Val Kilmer, Star of Batman and The Doors, Dies at 65 After Long Health Battle
Val Kilmer, star of Batman, Top Gun, and The Doors, dies at 65 after a long cancer battle. Here's a look at his legacy, final message
Agyeman Joshua
Wednesday, April 2, 2025
Val Kilmer, star of Batman, Top Gun, and The Doors, dies at 65 after a long cancer battle
Veteran Hollywood actor Val Kilmer has passed away at age 65, leaving behind a powerful legacy of films, stage work, and personal strength. The actor died peacefully after a long and difficult battle with throat cancer, according to his family. Kilmer had been open in recent years about his health struggles, including the loss of his voice and multiple surgeries.
Val Kilmer became famous for playing strong and mysterious characters. In 1991, he played singer Jim Morrison in The Doors, a role that brought him international praise. Just a few years later, he wore the cape as Batman in Batman Forever (1995), one of the most-watched films of that decade.
He also starred in Top Gun (as Iceman), Heat (with Al Pacino and Robert De Niro), and Tombstone (as Doc Holliday). His ability to bring life to complex characters made him one of Hollywood’s most respected actors in the 1990s and early 2000s.
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"My voice is still inside me"
After being diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015, Kilmer underwent treatments that greatly changed his ability to speak. However, he continued to act and inspire. His recent appearance in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), where he reunited with Tom Cruise, was deeply emotional for fans.
Despite losing his natural voice, Kilmer once said:
“My voice is still inside me. I just use other ways to share it now.”
He used technology and his writing to communicate, even publishing a memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry, where he shared his joys, regrets, and views on life.
Final message to fans
Just hours before his death, Kilmer posted what fans now believe to be a final goodbye on Instagram:
“Love is the only thing that matters. Thank you for walking this road with me.”
Thousands of fans have already begun sharing tributes online. One fan wrote, “Val Kilmer gave us so many unforgettable moments. Rest easy, legend.”
Remembering the legend
Kilmer’s work touched audiences around the world. In Africa, films like Batman Forever and The Saint played on late-night screens, creating childhood memories for many. He may have been a Hollywood star, but his impact was global.
He is survived by his two children, Mercedes and Jack.
Val Kilmer will be remembered as a brave actor who gave everything to his art, even when life became painful. His roles, his words, and his spirit will live on.
