Actor and writer Val Kilmer died of pneumonia at the age of 65. He passed away on April 1, 2025 in Los Angeles, California, of pneumonia. He had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015, which he survived, but at the cost of much of his vitality, especially in his immune system.

Kilmer had so many iconic roles that it’s almost impossible to pick a “best known for” role. He was Chris Knight in Real Genius (1985), Madmartigan in Willow (1988), Simon Templar in The Saint (1997), Batman in Batman Forever, (1995), Doc Holliday in Tombstone (1993), and of course, Jim Morrison in The Doors (1991).

Many critics consider his portrayal of Morrison as the best role of his career, though one of his most popular roles was as Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in Top Gun(1986). He reprised the role as Admiral Tom Kazansky in Top Gun: Maverick (2022).

From westerns to science fiction to action-adventure, Kilmer did it all, and did it well. He handled comedy and drama with equal ease. Like most actors, he started with performing on stage and in occasional TV commercials. He earned an MFA from Juilliard. His first film project was an ABC After School Special, “One Too Many,” about the dangers of drinking and driving, in which Michelle Pfeiffer co-starred, She would go on to star in Ladyhawke (1975) and join the MCU as Janet Van Dyne. That inspired a book of poetry, My Edens After Burns. Many of the poems draw on his relationship with Pfeiffer.

From there, Kilmer moved on to comedy, starring in the spy parody Top Secret! (1984). From there, he went on to Real Genius and playing Chris Shiherlis in Heat (1995). Kilmer played Elvis Presley in True Romance (1993).

Like most American writers, Kilmer greatly admired Mark Twain Twain. Not only did Val Kilmer portray Twain several times on film, but he wrote a one-man play about Mark Twain, Citizen Twain, which he himself starred in.

Awards and Nominations

• 1989 CableACE Award Nomination for Actor in a Movie or Mini-Series m The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains (1987)
• 1992, Nomination for Chicago Film Critics Association Award, Best Actor, The Doors
• 1996 Saturn Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor Heat
• 2003, Winner, Cinequest San Jose Film Festival, Maverick Tribute Award
• 2005, Winner, Satellite Award, Outstanding Actor in a Supporting Role in a Comedy or Musical, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
• 2005 Winner Camerimage Special Award, Actor with Visual Sensitivity
• 2006 Saturn Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
• 2010 Woods University in Fulton, Missouri, granted him an honorary doctorate in recognition of his creative abilities and his contributions to art and theater.
• 2012 Grammy Nomination for the album “The Mark of Zorro (Val Kilmer & Cast).
• 2017 Sitges-Catalonian Film Festival, Winner Time0Machine Honorary Award, The Super
• 2022, Winner, Satellite Award, Humanitarian Award
• 2924 Nomination, Family Film Award, Best Iconic Film, Willow, shared with Ron Howard and Warwick Davis

Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, and Superhero Roles

• Madmartigan in Willow
• Bruce Wayne aka Batman in Batman Forever
• Mr. Nobody in The Traveler (2010)
• Dr. Montgomery in The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)
• Moses in The Prince of Egypt (1998)
• Robby Gallagher in Red Planet (2000)
• KITT in Knight Rider (2008 reboot)
• Mongoose in XIII: The Conspiracy (2009)
• Bravo in Disney’s Planes (2013)
• Qaltwe in The Super (2017)

Val Edward Kilmer was born December 31, 1959 in Los Angeles, California. From 1988 to 1996, he was married to Joanne Whalley, who played Princess Sorsha in Willow, They had two children, a daughter Mercedes, and a son Jack. Our comfort and condolences to them.

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Horror writer Michael H. Hanson was kind enough to share the following elegy with us.

Goodbye Val

by Michael H. Hanson

You’ve breached the last of life’s dark Doors
and stripped off both your cape and cowl,
an Iceman who’s escaped the Heat,
Real Genius of word and vow’l.

King of Greece and Prince of Egypt
you were no one’s huckleberry,
moving amidst Ghosts and Darkness
you’re a Saint on Charon’s ferry.

Madmartigan you saved Willow
and then you broke one thousand chains
defeating warped Gotham villains
you struggled across Martian plains.

Nick Rivers sing your final song,
a feud with Moreau still festers,
Gay Perry your last case is solved,
Thunderheart joins his ancestors.

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RIP Val Kilmer, 1959 – 2025