Val Kilmer's Official Cause of Death Revealed After Long Battle with Cancer

The true reason behind Val Kilmer’s passing has been disclosed. The actor famously known for his roles in ‘Batman Forever’ and ‘Top Gun’ breathed his last on the 2nd of April, at the age of 65. Preliminary reports suggested that Kilmer died from pneumonia following a long struggle with throat cancer. Subsequent examination of Val Kilmer’s death certificate by PEOPLE reveals that the cause of death was indeed pneumonia. His daughter, Mercedes, had previously informed The New York Times that her father succumbed to pneumonia. Additional details on the death certificate mention acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, chronic respiratory failure, and squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue as underlying causes. It’s also noted that Kilmer’s remains were cremated on April 7th.

In 2014, Val Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer, which led him to take on fewer acting roles over time, except for a notable appearance in the movie “Top Gun: Maverick.” Despite his health condition, he managed to reprise his role as Iceman and even shared a screen conversation with Tom Cruise’s character. In this scene, their dialogue was displayed via text messages on a computer screen. The filmmakers utilized advanced technology like AI and post-production techniques to provide Iceman with a brief spoken line.

In 2020, Kilmer shared insights about his health through a memoir titled “I’m Your Huckleberry“. He wrote, “There were rumors suggesting I was in denial. However, denial can be tricky. I wasn’t denying that I had experienced cancer; instead, I was stating that I no longer did.

To tell the truth,” he went on, “accepting my initial diagnosis was incredibly challenging. It felt unreal. I couldn’t accept that I was deteriorating, and I wasn’t prepared for what seemed like impending death.

In addition, his memoir disclosed that he disregarded initial warnings about his health’s decline until he was admitted to the hospital due to throat cancer. As he put it, “One night, I violently threw up blood, staining the bed as if from a scene in The Godfather,” Kilmer wrote. He quickly said a prayer and then dialed 911 for help.

Kilmer underwent procedures such as a tracheostomy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy to treat his throat cancer. He announced that he was cancer-free, having been in remission for more than four years without any reoccurrences.

In a September 2021 interview with PEOPLE, Val Kilmer’s son Jack stated that there are daily routines aimed at comforting and healing his father’s vocal cords, which are extremely damaged. Despite this, it doesn’t appear that he is in pain when speaking, and on occasion, you can hardly get him to stop talking.

In 1995, Val Kilmer took on the iconic role of Batman in the movie “Batman Forever.” Kilmer followed Adam West and Michael Keaton in portraying Bruce Wayne/Batman on the big screen. Interestingly, Kilmer is among a small group of actors who have played Batman just once, and the film’s reception was varied, with both fans and critics expressing diverse opinions. However, Kilmer’s portrayal of Batman was generally well-received.

It’s rumored that there exists an alternative version of Batman Forever, known as “The Schumacher Cut,” which boasts around 50 extra minutes and is said to be less campy and darker compared to the original release. Writer Akiva Goldsman alleges he has seen this version, advocating for its release since the early 2020s. However, Warner Bros. doesn’t seem to have any immediate plans to share this version with the public at present.

Photo credit via Kevin Winter/Getty Images

2025-04-11 17:40

Val Kilmer’s Official Cause of Death Revealed After Long Battle with Cancer

Read More