Val Kilmer, a movie star who throughout his career proved he was up for any task, from playing a cocky naval pilot to wearing the Batman suit, died on Tuesday, according to his daughter Mercedes Kilmer, who released a statement to the New York Times and the Associated Press. He was 65.
The cause of death was pneumonia, Mercedes Kilmer told the media outlets.
It’s hard to imagine anyone here hasn’t seen and enjoyed at least one of Kilmer’s movies, be it Top Gun, The Doors, Top Secret, or, of course, Tombstone.
My personal favorite is Heat, especially with the proper surround sound system and playing the famous downtown shootout at top volume, for which the actors in Michael Mann’s movie trained with professionals to become fluent with the weapons utilized for the scene. Kilmer, known to be difficult but masterful with his craft, became so fluid with his weapon system that his reload technique became a model for Marine training after the release of the film in 1995.
Though it may seem appropriate to drop a clip from his role as Jim Morrison here, I prefer a little more lighthearted song from Top Secret, as his Elvis-imitating character Nick Rivers straightens a rug.
Forever your Huckleberry. Godspeed.
/https://youtu.be/PcZg36mE69E?si=SHOhYJy99lF_eCxy
Well shit…
Spartan (written and directed by David Mamet) is my favorite V Kilmer film. Difficult to find these days though.
Also, Real Genius is a stupid/fun 80s classic.
– Dawg Vegas
Was a shock when he turns to the camera in Top Gun Maverick. Great tribute by Tom Cruise and Brockheimer to include him.
He was Doc Holiday. He had to lose weight to look as thin and sick as Doc was with TB.