Val Kilmer, the iconic Hollywood actor known for his magnetic screen presence and unforgettable roles in films like Top Gun and Batman Forever, died Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 65.

Kilmer succumbed to pneumonia, according to his daughter Mercedes, who spoke with The New York Times.

The actor had battled throat cancer since 2015, undergoing two tracheotomies that permanently altered his voice, though he later recovered and continued to work in film.

Born in Los Angeles, Kilmer first captured attention with his film debut in the 1984 comedy Top Secret!, playing the parody rock star Nick Rivers. The movie was written and directed by the same creative team behind Airplane!, giving Kilmer a quirky and comedic first outing on the big screen.

Just two years later, Kilmer would become a household name thanks to his breakout role as Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in Top Gun, the 1986 box-office smash that cemented his place among Hollywood’s elite.

Playing the rival to Tom Cruise’s hotshot pilot, Lt. Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, Kilmer delivered a cool, confident performance that fans would remember for decades.

Ironically, Kilmer had little interest in the role initially.

“I didn’t want the part. I didn’t care about the film. The story didn’t interest me,” Kilmer admitted in his 2020 memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry. “My agent, who also represented Tom Cruise, basically tortured me into at least meeting Tony Scott.”

Despite his initial reluctance, Kilmer’s performance became one of the most beloved in action movie history. His steely gaze and confident swagger as Iceman became a defining element of the film’s success.

Kilmer went on to showcase his dramatic range with a celebrated portrayal of rock legend Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s 1991 biopic The Doors. He did his own singing for the film and fully immersed himself in Morrison’s troubled psyche.

Reflecting on the challenges of the role, Kilmer said in a 1991 interview with Bobbie Wygant, “There were challenges, particularly when he started to lose it, which was a whiskey deterioration in the throat.”

Throughout the 1990s, Kilmer starred in a string of memorable roles, including parts in True Romance and Heat. In 1995, he took on the mantle of the Dark Knight, replacing Michael Keaton in Batman Forever.

Though excited to play such an iconic role, Kilmer later revealed his motivations were not purely artistic.

“I was buzzed about being Batman but hardly for artistic reasons,” he wrote in I’m Your Huckleberry. “With two franchises going — Batman and The Saint — I could start an artists’ community, write poetry and plays, and become the wild auteur I saw as my destiny.”

Despite the film’s commercial success, Kilmer eventually soured on the experience, particularly the discomfort of the Batsuit. Still, he could laugh about it later: “I mean, it’s so bad, it’s almost good.”

Kilmer also found himself in the middle of production turmoil while filming The Island of Dr. Moreau, where he co-starred with Marlon Brando. Taking over for Bruce Willis, Kilmer reportedly clashed with both Brando and director John Frankenheimer.

“John Frankenheimer went on to blame me publicly for ruining the movie,” Kilmer wrote. “I always thought it an odd thing to try to do, blame me for his failure to make an entertaining film, because my character dies halfway through, and the last half of the film sucks as bad as the first.”

Though often labeled as a difficult actor, many colleagues defended Kilmer’s professionalism and talent. Mira Sorvino, who starred with him in the 1999 romantic drama At First Sight, spoke positively of her experience.

“I just hate furthering rumors about people being difficult, because it can do such enormous damage to their careers,” she told AV Club in 2011. “My experience with him was nothing but positive. He was really professional and gentlemanly, and a terrific actor.”

In 2005, Kilmer gave a standout performance in the crime comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, earning a Satellite Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor.

Even after his 2015 cancer diagnosis and subsequent health challenges, Kilmer appeared in a dozen film and television projects, proving his commitment to his craft.

Perhaps his most emotional and poignant performance came in 2022 when he reprised his role as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick. Sharing a deeply moving scene with Tom Cruise, the moment served as a farewell to a character — and an actor — beloved by generations.

“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. You’re looking at Iceman,” Cruise said on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

“I was crying. I got emotional. He’s such a brilliant actor, and I love his work.”

In 2021, Kilmer announced that he was cancer-free, a testament to his enduring resilience and determination.

Val Kilmer is survived by his daughter Mercedes and his son Jack.

His legacy as one of Hollywood’s most enigmatic and talented actors endures in the iconic characters he brought to life and the hearts of fans who loved him.

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