Today we remember actor Val Kilmer, who passed away at the age of 65.
Image: Val Kilmer / Georges Biard, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Kilmer was born on December 31, 1959 in Los Angeles, California to Gladys Ekstadt and Eugene Dorris Kilmer. He studied at the prestigious Juilliard School, where he was the youngest student at the time to be accepted in the school’s drama division.
In 1984, Kilmer made his film debut in the spy spoof Top Secret!, in which he played a rock and roll star. Over the course of his career, Kilmer gained a reputation for being an intense actor, often immersing himself fully into his roles. He starred in many memorable films across a variety of genres, including Top Gun, Tombstone, and The Doors. Kilmer even had a turn as Batman in the 1995 film Batman Forever.
In 2014, he was diagnosed with throat cancer and subsequently, underwent two tracheotomies. The 2021 documentary Val showcased his battle with cancer and gave a behind-the-scenes view of his life and career. Kilmer made his final appearance on screen in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, briefly reprising his role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky.
Kilmer died of pneumonia on April 1, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
RIP Val Kilmer.
View Val Kilmer’s Geni Profile
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Source: Geni.com