Val Kilmer, who played Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever, died of pneumonia in Los Angeles, US, on Tuesday, April 1. He was 65. His daughter Mercedes confirmed his death to The New York Times. Kilmer was battling throat cancer for several years.

Kilmer’s early films included comedies like Top Secret! (1984) and Real Genius (1985), as well as a breakout role as Lt Tom “Iceman” Kazansky opposite Tom Cruise in Top Gun (1986). It was followed by the fantasy film, Willow (1988).

Val Kilmer’s breakout act a leading man came with his mesmerising, leather-clad portrayal of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s The Doors (1991). 

After his outing as the “Lizard King”, Kilmer opted for scene-stealing co-starring roles in Tombstone (1993), True Romance (1993) and Heat (1995).

After ruling the 80s and 90s with his powerful performances, he returned briefly to the screen in 2022, with Top Gun: Maverick, although he could no longer speak due to his cancer.

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Born in Los Angeles, Kilmer was raised in Chatsworth and attended Hollywood Professional School and the Julliard School. He did voices for animated films including The Prince of Egypt.

His other films included At First Sight, Red Planet, Pollock, The Salton Sea, Wonderland and The Missing. Kilmer continued working in films including Kiss Kiss Bang Bang with Robert Downey Jr, Deja Vu with Denzel Washington, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans and The Snowman.

In 2012, Kilmer received a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word for an audio production of Zorro. His memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry, named for a line in Tombstone, was published in 2020.

He was divorced from Whalley in 1996 and is survived by a daughter, Mercedes and a son, Jack.