Val Kilmer, the beloved actor who starred in many classic films of the 1980s and 1990s—Top Gun, Batman Forever, Real Genius —has died. At the time, he was 65 years old. Kilmer’s career spanned several decades, during which he captivated audiences with his performances in blockbuster films. He rocketed to stardom portraying Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the 1986 aviator flick “Top Gun.” The film has gone on to gross a staggering $344 million at the domestic box office revenue, making it one of the highest-grossing movies of the decade.
Kilmer’s journey in the entertainment industry began as a theater actor in off-Broadway plays after graduating from the prestigious Juilliard School’s drama division. He first established his incredible talent on screen with one brilliant portrayal after another. Among those roles are his scene-stealing turn in the spy spoof “Top Secret!” and the teen comedy “Real Genius.” He starred as rock legend Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s “The Doors.” He didn’t stop there, though. He played gunslinger Doc Holliday in the action drama “Tombstone” with Kurt Russell, proving once again that he’s an artist of great versatility.
Successful, Kilmer decided to pass on reprising his role as Iceman in this year’s “Top Gun” sequel. Rather, he chose to pursue other initiatives. He had mixed feelings about his experience playing Batman in the film “Batman Forever,” saying,
“Whatever boyhood excitement I had was crushed by the reality of the Batsuit… Yes, every boy wants to be Batman. They actually want to be him… not necessarily play him in a movie.”
Kilmer went on to stellar success in cinema. His life was turned upside down in 2015 when he was diagnosed with throat cancer. The disease resulted in a tracheotomy that left him unable to speak. Through all of these hurdles he still found ways to let his passion for acting shine through. In discussing his experience, he remarked,
“It’s just like any other language or dialect.”
Kilmer’s contribution to movie making and play writing is enduring. After conquering Broadway, he made the perfect jump to wide-release musical hits. His creativity and staggering talent wowed the world and created a legion of fans. He will forever be missed and remembered for the powerful, dynamic roles that made an indelible mark on film history.
