Val Kilmer, the man, the myth, the Maverick, has officially left the chat. The 65-year-old acting icon soared into the great beyond on Tuesday (April 1) in Los Angeles, as confirmed by his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer. And no, this is not an April Fools’ prank—though Val would probably get a kick out of that kind of irony.
According to The New York Times, Kilmer’s departure was due to a bout of pneumonia. The legendary star had previously faced off against throat cancer, which he openly discussed in 2017, declaring that he experienced “a healing of cancer.” He underwent a tracheostomy during treatment, which left him speaking with a voice box—a twist in his career that somehow made him sound even cooler.
With a resume longer than Batman’s utility belt, Val Kilmer blessed the silver screen with his presence in classics like Top Gun (where he played Ice Man, the guy who literally gave Maverick a run for his money), Willow, Tombstone (the real gunslinger flick), Batman Forever (where he squeezed into that infamous Batsuit), Heat, The Prince of Egypt, and Mindhunters. He also dabbled in TV with appearances in Entourage, Numb3rs, Knight Rider, and Psych—because why should movies have all the fun?
Val Kilmer wasn’t just a movie star—he was a moment, an era, an entire vibe. Our hearts go out to his family, friends, and the fans who grew up quoting his lines, dreaming of being as effortlessly cool as he was. Rest in peace, Ice Man—you’ll always be the coolest.
