Actor Val Kilmer, who is known for portraying Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the 1986 film “Top Gun,” passed away at the age of 65 on April 1 in Los Angeles. As reported by The New York Times, the late actor’s daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, revealed that the cause of his demise was pneumonia. The veteran actor, who began his acting career in theater, was also diagnosed with throat cancer a decade ago. However, according to his daughter, he recovered from it later.
‘Top Gun’ star Val Kilmer dies from pneumonia, as per daughter
Hollywood actor Val Kilmer died from pneumonia on Tuesday, the news of which was confirmed by his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer. He first stepped into acting in 1981 by playing the role of Hotspur / Ensemble in the theatrical production of “Henry IV, Part 1” at Delacorte Theatre, Off-Broadway. The actor then made his television debut in 1983 with his role in “ABC Afterschool Special.” However, his film debut happened a year later through the movie “Top Secret!,” where he portrayed Nick Rivers.
Apart from “Top Gun”, Val Kilmer also received recognition for playing the role of Jim Morrison in the 1991 film “The Doors” and Bruce Wayne, aka Batman, in Joel Schumacher’s 1995 directorial, “Batman Forever.” The actor has an extensive resume with his acting prowess seen in movies like “Thunderheart”, “True Romance,” “The Ghost and the Darkness,” “Alexander,” and “The Saint,” among others. Kilmer’s most recent work was in the 2022 hit film “Top Gun: Maverick,” where he reprised his role as Tom Kazansky, aka Iceman, in the Tom Cruise starrer.
The late actor had also been a significant part of several television projects and theater productions. The list includes “The Murders in the Rue Morgue,” “The Spoils of Babylon”, “Psych,” “The Ten Commandments: The Musical,” “Citizen Twain,” and more.
More notably, the director of “Alexander,” William Oliver Stone, praised Val Kilmer in a 2007 interview for the television show “Biography.” According to The New York Times, Stone said, “Most actors recognize there’s something different in Val than meets the eye.”
