Before the news of his death aged 65, Val Kilmer had kept up a presence on social media with one of his final Instagram posts showing the actor playing with a Batman mask.
His daughter Mercedes told the New York Times he died yesterday (1 April) due to pneumonia.
Kilmer was known for roles in the likes of Top Gun, The Doors and of course, Batman Forever.
And not too long before his death, the star shared a final post of himself to Instagram after he previously hung out with David Choe. The clip was originally posted by the musician and artist in 2021.
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In the video, the actor spoke to his pal before saying ‘it’s been a while’ and trying on a custom Batman mask made for him by Choe.
Taking things back to the 1995 film, Kilmer stared into the camera as the superhero while also panning to a piece of colourful Batman art.
In the star’s recent joint repost of the video, it included photos of Choe’s portraits of the icon as the artist wrote in the caption: “U r enuff.”
Kilmer was also an artist himself, with his final Instagram post featuring one of his paintings.
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Posted just under two weeks before his death, he wrote of the artwork: “It’s got that late-night glow.
“Cool tones with a low burn, like when the camp fire cools down but you’re still wide awake.”
The Iceman actor had listed the art for sale on his site.
Another of his final posts, from 16 March, featured more of his work as he wrote: “Some art hums like a power chord - loud, untamed, and unforgettable. If this one strikes the right note for you, grab one of the 10 available. Link in bio!”
Kilmer's final acting role came in 2022 when he made a cameo in the blockbuster sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, although he could no longer speak due to his throat cancer following a 2014 diagnosis.
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He had undergone both radiotherapy and chemotherapy, as well as a tracheostomy, which damaged his vocal cords and impacted his voice.
The actor discussed his diagnosis and recovery in his 2020 memoir I'm Your Huckleberry and Amazon Prime Documentary Val.
“I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel,” Kilmer said in the doc.
“I can’t speak without plugging this hole (in his throat). You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat.
“It’s an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me.”
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Director Michael Mann, who worked with the star on the 1995 crime drama Heat, paid tribute to Kilmer on Instagram as he wrote: “While working with Val on Heat I always marvelled at the range, the brilliant variability within the powerful current of Val’s possessing and expressing character.
“After so many years of Val battling disease and maintaining his spirit, this is tremendously sad news.”
Paramount Home Entertainment and the official Top Gun social media channel said: “Remembering Val Kilmer, whose indelible cinematic mark spanned genres and generations. RIP Iceman.”
Topics: Celebrity, Instagram, Val Kilmer, Art
Jess Battison