Val Kilmer Dies: ‘Top Gun,’ ‘Doors’
& ‘Batman Forever’ Star Was 65
Deadline,
by
Tom Tapp
Original Article
Posted By: Dreadnought,
4/2/2025 12:27:55 AM
Val Kilmer, the Juilliard graduate with leading man looks known for taking on roles that went far beyond his appearance, has died. His his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed to the New York Times that the actor had passed away after battling pneumonia. He was 65.
Kilmer’s early films included comedies like Top Secret! (1984) and Real Genius (1985), as well as breakout role as LT Tom “Iceman” Kazansky opposite Tom Cruise in Top Gun (1986). That was followed by the fantasy film Willow (1988). His breakout as a leading man came with his mesmerizing, leather-clad portrayal of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s The Doors.
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Reply 1 - Posted by:
Catherine 4/2/2025 12:37:20 AM (No. 1925117)
Aw. Iceman was one gorgeous hunk of man. He will be missed.
30 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
DanvilleBill 4/2/2025 12:48:17 AM (No. 1925121)
His performance in The Doors was unforgettable.
21 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
LadyHen 4/2/2025 1:15:24 AM (No. 1925122)
He was an amazing actor who is gone from us far too young. A beautiful man in so many ways. God give his soul rest, Many years Iceman. You will be missed.
21 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
kono 4/2/2025 2:09:27 AM (No. 1925132)
Batman, Iceman, Morrison... he was good in a lot of movies. Rest in Peace.
12 people like this.
Billy Clanton: "Why, it's the drunk piano player. You're so drunk, you can't hit nothin'. In fact, you're probably seeing double."
Doc Holliday: "I have two guns, one for each of ya."
RIP, Val, and thanks.
32 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
RuckusTom 4/2/2025 3:45:58 AM (No. 1925138)
Aw man. He should have won an Oscar for Tombstone.
20 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
chumley 4/2/2025 5:01:09 AM (No. 1925147)
His portrayal of Doc Holliday in Tombstone was superior. He absolutely nailed the southern gentleman. Polite but deadly when needed.
22 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
JHHolliday 4/2/2025 6:57:12 AM (No. 1925161)
I loved him in Tombstone. Great lines. A much superior movie than Wyatt Earp although Quaid was great in what to me would be only a mediocre movie without him as Holliday. Quaid was wonderful and was physically more my picture of the gaunt, tubercular Holliday and some of his scenes were terrific. He lost almost fifty pounds to play the role. Neither film was exactly true to the facts but movies are entertainment and not meant to be documentaries. I am an OK Corral nerd and have even traveled to Tombstone to see the gunfight location. The town is fun and interesting and worth a trip if you are in the area. Lots to see and do. Doc was also from Georgia, my home state.
Oddly, I had to undergo a surgical procedure last year and the anesthesiologist was named Clanton. I jokingly asked him if he was related to Ike. He said actually he was but he put me under before I could get any details. RIP, Huckleberry.
17 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
homefry 4/2/2025 7:01:32 AM (No. 1925163)
Doc Holliday in Tombstone. Ahm your huckleberry.
10 people like this.
Reply 10 - Posted by:
udanja99 4/2/2025 7:25:13 AM (No. 1925175)
I must be the outlier here but I loved him in “Willow”. RIP, Madmartigan.
7 people like this.
Reply 11 - Posted by:
Rather Read 4/2/2025 7:54:27 AM (No. 1925195)
Such an excellent actor. I think his performance as Doc Holliday in Tombstone is one for the ages, but honestly he was good in everything. RIP Val, you were taken too soon.
14 people like this.
Reply 12 - Posted by:
downnout 4/2/2025 8:08:35 AM (No. 1925205)
RIP, Mr. Kilmer. He was one of the most mesmerizing actors to grace the screen. He was the epitome of a scene stealer - I could never take my eyes off him.
8 people like this.
Reply 13 - Posted by:
Venturer 4/2/2025 8:09:50 AM (No. 1925206)
Throat Cancer destroyed his career decimated him, and Pneumonia with a Tracheotomy did him in.
He was a handsome man and good at his craft, but the Big "C" does not have favorites.
May he rest in peace.
13 people like this.
Reply 14 - Posted by:
RobertJ984 4/2/2025 8:14:19 AM (No. 1925210)
"Why...Johnny Ringo, you looked like someone just walked over your grave"
10 people like this.
Reply 15 - Posted by:
Rather Read 4/2/2025 8:23:15 AM (No. 1925218)
Such a good actor in everything. His performance of Doc Holliday in Tombstone is iconic, but I don't think he ever gave a bad performance.
8 people like this.
Reply 16 - Posted by:
greyseal 4/2/2025 8:26:07 AM (No. 1925221)
In our house, he'll always be the smart-aleck physicist-in-training Chris Knight from "Real Genius."
"It's a moral imperative!"
greyseal
3 people like this.
Reply 17 - Posted by:
Dodge Boy 4/2/2025 8:39:55 AM (No. 1925234)
I recall that Kilmer had throat cancer some years ago and had to have his vocal cords removed. It's been a tough road for him. Rest on, Iceman Kazansky.
4 people like this.
Reply 18 - Posted by:
Italiano 4/2/2025 8:50:20 AM (No. 1925240)
The best Doc Holliday that there ever was or ever will be. RIP.
6 people like this.
Reply 19 - Posted by:
DVC 4/2/2025 3:27:35 PM (No. 1925523)
Great in Top Gun, and absolutely excellent as Doc Holiday in Tombstone.
"You're my huckleberry!" is a memorable line.
1 person likes this.
Reply 20 - Posted by:
DVC 4/2/2025 3:40:24 PM (No. 1925531)
Re #*, the OK Corral fight was pretty epic,and the great news is that we have written transcripts of all the testimony of both sides (survivors) and witnesses from the official inquest. And two newspapers covered it, one partial the the Earps and one partial to the Cowboys....so we see both sides pretty well.
AFAIK, the only other major old west shootout that is anywhere near as well documented is Bill Hickock's shootout with Davis Tutt in 1865 in Springfield, MO. Hickock shot Tutt through the heart with a single shot at 75 yards, while Tutt fired several misses at Hickock. THAT is some serious, serious shooting.
And I am told that the fountain that Hickock stood next to and the building where Tutt stood are still there unchanged, so you can pace off the distance today if you doubt it. I'm a damned good pistol shot and frankly, doing that shot standing, WITHOUT being shot at would be a significant challenge. And I have heard from local folks in the Leavenworth area, not far from where I live that records still exist from shooting club matches where Hickock showed extreme marksmanship with a handgun in competition.
And.....a supervisor where I used to work was named Bill Younger. When I asked, since the Youngers live only a few miles from where that business was on the SE side of the KC area, he said he was related to Cole Younger, I believe he was a great uncle of his. Many don't know that Cole Younger wrote a most interesting autobiography, available free online now, and after being wounded and captured after the disastrous Northfield raid, he was sent to prison, and after he got out, went absolutely straight after that.
Lots of interesting James and Younger, and Quantrill history right around here.
3 people like this.
Reply 21 - Posted by:
DVC 4/2/2025 3:42:35 PM (No. 1925532)
But what about Nick Rivers in the nutball comedy "Top Secret"?
0 people like this.
Reply 22 - Posted by:
YorkieMom 4/2/2025 11:21:11 PM (No. 1925785)
Very sad news. Val Kilmer was a great actor. RIP and condolences to his family. He will be missed.
0 people like this.
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