NEW YORK - The renowned American actor Val Kilmer, initially thrust into stardom through his role in "Top Gun," later taking center stage as both Batman and Jim Morrison, passed away at the age of 65, according to a report from the New York Times on Tuesday.
According to her daughter Mercedes Kilmer, who spoke to the Times, the reason for his demise was pneumonia. She mentioned that he had been identified as having throat cancer back in 2014 but managed to recover from it subsequently.
Initially a theater performer, Kilmer began his cinematic journey with the 1984 spy comedy parody "Top Secret!".
A couple of years afterward, he became well-known for his role as the brash, predominantly mute pilot known as Ice Man in "Top Gun," portraying a competitor to Tom Cruise’s character, Maverick.
An all-round performer with a lengthy career, Kilmer had the opportunity to step into lead roles in movies like Oliver Stone’s “The Doors.” He also portrayed the caped crusader in "Batman Forever," taking over the role from Michael Keaton and preceding George Clooney as Bruce Wayne.
Kilmer was admitted to New York’s renowned Juilliard School at an exceptionally young age and had ambitions to star in significant movies. However, during the early 2000s, he ended up participating in several low-quality blockbusters and costly failures instead.
Disheartened by a string of low-budget films over a period of ten years or so, he aimed for a resurgence in the 2010s with a well-received theatrical production based on Mark Twain’s life, which he planned to adapt into a movie. However, his plans were derailed when he was diagnosed with cancer.
The documentary "Val," which chronicles his meteoric ascent and subsequent decline in Hollywood, depicted him gasping for breath before making its debut at the Cannes Film Festival in 2021.
Kilmer made a return to movie screens in 2021 with a brief appearance as Iceman in "Top Gun: Maverick," the highly anticipated follow-up to the 1986 blockbuster. - AFP