Val Kilmer shared his last post to Instagram just days before his passing.
The 65-year-old actor died yesterday, April 1, having experienced a string of health issues over the past decade. Kilmer’s daughter, Mercedes revealed to the New York Times that his cause of death was pneumonia.
Readers may remember that the Top Gun and Batman Forever star was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014. As part of his treatment for the disease, Kilmer underwent chemotherapy and a tracheotomy that left him with permanent damage to his vocal cords.
The actor, who made his on-screen debut in 1984’s Top Secret, discussed his diagnosis and recovery in his 2020 memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry, as well as the Amazon Prime documentary Val.
“I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel,” Kilmer explained in the documentary. “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.”
His final ever movie credit was in Top Gun: Maverick, released in 2022, where Kilmer reprised his role of the iconic Iceman.
Following the rigors of his cancer battle, Val Kilmer stepped away from acting to channel his creativity towards art. Perhaps nowhere was this shift more evident that on the actor’s Instagram page, where he regularly showed off pieces.
Indeed, his last ever Instagram post was a photo of one of his paintings, with the caption reading: “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 last post to actually feature Kilmer himself was published on February 23. The Willow actor, seen alongside Walking Dead star and fellow artist David Choe, donned a Batman mask, quipping: “It’s been a while.”
Tributes for the late star have flooded the internet in the wake of the tragic news of his passing.
Actor Josh Brolin wrote on social media: “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.”
Josh Gad, meanwhile, wrote: “RIP Val Kilmer. Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood. You truly were an icon.”