Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer (Val Edward Kilmer) was born on December 31st, 1959. Val passed away April 1st, 2025 at 65 years old. Val Kilmer was born in Los Angeles, CA, USA. Kilmer attended Juilliard School where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Val Kilmer was an American actor famous for his many diverse roles in television and film. The son of Eugene Doris Kilmer and Gladys Swanette, he was a Los Angeles native with Cherokee, Swedish, German, and Irish roots.
He got started in the film industry in 1984 when he was cast in the comedies
Genius and
Top Secret. He would gain notoriety when he was cast as Ice Man in
Top Gun and then sang all the songs in a compelling performance on
The Doors as Jim Morrison
Val Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015 and lost his voice following the rigorous regimen of drugs that he had to take. While he had many health challenges, he still returned to acting in
Top Gun: Maverick in 2022.
Val passed on in 2025 aged 65 after complications from pneumonia. His death resulted in numerous tributes from people who had been friends with and worked with him. Some of the most prominent of these were Cher, his former girlfriend, and Tom Cruise, the actor with whom he worked on
Top Gun.
Val Kilmer published his memoir
I’m Your Huckleberry in 2020. This is a work in which he reflected on his personal life and iconic career. He goes back to his very early days, including the challenges of getting key roles and working alongside the best of the best.
He also shares personal anecdotes on his spiritual journey, high-profile relationships, and his struggles with cancer, thus offering an intimate look beyond the characters that made him into an icon of Hollywood.
In 1987, Val Kilmer published
My Edens After Burns, a poetry collection that lets his readers into his creative mind as he blends artistic expression with personal experience. All in all, it is a work that offers a unique perspective on Val Kilmer beyond the persona of the actor for which he became most famous.
Related Authors
The most common authors followed by users who also follow Val Kilmer are:
- Stephen King, author of The Dark Tower Series.
- Harlan Coben, author of the Myron Bolitar Series.
- Michael Connelly, author of the Harry Bosch Series.
- Craig Johnson, author of the Walt Longmire Series.
- Dean Koontz, author of the Odd Thomas Series.
Val Kilmer: F.A.Q
When was Val Kilmer Born?
Val Kilmer was born on December 31st, 1959.
When did Val Kilmer die?
Val Kilmer died on April 1st, 2025 at 65 years old.
Where was Val Kilmer Born?
Val Kilmer was born in Los Angeles, CA, USA.
What was the first book Val Kilmer wrote?
The first book written by Val Kilmer was My Edens After Burns, published in 1983.
What was the most recent book Val Kilmer wrote?
His most recently released work was I'm Your Huckleberry on April 21st, 2020.
How many books has Val Kilmer written?
Val Kilmer has written 2 books. 1 book in the Memoirs, 1 book in the Poetry.