‘Batman’ Star Val Kilmer Passes Away — Details Revealed

According to his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, the cause of his death was pneumonia. She noted that Val had previously battled throat cancer, diagnosed in 2014, and had since recovered.

Val was born on December 31, 1959, in Los Angeles. He grew up in the Chatsworth neighborhood, tucked into the city’s far northwest corner.

Val rose to stardom in the 1990s, becoming a leading man with a range that extended beyond blockbuster roles. Among his most iconic appearances was as the caped crusader in “Batman Forever” (1995).

In the film, he faces off against villains Two-Face, played by Tommy Lee Jones, and the Riddler, portrayed by Jim Carrey. While the film achieved commercial success, neither Val’s performance nor the movie itself were universally embraced as high points in the Batman legacy.

His off-screen life took a dramatic turn in the years that followed. In 2017, during a rare interview at his Brentwood art studio, Val sat beside his two children, Mercedes and Jack — both born during his marriage to British actress Joanne Whalley.

Around the time of his diagnosis, Mercedes was struck by a car in a serious accident. “We were in the same hospital at the same time,” she later recalled. Jack, watching both his sister and father endure medical recoveries, remembered the moment vividly. “I was just, you know, miserable, distraught, sitting next to these two.”

Despite the hardship, Val leaned on faith. As a Christian Scientist, he found spiritual grounding through his illness, though he also underwent chemotherapy in his battle against the disease. Through it all, his relationship with his children deepened.

“It’s pretty historic to have a lead with a speech disability,” Mercedes, who co-starred in the film, told People at the time. She called the experience a revelation, both professionally and personally.

“My dad’s able to very artfully circumvent the limitations of his speech,” she said. Mercedes explained that watching how he communicated physically had taught her a great deal about acting and had expanded her understanding of what acting could be.

Val, never one to shy away from change, took the shift in stride. “The business changes every six months,” he joked. “The Batmobile has become much smarter since then.”

The project became more than a film, it became a symbol of resilience. “The health challenges have been just that, challenging,” Mercedes said, “but so many good things have come out of it.” Val echoed the sentiment. “They really have done everything to make my health as usual,” he said.

Though his voice was altered, his creative spirit remained intact right to the end.

Val, along with other collaborators, had been working to develop a curriculum rooted in those values. He hoped the program could take root in Los Angeles and eventually expand nationwide.

Throughout his career, Val built a diverse filmography that showcased his range and charisma. Early on, his striking looks and commanding presence often landed him roles with a rock-star edge — including his debut in “Top Secret!” (1984), where he played a singing American caught up in Cold War chaos.

In “The Doors” (1991), Val delivered one of his most memorable performances, fully inhabiting the role of Jim Morrison with a hypnotic intensity. Just two years later, he made a brief but memorable appearance in “True Romance.”

In “Tombstone” (1993), Val stood out, earning praise alongside a cast that included Kurt Russell and Sam Elliott. He joined forces with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino in the crime thriller “Heat” (1995), playing a member of a high-stakes robbery crew.

Other notable appearances included “The Ghost and the Darkness” (1996) and “Pollock” (2000). In Oliver Stone’s “Alexander” (2004), Val took on the role of Philip of Macedon, father to the future conqueror.

His dedication to craft, even in the face of personal trials, left a lasting imprint on film. He leaves behind a legacy of fearless artistry and unforgettable performances.