Val Kilmer, the actor known for his roles in Top Gun and Batman Forever, passed away on April 2nd at the age of 65. The official cause of death listed on his death certificate is pneumonia, but underlying causes include acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, chronic respiratory failure, and squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue.
Kilmer had been battling throat cancer since 2014, which led to a significant decrease in his acting roles. He made a special appearance in Top Gun: Maverick, reprising his role as Iceman, but his health issues made it difficult for him to return to work. In his 2020 memoir, “I’m Your Huckleberry,” Kilmer wrote about his experiences with cancer, including the moment he was hospitalized after vomiting blood.
Kilmer underwent treatment, including a tracheotomy, chemotherapy, and radiation, which helped cure his throat cancer. He wrote that he was cancer-free for over four years with no recurrences. However, it appears that his health issues ultimately contributed to his death.
The actor’s career included notable roles in Batman Forever, where he played Bruce Wayne/Batman, one of the few actors to play the character only once. There is also an alternate director’s cut of the film, known as “The Schumacher Cut,” which has been discussed but not released by Warner Bros.
Source: https://comicbook.com/movies/news/val-kilmer-cause-of-death-revealed-pneumonia