Obituary: He played Batman and Jim Morrison: Val Kilmer dies at 65

The iconic role as a pilot Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the action film “Top Gun” made him famous overnight in 1986 – now the American actor Val Kilmer has died at the age of 65. Kilmer played the fierce competitor of Tom Cruise in the role of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell, with whom he measured himself in risky combat flights. After that, he was one of the top earners in Hollywood in the 80s and 90s.

The native Californian learned his craft at the renowned Julliard School in New York, where he was one of the latest talents when he was 17. His preference was initially classic plays, but then Hollywood became aware of the blonde actor with the angular face. He gave his feature film debut in 1984 in the spy Klamauk “Top Secret!”.

Kilmer died on Tuesday (local time) of pneumonia, as US media unanimously reported, citing his daughter. On the official “Top Gun” channel of the Platform X it was said: “In memory of Val Kilmer, whose indelible traces in the cinema span genres and generations. Rip Iceman.”

Kilmer overcame cancer

On the screen, Kilmer was last seen in the continuation of “Top Gun”, this time as a buddy of Cruise. However, he spoke in “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022) only a few sentences, in a broken voice. In history, his figure Iceman had the same thing as the actor in real life: he was ill with cancer and had lost his voice.

Kilmer had to undergo chemotherapy and an air pocket cut a few years ago due to larynx cancer. He quickly overcome the cancer, but he missed his old voice, said the actor in 2020 in a TV interview.

“A brilliant actor”

The scene with the cancer patient Iceman, which writes sentences on the computer after the loss of his voice, was one of the most touching moments of the “Top Gun” sequel. In the show by Talkmaster Jimmy Kimmel, Cruise said that he was touched with tears to turn with his old friend. “He is such a brilliant actor and I love his work,” said cruise to his co-star.

Kilmer also helped in reality using software in communication: with artificial intelligence and old audio recordings, a British software company made a copy of his voice. The ability to communicate is the core of human life, said the actor according to “Variety”. After cancer, it was difficult for many to understand him. It is a “very special gift” to re -get his familiar voice.

According to the “Hollywood Reporter”, he also believed his belief through difficult times. Kilmer was a member of the religious community “Christian Science”, which, among other things, believes in healing through prayers.

Rocker, Outlaw, Superheld

After the success as a supporting actor in “Top Gun”, Kilmer was in front of the camera in 1991 in the leading role of the music film “The Doors” as the legendary singer Jim Morrison. In “Tombstone” (1993) he played the Western hero Doc Holliday, in Joel Schumacher’s “Batman Forever” (1995) he became a highly paid superhero. With the film legend Marlon Brando, he shot “DNA – the island of Dr. Moreau” in 1996.

In Michael Mann’s thriller “Heat” in 1995 Kilmer was part of a gang of thieves alongside Robert de Niro and Al Pacino. “When I worked with Val on” Heat “, I was always amazed at the range, the brilliant variability within the powerful suction of VAL’s possessive and expressive character,” said Mann to the “Hollywood Reporter” after Kilmer’s death.

Kilmer’s flying flight did not last consistently. Films flopped, and his reputation as a disputed person also cost him rolling in Hollywood.

In the fantasy cult film “Willow” (1988) he was seen alongside the British actress Joanne Whalley, which he married shortly after the rotating player. Daughter Mercedes (33) and son Jack (29) emerged from the marriage that was later divorced.

The charismatic star was only married once, but probably had numerous celebrity lovers. In his memoirs (2020) “I’m your Huckleberry”, Kilmer told about his previous life in Hollywood, including his conditions with colleagues such as Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, Daryl Hannah and Ellen Barkin.

Not only in memoirs, but also in a documentary the actor looked back on his life. The film “Val” celebrated its world premiere at the Festival in Cannes in 2021. The daughter participated as a producer, the son acted as a narrator because of the father’s battered voice.

“Sensitive and clever, with the soul of a clown”

A clip from the early 1980s shows the young Kilmer with Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon, all in their early 20s, on the theater stage. He had been brave that he was brave, sometimes grotesque, he says about scenes from his films and his life. He was sensitive and clever, with the soul of a clown.