Top Gun actor Val Kilmer dies at 65: A look at some of his best movies

Rest in peace, Val Kilmer. The actor was 65. He was known for playing intense characters like Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever, and Thomas “Iceman” Kazansky in Tom Cruise-led Top Gun. Kilmer’s daughter Mercedes confirmed the news on April 2.

Speaking to The New York Times, Mercedes Kilmer revealed that the cause of death was pneumonia. Val Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015 but made a recovery.

Val Kilmer Movies - best roles of Val Kilmer other than Batman Forever and Top Gun Maverick. - Subheading H2

The actor’s most famous movies include Top Gun and Batman Forever. He reprised his role as the Iceman in the 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick. But it wasn’t just intense characters that Val Kilmer could pull off. The star had the capacity to leave the audiences in splits too, as his roles in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Top Secret! demonstrate.

Here’s a look at some of Val Kilmer’s best films, aside from Batman and Top Gun.

Top Secret! (1984)

Val Kilmer made his debut with this comic caper. He played the role of Nick Rivers, an American singer touring East Germany, who accidentally gets involved in a plan to rescue an imprisoned scientist.

The Doors (1991)

Kilmer’s performance as the musician Jim Morrison established his reputation as one of the most gifted actors of his time. The actor took months to prepare for his role and even recorded his vocals against the backing of the master tapes of the Doors to bring authenticity to his role.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer team up to solve a murder mystery near Christmas in this buddy drama. Val Kilmer’s role as the wisecracking detective Perry was the heart of the film.

Thunderheart (1992)

Val Kilmer’s portrayal of an FBI agent investigating a murder that took place on a South Dakota Indian reservation remains one of his most memorable roles. The actor was paired opposite Sam Shepard in the film.

Heat (1995)

The cat-and-mouse game between Al Pacino and Robert De Niro’s characters makes this Michael Mann film a classic. However, Val Kilmer managed to leave a mark of his own in the heist drama as one of the bad guys.

Tombstone (1993)

The actor essayed a gunslinger in this George P. Cosmatos Western. Tombstone also starred Kurt Russell, Bill Paxton and Sam Elliot.

True Romance (1993)

Much before Austin Butler and Jacob Elordi portrayed Elvis Presley, Val Kilmer took a turn as the “King of Rock and Roll.” His role as Mentor, an advice-giving Elvis Presley imagined by Christian Slater in the movie, remains a fan-favourite.

The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)

The horror film, adapted from a novel by H.G. Wells, starred Marlon Brando as the titular character. Val Kilmer portrayed the role of Moreau’s enigmatic and maniacal assistant, Montgomery.

Saxton Sea (2002)

The Top Gun star’s dramatic turn as Danny Parker, a man whose life goes off the rails after he loses his wife, remains one of his most haunting performances.

The Saint (1997)

Val Kilmer played the role of Simon Templar, a charming crook who gets the attention of the Russian mob. Later on, Templar finds his mission to steal the process for cold fusion gets compromised, forcing him to rely on his wits.