Val Kilmer: tributes pour in for the late ‘Batman Forever’ actor who dies aged 65
Val Kilmer, one of the most iconic Hollywood stars of his generation, passed away at the age of 65 on April 1st, 2025.
According to his daughter Mercedes Kilmer, the actor, who had previously suffered from complications caused by throat cancer, succumbed to pneumonia in Los Angeles.
Following his demise, tributes have poured in for the Batman Forever and Top Gun icon from colleagues and other prominent figures in the industry who took to various social media platforms to honour the legendary performer.
In an Instagram post, actor Josh Gad called Kilmer a childhood hero and talked about the impact he had. Gad wrote: “RIP Val Kilmer. Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood. You truly were an icon.”
Josh Brolin also took to Instagram to post about the passing of his friend: “See ya, pal. I’m going to miss you. You were a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker. There’s not a lot left of those. I hope to see you up there in the heavens when I eventually get there. Until then, amazing memories, lovely thoughts.”
American writer Don Winslow paid tribute to Kilmer as well in a post on X. “Rest in peace,” Don Winslow wrote. “A brilliant actor and a good man.”
Visual effects studio Industrial Light & Magic also posted a heartfelt tribute on Threads: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our friend and colleague, Val Kilmer. From his memorable roles as Madmartigan, Iceman, Doc Holliday, and Jim Morrison, Val cemented himself as one of the greats. He will be deeply missed, and our thoughts are with his family at this time.”
American auteur Francis Ford Coppola shared a moving post on Instagram, writing: “Val Kilmer was the most talented actor when in his High School, and that talent only grew greater throughout his life. He was a wonderful person to work with and a joy to know — I will always remember him.”
Michael Mann, who collaborated with Kilmer on the masterful Heat, starring the likes of Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, shared in his tribute: “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.”
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