Broadcaster Piers Morgan has paid tribute to Hollywood actor Val Kilmer following news of his death at the age of 65. Kilmer, best known for his iconic role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in Top Gun and its 2022 sequel Top Gun: Maverick, passed away on Wednesday, 2 April.
Morgan, 60, took to social media to express his sadness, writing:
“RIP Val Kilmer, 65. Played so many great roles but for me, he will always be Iceman. The way Tom Cruise got him back for the Top Gun sequel, knowing how ill he was, was incredibly poignant and brought a tear to my eye in the cinema.”
Kilmer had battled with health issues for many years, following a throat cancer diagnosis in 2014. Despite extensive treatment, including a tracheotomy that left him with a severely impaired voice, he returned to the screen with moving scenes in Top Gun: Maverick, in which his character used technology to communicate — mirroring his real-life condition.
According to his daughter Mercedes Kilmer, the actor died of pneumonia, a complication related to his previous illness.
Val Kilmer’s death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from fans and fellow actors around the world. Many praised his resilience and celebrated a legacy that spanned decades of cinematic achievement. One fan called his final on-screen reunion with Tom Cruise “a beautiful, tear-jerking moment that honoured both the character and the man.”
In a post on Instagram, actor Josh Brolin described Kilmer as “a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker” and said he hoped to meet him “up in the heavens” one day.
Actor Josh Gad also paid tribute, saying: “Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood. You truly were an icon.”
Danny Ramirez, who appeared alongside Kilmer in Top Gun: Maverick, shared a personal message, writing: “In the brief time I spent with him on set, he was nothing but kind, joyous and playful. I felt lucky to be in the same room.”
Kilmer’s career included standout roles in The Doors, Batman Forever, Heat, and Tombstone, among many others. He wrote candidly about his life and illness in his 2020 memoir I’m Your Huckleberry, in which he credited his faith and close friends — including ex-partner Cher — for supporting him through his most difficult moments.
Francis Ford Coppola, who directed Kilmer in the 2011 film Twixt, described him as “a natural talent who only grew greater throughout his life.”
Val Kilmer’s legacy, as both an actor and a symbol of courage through adversity, remains deeply admired by audiences around the world.
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