I still remember watching Top Gun for the first time back in '98 on my uncle's worn-out VHS player. I was probably too young to fully appreciate it, but Val Kilmer's Iceman made such an impression on me that I spent the next week trying to perfect that arrogant smirk in the bathroom mirror. So when I heard about his passing on Tuesday at 65, it felt like losing a piece of my childhood.
The news hit me while I was scrolling through my phone at a coffee shop in Chicago yesterday. Val Kilmer – gone. Pneumonia, according to what his daughter Mercedes told the New York Times. She mentioned he was surrounded by family and friends when he passed in Los Angeles.
A Summary of the Article
So what happened to the Iceman?
Turns out, Kilmer had been fighting health battles for years. His daughter revealed he was diagnosed with throat cancer back in 2014, which he eventually recovered from. But the treatment was brutal – he underwent a tracheotomy that seriously messed with his ability to speak. If you've seen any of his recent interviews or his documentary "Val," you know how dramatically his voice changed.
Actually, before I get into his career, I should mention that his health struggles were pretty intense. In that Amazon Prime documentary he did, he explained how after surgery he literally had to choose between breathing and eating. Can you imagine? He needed a feeding tube and had to use an electronic voice box just to communicate. Despite all that, he still came back for that emotional cameo in Top Gun: Maverick. That scene between him and Cruise... damn.
From Batman to Jim Morrison – the guy was everywhere in the 90s
For people my age, Kilmer was BATMAN. Not the best Batman maybe (I'll probably get hate mail for saying that), but he was MY Batman when I was growing up. Batman Forever came out in 1995, and while it wasn't exactly The Dark Knight, it was perfect for its time – colorful, over-the-top, and featuring Jim Carrey doing his most Jim Carrey thing as The Riddler.
But Kilmer's career was way more than just superhero stuff. The dude had RANGE.
His portrayal of Jim Morrison in The Doors was freaking uncanny. Then there was Heat, where he shared the screen with De Niro and Pacino (talk about intimidating). And don't even get me started on his performance in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang alongside Robert Downey Jr. – that movie deserved way more attention than it got.
Wait, that's not quite right. He actually got his big break in Top Secret! in 1984, which I stumbled across late one night on cable a few years back. It's this absurd comedy that shows off his comedic timing that most people forget about.
The personal life stuff (cuz we're all a little nosy)
Val was married to actress Joanne Whalley from 1988 to 1996 after they worked together on Willow. They had two kids – Mercedes (who announced his death) and Jack, who's 29.
Like many Hollywood stars, his dating history reads like a who's who of celebrities. Cindy Crawford, Angelina Jolie, Cher, Carly Simon... the man had game, y'know?
I remember reading somewhere that his relationship with Cher was particularly meaningful. She apparently helped him during some of his health struggles. It's always nice when exes can still be there for each other – most of mine would probably just watch and laugh if they saw me struggling to open a jar of pickles.
***The last thing Kilmer posted on Instagram is kind of haunting now. Less than two months before he died, he shared this video where he's putting on a custom Batman mask and joking "It's been a while." Little did we know...
Wait, how successful WAS he exactly?
Dude was MASSIVE in the 80s and 90s. Like, one of the highest-paid actors of that generation. His career trajectory is pretty fascinating when you think about it.
Top Secret! (1984)
Top Gun (1986)
Willow (1988)
The Doors (1991)
True Romance (1993)
Batman Forever (1995)
Heat (1995)
That's a run that most actors would kill for. And then he kind of diversified – did some voice work, smaller films, TV stuff. His final role bringing Iceman back for Top Gun: Maverick in 2022 was brief but powerful, especially knowing what he'd gone through health-wise to make it happen.
The tributes are already pouring in
Celebrities are already sharing their memories and condolences. Josh Gad called him "an icon" and thanked him "for defining so many of the movies of my childhood." The official Top Gun account posted "Remembering Val Kilmer, whose indelible cinematic mark spanned genres and generations. RIP Iceman."
Josh Brolin's tribute was particularly touching. He shared a photo of them together with the caption: "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."
Ralph Fiennes and Matthew Modine also shared tributes. Modine's was interesting – apparently, he might never have been cast in Full Metal Jacket if not for a chance encounter with Kilmer at a place called The Source back in 1985. Funny how those random moments can change careers, isn't it?
Director Michael Mann, who worked with Kilmer on Heat, praised "the range, the brilliant variability within the powerful current of Val's possessing and expressing character." He added that after "so many years of Val battling disease and maintaining his spirit, this is tremendously sad news."
Sigh.
What I'll remember most
As I'm writing this in April, I'm realizing that for me, Kilmer represented a certain kind of Hollywood star we don't see much anymore – someone who could be a blockbuster lead but also weird and interesting and unpredictable. He could do commercial stuff like Top Gun and Batman, but also edgy films like The Doors and True Romance.
I originally wrote that his Batman was my favorite, but after thinking about it more, I think his Iceman is the performance that'll stand the test of time. That rivalry with Maverick defined what made Top Gun work.
And now I'm wondering which of his less-known films I should revisit this weekend. Maybe Tombstone? Or Real Genius? The guy made over 100 films and TV shows, so there's plenty to choose from.
But.
Whatever role you remember him for, there's no denying Val Kilmer was one of the greats. Hollywood's lost another legend way too soon.
