Val Kilmer’s Cause of Death: What Happened to the Late ‘Top Gun’ Star

Val Kilmer I moved away from acting in the film to focus on my struggle with throat cancer. Almost three years after it appeared Top Gun: Maverick As his iconic character “Ice Man,” the 65-year-old actor passed away on April 1, 2025. Most fans grieving his losses have assumed that the cause of Kilmer’s death was due to cancer, but the actor was in remission before he died.

Below you can find out more about Kilmer’s life, career and death.

Val Kilmer’s movie

The late Los Angeles native has appeared in many famous films. Initially, Kilmer appeared in comedy films Top Secret! and A real genius The 1980s. He then branched out into other genres and eventually landed the role of Iceman. Top Gun. Throughout the 1990s, Kilmer appeared in films Tombstones, True Romance, Batman Forever Heat and Prince of Egypt.

By the 2000s, Kilmer steadily landed film and television roles, changing his role as Iceman. Top Gun: Maverick In 2022, this will be his final film performance before his death.

Val Kilmer’s Health

In 2015, Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer. In January of that year, reports of his hospitalization emerged, but the actor claimed in a Facebook post that no cancerous tumor was found. TMZ.

“Thank you for all the sweet support. But I have not had tumors, tumor surgery or any surgery,” Kilmer writes. “I had complications where the best way to get care was to stay under the careful eyes of the (UCLA) ICU. My friends were most sensitive and kind to special efforts to help anyone who knew my spiritual beliefs and to make sure there was minimal gossip and stupid talk.

Two years later, Kilmer admitted in an interview in April 2017 that he was battling throat cancer. Hollywood Reporter. The outlet reported that he had received tracheal procedures.

Kilmer was then in remission from his cancer battle.

How did Val Kilmer die?

The official cause of death has not been revealed, but Kilmer died after fighting a lung match. Mercedes Kilmer I said New York Times. Mercedes pointed out that her late father had finally recovered from his throat cancer.