Beloved Actor Val Kilmer Has Passed Away At Age 65

Val Kilmer died of pneumonia on Tuesday, April 1st, tragic news that was confirmed by his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, to The New York Times.

Kilmer appeared in many movies throughout his career and proved himself to be a talented and versatile actor. His breakout role came in 1986 when he portrayed Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky opposite Tom Cruise in the film Top Gun.

Other noteworthy roles included Doc Holliday in Tombstone, Jim Morrison in the biopic of US rock band The Doors, Elvis Presley in True Romance, and Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever. Coming full circle, his last film appearance would ultimately be in the 2022 reboot of the film Top Gun: Maverick.

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

Kilmer’s Dynamic With Tom Cruise On The Set Of Top Gun

In an excerpt from his 2020 memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry, Val Kilmer shared an inside look behind the scenes of Top Gun and working with his co-star Tom Cruise.

Top Gun debuted in theaters in 1986, quickly became a hit, and went on to be one of the most iconic movies of the ’80s. The movie won several awards, including an Oscar, a Grammy, and a People’s Choice Award.

In the film, both Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer’s characters were students of the United States Navy’s elite fighter weapons school. The pair develop a rivalry as they compete to be the best in class.

According to Kilmer, the separation continued off-set, and the actors usually divided into two groups after filming. The “Iceman” actor admitted that his crew was known to be “the party boys.” He wrote:

“Tom refrained from our revelry, with good reason. From day one, he was laser-focused on a singular goal: to become the greatest action hero in the history of film. He was up nights learning lines; he spent every waking hour perfecting his stunts. His dedication was admirable.” 

A Well-Intended On-Set Prank

In the memoir, Kilmer told the story of a prank he devised in an attempt to break the ice with his costar:

“I gave him an extremely expensive bottle of champagne but placed it in the middle of a giant field and made him follow scavenger-hunt-style clues to find it.” 

While the gesture did not have the intended outcome, Kilmer looks back on the memory fondly. He continues:

“I hid behind a bleacher and watched him lug the giant crate to his motorcycle. He never did thank me for the Iceman-style bit. I thought it would break the ice, but I guess the ice was just right.”

The pair ultimately became friends, however, and had what Tom Cruise described as an “emotional” reunion when they reconvened to film Top Gun: Maverick.

Relive one of the most iconic scenes between Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer in Top Gun below!