Hollywood Remembers Val Kilmer: Tributes Pour In for a Versatile and Beloved Icon

Michael Mann, Josh Brolin, Josh Gad, and other industry peers honor the late Val Kilmer’s legacy following his passing at 65

Los Angeles, April 2:
Michael Mann, Josh Brolin, Josh Gad, Richard Roeper, Bill Simmons, and other prominent figures in the entertainment industry paid heartfelt tributes to Val Kilmer on Tuesday following news of his passing.

Kilmer died of pneumonia in Los Angeles, his daughter, actress Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed to The New York Times. He was 65. The actor had been battling throat cancer since 2015, a struggle poignantly chronicled in the 2021 documentary Val, which offered a raw and intimate look into his life, career, and artistic resilience.

A beloved and remarkably versatile performer, Kilmer left an unforgettable mark on cinema with a filmography that included cult comedies (Real Genius, Top Secret!), iconic dramas (Heat, The Doors), fantasy epics (Willow), action hits (Top Gun, Batman Forever), and noir classics (Kiss Kiss Bang Bang).

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Michael Mann reflected on Kilmer’s transformative talent, telling The Hollywood Reporter,

“While working with Val on Heat I always marvelled at the range, the brilliant variability within the powerful current of Val’s possessing and expressing character. After so many years of Val battling disease and maintaining his spirit, this is tremendously sad news.”

Josh Brolin honored him on Instagram:

“See ya, pal. I’m going to miss you. You were a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker. There’s not a lot left of those. I hope to see you up there in the heavens when I eventually get there. Until then, amazing memories, lovely thoughts. ❤️💔❤️💔❤️💔💎 #valkilmer #marktwain”

Josh Gad wrote,

“RIP Val Kilmer. Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood. You truly were an icon.”

Matthew Modine added:

“RIP Val Kilmer. If it wasn’t for our chance encounter at the Source in 1985, I may never have been cast in FULL METAL JACKET. Thanks, Val. 🙏☮️”

On Bluesky, screenwriter Brian Lynch praised Kilmer’s legacy:

“The Doors. Top Secret! Tombstone. Top Gun. Real Genius. Willow. Batman Forever. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. True Romance. Macgruber. Heat. There was nobody like Val Kilmer. May he Rest in Peace.”

Lucasfilm’s Pablo Hidalgo remembered Kilmer’s charisma in fantasy classics:

“Oh man, not Val Kilmer. His comedic chops were top notch but he had a fascinating storm roiling beneath the surface. Madmartigan was an icon.”

Renowned critic Richard Roeper tweeted,

“Val Kilmer should have been nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Tombstone and for Heat. He was a brilliant presence in some of the most enduring films of his generation. Rest well. Thank you for the incredible work.”

Filmmaker Dylan Park-Pettiford expressed childhood admiration:

“Listen, Val Kilmer had me wanting to fly fighter jets, be Batman, rob banks, and hunt lions as a kid. They don’t make too many movie stars like him anymore. Generational.”

Bill Simmons added,

“There wasn’t anyone quite like Val Kilmer. Really enjoyed his work. RIP.”

From the official Top Gun account on X:

“Remembering Val Kilmer, whose indelible cinematic mark spanned genres and generations. RIP Iceman.”

Indonesian director Timo Tjahjanto shared a scene from Heat with the caption:

“A masterpiece exercise in saying nothing and expressing everything. Rest in Peace truly.”

Sasha Grey summed up the sentiment of countless fans:

“Rest In Peace Val Kilmer, an absolute legend. He played some of my favorite characters in some of my favorite movies of all time. Condolences to his family 🫶 He was 65.”

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Kilmer’s death marks the end of a towering career defined by risk-taking roles, magnetic screen presence, and a spirit that endured through personal and professional challenges. As fans and fellow artists celebrate his life, Val Kilmer’s legacy remains vividly alive across generations.