Get the latest gossip
Val Kilmer’s Career in Photos: From ‘Top Gun’ to ‘Batman Forever’ and More
After news of Val Kilmer's death, Variety looks back at his career in photos, from "Top Gun" to "Batman Forever" and more.
Val Kilmer, who died on Tuesday at the age of 65 after battling throat cancer, became one of the biggest stars of the ’80s and ’90s with a diverse array of films, ranging from action thrillers to biopics and comedies. After scoring his first movie role in the 1984 action comedy “Top Secret,” Kilmer broke through with his performance in the sci-fi comedy “Real Genius” (1985) before soaring into the mainstream alongside Tom Cruise in 1986 blockbuster “Top Gun.” He then starred in Ron Howard’s fantasy “Willow” (1988) before receiving critical acclaim for his portrayal of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s 1991 “The Doors” biopic. He took on the Western genre alongside Kurt Russell in “Tombstone” (1993), starred in crime dramas including Michael Mann’s classic “Heat” (1995) and became a superhero the same year with Joel Schumacher’s “Batman Forever.” In 1998, he voiced Moses in the animated musical “The Prince of Egypt,” and reunited with Oliver Stone for 2004’s “Alexander.” His career slowed down after he was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015, and eventually lost most of his ability to speak, but in 2022 he returned to the big screen in “Top Gun: Maverick” for an emotional scene with Cruise.
Or read this on Variety
