Val Kilmer’s family suffered a horrific tragedy when he was just 17 years old which inspired one of his acting roles.
Top Gun star Val’s death was announced on Wednesday mornng. The actor died age 65 from pneumonia following a long health battle in a statement from his daughter.
But alongside his glittering career, Val suffered health issues and was left with the emotional scars of losing his brother who was just aged 15.
Val was the middle child of three sons born to his parents Gladys Swanette and Eugene Dorris Kilmer. Who divorced in 1968.
The family were struck by devastation when his younger brother Wesley had a epileptic seizure and drowned in their hot tub.
The incident understandably stayed with Val for the rest of his life and it inspired his performance in The Salton Sea (2002).
Val Kilmer ‘s family suffered a horrific tragedy when he was just 17 years old which the actor previously revealed inspired one of his acting roles (pictured in 2005)
But alongside his glittering career, Val suffered health issues and was left with the emotional scars of losing his 15-year-old brother as a teenager (Val pictured with his Mark above him and Wesley below him)
The film was about a guilt-stricken man after his wife’s murder and Val gave a heartbreaking performance.
In 2002, he told the New York Times: ‘There are several points in the movie where the guy just can’t go on.’
Relating it to his own situation, he explained: ‘I didn’t really get back to earth until about two or three years after my brother died.’
Reflecting on his brother’s own ability in the creative field, he lauded his talent, and said: ‘He was a genius.’
Discussing the loss of his brother in his 2021 documentary Val, he heartrendingly admitted that his family was ‘never the same again’ following his death.
‘I was about to start school in New York when I had a dream, in it I was taking to my high school girlfriend Mare and her mom about death. Her mom said it wasn’t something she feared because it is where she would meet her creator.
‘I woke from that dream to a phone call from my older brother Mark, telling me that Wesley had an epileptic fit and drowned in our Jacuzzi. He was 15.
‘The sky wept, no more home videos. No more makeshift plays. My confidant had disappeared into dust and our family was never the same again.’
Just before his brother’s death Val made history the youngest student ever admitted to Julliard acting school at only 17.
The family were struck by devastation when his younger brother Wesley had a epileptic seizure and drowned in their hot tub (pictured Val in 1985 age 25)
Discussing the loss of his brother in his 2021 documentary Val, he heartrendingly admitted that his family was ‘never the same again’ following his death
His daughter Mercedes Kilmer, whom he shared with ex-wife Joanne Whalley, revealed he passed from pneumonia in Los Angeles on Tuesday (pictured in 2019)
His career went from strength to strength over the decades and he was one of the highest earners of the 90s.
It is estimated that he accumulated more than $3.7 billion worldwide from his run of blockbuster hits.
Val’s biggest film include Batman Forever (1995), Top Gun before returning in the Top Gun: Maverick in 2022.
Tom Cruise spoke about Val’s return in an emotional Jimmy Kimmel interview, where he said: ‘I just want to say that was pretty emotional.’
He elaborated: ‘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.’
Val’s memorable line to Tom in the original film, beloved by fans is: ‘You can be my wingman any time.’
His daughter Mercedes Kilmer, whom he shared with ex-wife Joanne Whalley, revealed he passed from pneumonia in Los Angeles on Tuesday.
Screen icon Val was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and underwent surgery, including a tracheotomy which significantly impacted his ability to speak. He was later declared cancer free.
Despite his permanently damaged voice, he made a brief return to the screen in Top Gun: Maverick, reprising his role as Iceman opposite Tom. It was his final big screen appearance.
The Los Angeles native also famously played musician Jim Morrison in the 1991 film The Doors.
Aside from Mercedes, 33, he is also survived by son Jack Kilmer, 29. Val was married to their mother, fellow actress Joanne, from 1988 until 1996.
Despite his permanently damaged voice, he made a brief return to the screen in Top Gun: Maverick, reprising his role as Iceman opposite Tom. It was his final big screen appearance (pictured in a 1986 still from Top Gun)
In 1991, he famously played musician Jim Morrison in The Doors; pictured in a still from the movie
His death was confirmed by the New York Times.
Val underwent both radiotherapy and chemotherapy for his cancer as well as a tracheostomy a procedure to create an artificial hole in this neck to help him breathe.
The latter permanently damaged his vocal cords and consequentially forever altered his speaking voice. Val reported in 2020 that he had been cancer-free for four years.
Leading the tributes to the fallen star was his friend and fellow actor Josh Brolin.
The No Country For Old Men star who shared a throwback photo of the two actors grinning ear-to-ear sometime prior to an emergency tracheotomy Kilmer had in 2014 after his throat cancer was discovered.
‘See ya, pal,’ Brolin captioned the photo affectionately. ‘I’m going to miss you.’
He praised Kilmer as a ‘smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker,’ adding, ‘There’s not a lot left of those.’
‘I hope to see you up there in the heavens when I eventually get there,’ Brolin continued. ‘Until then, amazing memories, lovely thoughts.’
His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, 33, whom he shared with ex-wife Joanne Whalley, confirmed his passing to the New York Times; Mercedes and Val in Los Angeles in 2019
In a post on Instagram, the actor Josh Gad shared a photo of Kilmer in glories days from the filming of Top Gun.
‘RIP Val Kilmer. Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood. You truly were an icon,’ he captioned the post.
The comic actor and filmmaker Jorma Taccone, who is part of The Lonely Island with Andy Samberg and Akiva Schaffer, simply wrote ‘love you, Val’ in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The sports guru and podcast Bill Simmons shared what looked like a photo of a polaroid of Kilmer in costume on the set of Heat.
‘There wasn’t anyone quite like Val Kilmer. Really enjoyed his work. RIP,’ he wrote.
In the Amazon Prime documentary entitled Val, Kilmer spoke candidly about living with the consequences of throat cancer including having to use an electric device called a voice box on the artificial hole in his throat to talk.
‘I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel. I can’t speak without plugging this hole [in his throat],’ he said.
A voice box device is most commonly a battery-operated machine that produces sound to create a voice, and is used to help those suffering with throat cancer communicate.
