Top Gun And Tombstone Star Val Kilmer Died On April 1

Val Kilmer’s children released a statement to thank everyone for the support they’ve received since he passed away on April 1.

Kilmer was beloved for his roles in iconic projects such as Tombstone (1993), Top Gun (1986), and Batman Forever (1995). He made his last film appearance in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, where he reprised his role as “Iceman” Tom Kazansky.

“I’ve known Val for decades, and for him to come back and play that character…he’s such a powerful actor that he instantly became that character again,” Kilmer’s Top Gun co-star, Tom Cruise, told Jimmy Kimmel in 2023. He added, “I was crying, I was crying. I got emotional. He’s such a brilliant actor, I love his work.”

Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015. He underwent a procedure on his trachea that, unfortunately, damaged his vocal cords, altering his voice and making it difficult for him to speak. He also underwent chemotherapy and had two tracheotomies.

Sadly, Kilmer passed away on April 1, 2025, at the age of 65. His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed the news and said he died of pneumonia.

Val Kilmer’s Children Remember Him As An “Extraordinary” Father

Kilmer had two children: daughter Mercedes (age 33) and son Jack (age 28). On Thursday (April 3), they released a statement to thank his fans for supporting them and remembering their father.

“Thank you for honoring our extraordinary father’s memory,” they said in a statement cited by PEOPLE.

They spoke about his illustrious career, saying, “We are so proud of him and honored to see his legacy celebrated.”

Kilmer’s family ended their statement by asking the public to respect their privacy as they grieve their loss. They said, “At this time, we would like to grieve privately.”

Tom Cruise also broke his silence about Kilmer’s death. He paused to remember his friend and former co-star while speaking at CinemaCon on Thursday (April 3).

Cruise said:

“I’d like to take a moment before we get started today to honor a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer. I can’t tell you how much I admired his work and him as a human being, how grateful and honored I was that he joined Top Gun and came back for Top Gun: Maverick.”

Cruise asked the crowd to join him in a moment of silence. After that, he said, “Thank you, Val. I wish you well on your next journey.“

Our hearts go out to all of Val Kilmer’s loved ones, especially his children, as they mourn their loss…