Val Edward Kilmer (December 31, 1959 – April 1, 2025)[1] was an American actor. Initially a stage actor, he found fame after appearances in comedy films Real Genius (1985) and later in the military action film Top Gun (1986) and the fantasy film Willow (1988). Kilmer gained acclaim for his portrayal of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's The Doors (1991).

He starred in a variety of films, including the western Tombstone (1993) and the crime dramas True Romance (1993) and Heat (1995). In addition, he portrayed Batman in Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever (1995) and went on to appear in The Ghost and the Darkness (1996), The Saint (1997), The Prince of Egypt (1998), Alexander (2004), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), and The Snowman (2017). In 2022, Kilmer reprised his role as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick, marking his final film performance.

In 2015, Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer. He subsequently underwent a tracheal procedure that damaged his vocal cords, leaving him with severe difficulty speaking. He also underwent chemotherapy and two tracheotomies.[2][3][4][5] In 2020, he published his memoir, I'm Your Huckleberry: A Memoir.[6] The 2021 documentary film Val chronicles his health struggles and career, and it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim.[7]

Recognized as one of the best-paid actors of the 1990s, Kilmer's films have grossed over $3.7 billion worldwide.[8] In 1992, film critic Roger Ebert remarked, "if there is an award for the most unsung leading man of his generation, Kilmer should get it."[9]