Val Kilmer's version of Batman in Batman: Forever - Photo: Warner Bros.
According to his daughter Mercedes Kilmer, Batman star Val Kilmer passed away from pneumonia, after battling throat cancer since 2014.
Throughout his career spanning over four decades, Val Kilmer has been known as a versatile actor, capable of transforming himself in diverse roles. He has appeared in a series of famous films such as Top Gun (1986), Heat (1995), The Saint (1997), and The Ghost and the Darkness (1996)...
From rock icon to Batman
Born in 1959 in Los Angeles, Val Edward Kilmer showed early artistic talent and became one of the youngest students ever accepted into the prestigious Juilliard School of Dramatic Art.
He began his career on Broadway before venturing into Hollywood with a starring role in the comedy Top Secret! (1984), where he portrayed a rock singer caught up in a spy plot.
Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison - the leader of The Doors - this is also one of his most memorable roles - Photo: IMDb
However, it wasn't until 1991 that Kilmer truly established his talent when he played Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's The Doors .
Not only did Kilmer perfectly recreate Morrison's appearance, but he also perfectly embodied his vocals and demeanor, to the point that many viewers believed he was indeed the legendary bandleader.
Director Oliver Stone once remarked, "Kilmer didn't just play Morrison; he seemed to be possessed by Morrison's spirit."
This role earned Kilmer critical acclaim and propelled him to become one of Hollywood's brightest stars at the time.
Four years later, Kilmer donned the Batman cape in Batman Forever (1995), replacing Michael Keaton. The film performed well commercially but was not well-received in terms of content. Kilmer himself admitted he didn't feel comfortable in the role and declined to return for a sequel.
Although the film wasn't highly rated, fans still have a special affection for Val Kilmer's portrayal of Batman/Bruce Wayne and assert that he could have been the best version of Batman if given more opportunities - Photo: ScreenRant
Although he didn't have a long-term association with the superhero image, Val Kilmer still had a series of memorable roles. He played Iceman, Tom Cruise's antagonist in Top Gun (1986), contributing to one of the iconic films of the 1980s.
Additionally, the actor also made a strong impression with his role in Heat (1995), where he starred alongside two legends, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino, in a tense crime story.
Not content with just action blockbusters, Kilmer also tried his hand at films with a more artistic flair.
Trailer for Heat, one of Val Kilmer's most memorable films.
He played Willem de Kooning in Pollock (2000) and Philip in Oliver Stone's epic Alexander (2004).
Despite his exceptional talent, Kilmer had an unpredictable personality, sometimes causing controversy in the film industry. A 1996 article in Entertainment Weekly called him "Hollywood's Most Hated Man." Many directors and co-stars have shared that Kilmer can be very difficult to work with due to his perfectionism and strong personality.
However, those who have worked with him for a long time acknowledge Kilmer as an actor with incredible depth and dedication. David Mamet, director of Spartan (2004), once remarked: "He has the ability to make every line sound as if it were improvised on the spot."
Farewell to the silver screen.
In the final years of his career, Kilmer gradually stepped away from the Hollywood spotlight to focus on his family and pursue his personal passions.
He was particularly fond of the writer Mark Twain and spent many years researching to write the monologue play Citizen Twain , which began performing in 2010.
Val Kilmer's last appearance on the big screen was in Top Gun Maverick (2022), where he reunited with co-star Tom Cruise as Iceman - Photo: IMDb
Although no longer appearing in blockbusters, Kilmer still participated in several art house projects such as Francis Ford Coppola's Wonderland (2003) and Twixt (2011), and provided voiceovers for the animated versions of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn (2014).
He once considered running for governor of New Mexico, where he lived for many years on a large ranch. However, he ultimately chose a secluded life, away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood.
Val Kilmer once said, "I have no regrets. Once you're a star, you're always a star. It's just a matter of degree."
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/val-kilmer-batman-doc-dao-nhat-man-bac-qua-doi-20250402130944153.htm
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