One of Hollywood’s best – Val Kilmer, dies at 65

REMEMBERING A STAR - HDR SCREENSHOTS

(1) Val Kilmer plays Jim Morrison as The Doors record their fourth album "The Soft Parade" at Sunset Sound studio, in Hollywood. (2) The Doors arrive in New York City to play The Ed Sullivan TV Show on CBS. (3) March 1, 1969 - Coconut Grove concert in Miami. (4) December 9, 1967 - New Haven, Conn. concert.

1959 - 2025

THE BLONDE, baby-faced actor became one of Hollywood’s leading men, with his memorable performance as rocker Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s biopic “The Doors.”  But best known for his roles as gambler/gunslinger Doc Holliday in “Tombstone” (1993), Navy F-14 pilot Iceman in “Top Gun” (1986) and “Tom Gun: Maverick” (2022), and as Chris Shiherlis, in Michael Mann’s classic heist thriller “Heat” (1995).

Other top performances as warrior Madmartigan in Ron Howard’s “Willow” (1988) and as FBI agent Ray Levoi, investigating a murder on an Indian reservation in South Dakota with Michael Apted’s “Thunderheart” (1992). And he took a swing as Gotham City’s Bruce Wayne/Caped Crusader in “Batman Forever” (1995).

The documentary of his life, “Val” (2021) was released on Amazon Prime, you discover he lost his voice battling throat cancer, and his son Jack narrates his father’s memories.

Born in Los Angeles, Kilmer attended Hollywood Professional School and Juilliard School and had been a lifelong Christian Scientist. Kilmer died from pneumonia and was survived by a daughter, Mercedes and a son, Jack.

“I had been through the music so many times, and those songs are sung by Val Kilmer. Or we would use Jim’s voice for a bar or two or something, then Val’s voice would come in. It was groundbreaking at that time.” — Oliver Stone 

(1) Lt. Tom “Iceman” Kazansky (Val Kilmer) wins the Top Gun prize. (2) The final farewell between Maverick and Iceman.