Remembering a legend: Elhunyt Val Kilmer

Now at 11, remembering a legend, actor Val Kilmer has died at the age of 65. Good evening. I’m Mike Ohlm. And I’m Cher Calvin. Fans around the world are remembering iconic actor Val Kilmer, who has died here in Los Angeles. Kilmer, who waged a battle against throat cancer for years, passed away from pneumonia, according to his daughter.

Kilmer was a wide-ranging leading man who was beloved by moviegoers and critics alike, earning critical acclaim for many of his charismatic roles. He was known for playing Doors legend Jim Morrison and Batman in Batman Forever, as well as Doc Holliday in Tombstone, but may be best known for his role as the tough and complicated fighter pilot Iceman in the Top Gun movies.

KTLA’s Mary Beth McDade joins us now with a look back at his legendary career. Mary Beth.

Yeah, Cher and Mike, Val Kilmer was one of Hollywood’s most iconic and complicated figures, known for his intense roles that mesmerized audiences. But he became a household name playing that tough fighter pilot, Lieutenant Tom Iceman Kazansky, opposite Tom Cruise in Top Gun.

Congratulations on Top Gun. Thank you. Sorry to hear about Cougar. He and I were like brothers in flight school. He was a good man. Still is a good man. Yeah, that’s what I meant. He was the Iceman in Top Gun, Jim Morrison in The Doors, Doc Holliday in Tombstone, an overall legend on the big screen.

Val Kilmer was born in Los Angeles. He attended Chatsworth High. He was the youngest person at the time to be accepted into the Juilliard School’s drama division. It wasn’t long after he became a working actor with a role off Broadway in The Slab Boys, opposite two other relatively no-named actors at the time, Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon.

His big break came when he starred in the 1984 comedy film Top Secret, but it was Val being cast as the naval aviator known as Iceman in the 1986 mega hit Top Gun that propelled him to stardom. Top Gun took in more than $340 million at the box office. Val was now a bonafide Hollywood leading man.

He took on the role of Jim Morrison in the 1991 Oliver Stone film The Doors, Doc Holliday in the 1993 film Tombstone. He starred opposite Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in Heat, all were mega hit films. In 1995, he took on the role from Michael Keaton as the Caped Crusader in Batman Forever.

Even though Kilmer developed a reputation in Hollywood as being highly selective and taking on roles that would challenge him, overall, he still amassed more than 100 film credits to his name.

In 2015, he was diagnosed with throat cancer and even though he used the assistance of a voice box, he boldly reprised his role as Iceman in 2022’s Top Gun Maverick.

Val died Tuesday from pneumonia. He was 65. Val Kilmer is survived by his two adult children, Mercedes and Jack, who he had with ex-wife and actress Joanne Wally.

Fill the gaps in the sentences!

Val Kilmer, the iconic actor, passed away at 65 after _______________(1).

He was known for his memorable roles, including _______________(2), _______________(3), and _______________(4).

Kilmer was born in Los Angeles and was accepted into _______________(5) at a young age.

His big break came with _______________(6) in 1984, but _______________(7) made him a star.

Throughout his career, he starred in _______________(8), accumulating _______________(9).

Even after his cancer diagnosis, he returned to _______________(10) in 2022.

He is survived by _______________(11).

Correct answers:

1. battling throat cancer and pneumonia
2. Iceman in Top Gun
3. Jim Morrison in The Doors
4. Doc Holliday in Tombstone
5. the prestigious Juilliard School
6. the comedy Top Secret
7. Top Gun in 1986
8. many successful films
9. over 100 credits
10. play Iceman in Top Gun Maverick
11. his two children, Mercedes and Jack