There aren’t a lot of movies as iconic as Top Gun, Batman Forever, and The Doors. The stars behind them? Just as unforgettable. So when word broke that Val Kilmer had died at 65, the loss was felt far beyond the screen.
On Tuesday, April 1, the Hollywood icon’s daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, told The New York Times that the cause of death was pneumonia — she also noted he had previously battled throat cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2014.
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The news hit fans hard.
“Such sad news is a huge loss you will be missed Val Kilmer,” one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“RIP to one of the most underrated actors of all time,” another said.
“Thanks for all of Your Great Work Val 💙,” chimed in a third.
Rest In Peace Val Kilmer, an absolute legend. He played some of my favorite characters in some of my favorite movies of all time. Condolences to his family
— Sasha Grey (@SashaGrey) April 2, 2025
But it wasn’t just fans sharing their heartbreak — fellow celebs who knew and worked with Val took to social media too.
“See ya, pal. I’m going to miss you,” Josh Brolin wrote on Instagram. “You were a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker… I hope to see you up there in the heavens when I eventually get there.”
Michael Mann, who directed Kilmer in Heat, shared, “I always marveled at the range, the brilliant variability within the powerful current of Val’s character… After so many years of Val battling disease and maintaining his spirit, this is tremendously sad news.”
“RIP Val Kilmer. Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood,” Josh Gad posted. “You truly were an icon.”
Val’s final on-screen moment came in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, where he reunited with costar Tom Cruise. “That was pretty emotional,” Cruise, 62, told Jimmy Kimmel in February 2023. “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.”
In addition to Mercedes, 33, Val is survived by his son Jack, 29. The actor shares both children with ex-wife Joanne Whalley, whom he was married to from 1988 to 1996 after meeting on the set of Willow.
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