The Top Gun and Batman Forever star’s daughter announced his death on April 1, but Val Kilmer’s death certificate has revealed heartbreaking new information about the cause of his death
The tragic passing of Val Kilmer was confirmed nine days after the actor died aged 65.
Val Kilmer catapulted to stardom with a breakthrough performance in ‘Top Gun’ as Iceman, rivalling Tom Cruise’s Maverick. He dazzled audiences as Batman in 1995’s ‘Batman Forever’, and was lauded for depicting Jim Morrison in ‘The Doors’ (1991).
In what has become his swansong, Kilmer reprised his role in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ in 2022. Off-screen, the star faced a valiant battle with throat cancer diagnosed in 2014.
Enduring radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and a tracheostomy, the procedures unfortunately inflicted damage upon his vocal cords, leaving him relearning how to speak. In a heart-wrenching decision, Kilmer had to choose between breathing and eating, ultimately reliant on a feeding tube for nutrition.
His daughter Mercedes told the New York Times that her father’s died of pneumonia.
His death certificate reveal additional underlying causes including “acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, chronic respiratory failure, and squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue.”
The NHS describes Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) as a form of skin cancer that typically emerges from the skin’s squamous cells, leading to abnormal multiplication and changes in skin appearance. These cancers are known for their slow growth and often stay confined to the skin’s outer layer.
In 2020, Val announced his victory over cancer, having been clear for four years. His passing, however, was attributed to other health issues including malnutrition and a tracheocutaneous fistula, a rare complication that can arise post-tracheostomy tube removal.
After Val’s passing, his devastated family released a heartfelt statement to People magazine.
His children, Mercedes and Jack, wrote: “We are so proud of him and honoured to see his legacy celebrated. At this time, we would like to grieve privately.”
Val’s co-star from Top Gun, Tom Cruise, paid homage to the late actor. The star of Mission Impossible stepped up at CinemaCon held at the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas to remember his pal.
He said: “I’d like to honor a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer. I can’t tell you how much I admire his work, how grateful and honoured I was when he joined Top Gun and came back later for Top Gun: Maverick.
“I think it would be really nice if we could have a moment together because he loved movies and he gave a lot to all of us. Just kind of think about all the wonderful times that we had with him. I wish you well on the next journey.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
