Val Kilmer's cause of death has officially been confirmed after he tragically passed away last week following years of battling health issues. Source: MEGA
Val Kilmer’s cause of death has been confirmed after his passing at age 65.
The ‘Batman’ actor died from pneumonia, as stated on his death certificate from the Los Angeles County Department of Health.
Val Kilmer, known for his roles in ‘Top Gun’ and ‘The Doors,’ passed away after a long health struggle.
He was cremated on April 7, just one week after his death.
Kilmer’s death certificate revealed multiple contributing factors, including acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, chronic respiratory failure, and squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue.
Squamous cell carcinoma, a type of laryngeal cancer, affects the throat lining, including the larynx and pharynx. Additional factors listed on the death certificate include malnutrition and a tracheocutaneous fistula.
A tracheocutaneous fistula is a rare complication that forms between the trachea and skin, often after a tracheostomy tube is removed.
Kilmer had struggled with health issues for over a decade, including a throat cancer diagnosis in 2014. His battle with cancer and treatments significantly impacted his ability to speak in recent years.
The actor openly discussed his cancer journey, revealing in his 2020 memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry, that he had “been healed of cancer for over four years” with no recurrences.
Kilmer initially ignored symptoms before seeking medical help. He recalled, “One night, I suddenly awoke vomiting blood that covered the bed like a scene out of The Godfather,” adding, “I prayed immediately, then called 911.”
After his diagnosis, he underwent a tracheotomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. His daughter, Mercedes, later revealed, “The prognosis did not look good.”
The treatments severely damaged his vocal cords, forcing Kilmer to relearn how to speak.
In 2021, Kilmer’s son, Jack, shared, “We do things every day to soothe and repair his vocal cords, but they are very damaged.”
Val Kilmer’s final on-screen performance came in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, where he reprised his iconic role as Iceman. The film poignantly addressed his real-life health struggles, with his character also battling serious health issues.
After Kilmer’s death, Tom Cruise, 62, honored his co-star at CinemaCon in Las Vegas.
Cruise shared, “I’d like to honor a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer. I can’t express how much I admire his work, and how grateful I was when he joined Top Gun and returned for Top Gun: Maverick.”
Emotionally, Cruise continued, “I think it would be really nice if we could have a moment together because he loved movies and gave so much to all of us. Let’s think about all the wonderful times we had with him. I wish him well on his next journey.”
