile, Val's Top Gun co-star Tom Cruise offered a poignant eulogy at CinemaCon at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. He conveyed his sentiments saying, "I'd like to honor a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer. I can't tell you how much I admire his work, how grateful and honored I was when he joined Top Gun and came back later for Top Gun: Maverick.
" The Mission Impossible protagonist added, "I think it would be really nice if we could have a moment together because he loved movies and he gave a lot to all of us. Just kind of think about all the wonderful times that we had with him. I wish you well on the next journey.
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