'Batman' Star Val Kilmer Dies at 65

Kilmer's death follows his recovery from throat cancer, which he was diagnosed with in 2014, requiring two tracheotomies. In the 2021 documentary Val, Kilmer reflected on his life and career, stating, “I have behaved poorly. I have behaved bravely. I have behaved bizarrely to some. I deny none of this and have no regrets because I have lost and found parts of myself that I never knew existed... And I am blessed.”

A Juilliard-trained actor, Kilmer's career skyrocketed in the 1980s with his roles in Top Secret! (1984) and Real Genius (1985). He became a Hollywood leading man in the 1990s, starring in films such as Tombstone (1993), True Romance (1993), and Heat (1995), alongside heavyweights like Kurt Russell, Bill Paxton, Al Pacino, and Robert De Niro.

Director Michael Mann, who worked with Kilmer on Heat, paid tribute, praising Kilmer's "brilliant variability within the powerful current of Val’s possessing and expressing character." Kilmer's friend, actor Josh Brolin, also honored him on Instagram, calling him a "smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker."

Kilmer was known for fully immersing himself in his roles. To portray Doc Holliday in Tombstone, he filled his bed with ice to simulate the effects of tuberculosis. For his portrayal of Jim Morrison in The Doors, he wore leather pants and insisted on being called “Jim” while blasting the band’s music for a year.

His method acting often led to a reputation as a difficult actor, something Kilmer acknowledged but defended by stressing his commitment to authenticity in his work. "I had been deemed difficult and alienated the head of every major studio," he wrote in his memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry.

One of Kilmer’s most famous roles was as the cocky pilot Iceman in Top Gun (1986), a part he almost didn’t take. "I didn’t want the part. I didn’t care about the film," he wrote in his memoir. He eventually agreed after his character’s role was expanded. Kilmer would reprise his role in Top Gun: Maverick (2022).

Kilmer also famously played Batman in the 1995 film Batman Forever, though it is often remembered more for its flashy style than its critical success. His turn as the Dark Knight, alongside Nicole Kidman and Chris O'Donnell, marked a brief chapter in the Batman franchise before George Clooney took over in Batman & Robin (1997).

Val Kilmer’s diverse and dynamic career left an indelible mark on Hollywood, and his passing marks the end of an era for one of the most distinctive talents of his generation.