Val Kilmer, best known for his roles as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in Top Gun (1986) and Doc Holliday in Tombstone (1993), has died because of pneumonia. He was 65. His daughter Mercedes Kilmer confirmed the news to The New York Times. Kilmer, who had a cancer diagnosis in 2015, reprised his role as Iceman in the Top Gun sequel Top Gun: Maverick (2022) in spite of his health concerns—a performance that was enhanced by AI as the actor lost his voice due to cancer.

Kilmer is also known for his performances in films such as Heat (1995), co-starring Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, The Island of Dr Moreau (1996) alongside Marlon Brando, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) with Robert Downey Jr. The actor, known for his ability to internalise his characters and his on-screen charisma, is also renowned for his Elvis Presley-style role in writer Quentin Tarantino and director Tony Scott's True Romance (1993) and his portrayal of Jim Morrison in filmmaker Oliver Stone's 1991 feature The Doors, based on an eponymous Los Angeles rock band. Another one of Val Kilmer's iconic roles is as the titular Caped Crusader in Batman Forever (1995).

Kilmer is also survived by his actor son Jack.