Val Kilmer, Beloved Star of Top Gun, Passes at 65 — Fans Refuse to Believe It

Renowned actor Val Kilmer, best known for his iconic role as Iceman in the Top Gun franchise, passed away on April 1, 2025. His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed in an official statement that he succumbed to pneumonia on Tuesday. She also noted that he had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 but later recovered. Fans are mourning his loss, with one expressing, “Val was, and always will be, a legend and a giant.”

Val Kilmer made his final on-screen appearance in Top Gun: Maverick.

Val Kilmer played his final on-screen role in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), reprising his iconic character, Iceman, alongside Tom Cruise. The film, a sequel to the 1986 classic, featured Kilmer in a brief yet poignant role as Admiral Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, whose character passes away in the storyline.

Tom Cruise later shared how emotional it was to reunite with Kilmer for the film, telling Jimmy Kimmel, “He's such a powerful actor that he instantly became that character again. I was crying, I was crying. I got emotional.”

Now that Kilmer is truly gone, fans are struggling to accept the loss. One heartfelt tribute read, “Fan since Top Gun, his performance as Doc Holiday was award worthy. I'm so sad. May he rest in peace.”

Val Kilmer battled health issues for years.

Val Kilmer gradually stepped away from the spotlight as he privately battled throat cancer between 2015 and 2017 before publicly sharing details about his health. Interestingly, early news of Kilmer’s condition came from fellow actor Michael Douglas — unbeknownst to Kilmer himself. This unexpected revelation prompted Kilmer to confirm his cancer diagnosis during a 2017 Reddit session.

However, his symptoms first appeared in 2014 when he discovered a large lump in his throat. In his memoir, I'm Your Huckleberry, Kilmer recounted a dramatic moment that led to his diagnosis — one night, he awoke to find himself bleeding in bed and immediately called emergency services. At the time, he was staying at the home of his longtime friend, Cher, who provided him with unwavering support during this critical period in his life.

Initially hesitant to seek medical treatment due to spiritual beliefs, Val Kilmer resisted medical intervention for some time. However, his children, Jack and Mercedes Kilmer, eventually persuaded him to undergo treatment. This led to chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery for his throat cancer, which, fortunately, responded well and healed quickly.

A 2017 interview revealed that Val Kilmer's two-year battle with throat cancer had taken a significant toll on his family. During his treatment, Kilmer underwent a procedure on his trachea, which left his voice raspy and caused shortness of breath. He is survived by his two children, daughter Mercedes (born 1991) and son Jack (born 1995), whom he shared with his ex-wife, actress Joanne Whalley.

Tributes from the film community have begun pouring in, with Josh Brolin expressing, “See ya, pal. I'm going to miss you. You were a smart, challenging, brave, Uber-creative firecracker. There's not a lot left of those. I hope to see you up there in the heavens when I eventually get there. Until then, amazing memories, lovely thoughts.”

Some fans believed it was a hoax due to the date.

Given that he passed on April 1, some fans initially thought it was an elaborate Internet joke. One fan wrote, “OMG is it real? Has he passed away??” Another commented, “Oh my god. This is so shocking and heartbreaking. Val was one of my favorite actors. Brilliant, magnetic, & dynamic in every role. Total scene stealer in the best way.”

Another admirer shared, “Such a terrible loss for society. Val was such an underrated actor. He put in 110% in everything he did. Even after having throat cancer he started painting. I am so impressed and in awe of him. You will be missed.”

In his later years, Kilmer also explored his creative side through painting, and fans seemed to love everything he produced.

RIP, Val Kilmer. You will be dearly missed. Here’s the heartbreaking story of another celebrity who lost her battle with illness — Shannen Doherty, the beloved star of 90210 and Charmed, who passed away from cancer at the age of 53.