1 day Ago By [email protected] (Bradley Jolly)
Hollywood bad boy Val Kilmer - famed for playing fan favorite Iceman in Top Gun - has died aged 65. The versatile actor became one of the prominent leading men in Hollywood in the 1990s after Top Gun's huge success. His career of ups and downs spanned four decades, even continuing during a journey with throat cancer .
His portrayal of Jim Morrison in The Doors in 1991 was widely praised but a series of flops at the end of decade sent Kilmer's career spiralling. But despite several spats with directors and co-stars, who had accused Kilmer of "being demanding," the actor showed his versatility and poise with roles in black comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and thriller Paydirt in later years, the latter alongside his daughter Mercedes. His final film role, perhaps fittingly, was in Top Gun: Maverick, reprising his take on Iceman and sending his career full circle.
It went onto win several awards, although missed out on BAFTAs and Golden Globes. In 1988, Kilmer, from Los Angeles, married British Joanne Whalley with whom he had two children. They divorced in 1996, after which Kilmer had relationships with various other high-profile actresses, included singer Cher and model Cindy Crawford.
During his cancer journey, the actor had an Amazon Prime documentary, called Val, in which he said he had to have meals through a feeding tube . In the 2021 programme, the star added: "You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat. It's an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me.
" Famous roles Val will be known to fans for two huge roles - Batman in 1995’s Batman Forever and in the Top Gun movies, where he played Iceman. His final acting role was a cameo in the 2022 blockbuster sequel Top Gun: Maverick. Speaking in 2022, Tom Cruise - who also reprised his role for the sequel - said: "I just want to say that was pretty emotional,” Cruise told Jimmy Kimmel in 2023 about the cameo.
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." Iceman was a rival to Tom Cruise's Maverick, and fans of the movie franchise will remember Kilmer’s Top Gun character famously telling Maverick: "You can be my wingman any time." Tributes flood in for Val Kilmer Josh Brolin is one of the stars to lead tributes to Val.
In a message posted online, he wrote: "See ya, pal. I'm going to miss you. You were a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker.
There's not a lot left of those. I hope to see you up there in the heavens when I eventually get there. Until then, amazing memories, lovely thoughts.
" "RIP Val Kilmer. Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood. You truly were an icon," actor Josh Gad shared.
The official Top Gun movie account also paid tribute to Val - who played Iceman in the movie franchise: "Remembering Val Kilmer, whose indelible cinematic mark spanned genres and generations. RIP Iceman." Val Kilmer died of pneumonia, his family confirmed Val Kilmer died on Tuesday aged 65, his family confirmed.
They said his cause of death was pneumonia. He had, though, beaten cancer. The Hollywood legend's daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, revealed her father had recovered from a throat cancer diagnosis, made in 2014.
A year later, he had to be rushed to hospital to treat severe bleeding in his throat. The tumour was the result of oral cancer. Val Kilmer's cause of death as daughter confirms heartbreaking news.
