Cause of death of 'Top Gun' star Val Kilmer

Movie star Val Kilmer, known for hits like Top Gun and Batman , died of pneumonia on April 1, a death certificate obtained by TMZ confirmed, after his daughter revealed that the lung infection killed her father last week.

The underlying causes listed on the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health 's death certificate were "acute hypoxic respiratory failure, chronic respiratory failure, and nasopharyngeal cancer."

Val Kilmer is known for his role as Iceman in the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun and as Batman/Bruce Wayne in 1995's Batman Forever .

PHOTO: AFP

Val Kilmer battled throat cancer 11 years ago, undergoing emergency tracheotomy surgery that permanently affected his ability to speak.

The actor revealed that he had been cancer-free four years ago, but his death certificate confirmed that the disease had returned.

Kilmer's family broke their silence about the actor's death last week. In a statement obtained by People magazine , his children Mercedes and Jack expressed their gratitude to everyone who was honoring their "extraordinary father's memory."

"We are so proud of our father and honored to see his legacy honored. At this time, we would like to grieve privately," said the actor's two children, who Val had with ex-partner Joanne Whalley.

Mercedes confirmed to The New York Times on April 8 that her father died in Los Angeles of pneumonia.

Val Kilmer's final big screen role in the blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick

PHOTO: IMDB

Despite permanent damage to his voice, he made a brief return to the big screen in 2022's Top Gun: Maverick , reprising his role as Iceman alongside Tom Cruise. It was his final big screen appearance.

The Los Angeles-born actor is also known for his role as musician Jim Morrison in the 1991 film The Doors .

Val Kilmer underwent both radiation and chemotherapy to treat his cancer, as well as a tracheotomy — a procedure that creates an artificial hole in his neck to help him breathe. As a result, his vocal cords were permanently damaged and his voice was forever changed.

In the Amazon Prime documentary Val , Kilmer speaks candidly about living with throat cancer, including using an electrical device called a larynx box over an artificial hole in his throat to speak.

"I was obviously talking a lot worse than I felt," the actor said. The battery-powered voice box produces sound and is used to help people with throat cancer communicate. The actor also has to eat through a feeding tube.

Val's son is the voiceover for this documentary, but his lines were all written by Val herself.

Val Killmer and daughter Mercedes made their last public appearance at the annual Thespians Go Hollywood Gala at Avalon Hollywood in 2019.

Mercedes and Jack at the premiere of Val in Los Angeles

PHOTO: AFP

Over the years, Val has spoken about his close relationship with his two children and prioritizing spending time with them amid his struggles with declining health. The versatile actor previously told Vanity Fair that he turned down work with "10 really great directors" to prioritize his family and marriage. "I can't be a responsible father when I'm only home three or four months a year," he explained.

Speaking about her father's health condition before he died of pneumonia, Mercedes tried to stay optimistic: "We spent a lot of time together, got to see all of Dad's friends."

Mercedes once revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that she "wasn't aware" of her parents' fame.

Not long after her father was diagnosed with cancer, Mercedes recalls being in a car accident. "We were in the same hospital at the same time," she told reporters.

Mercedes described her father (to People magazine, 2020) as a "good friend" and "a smart, creative person" she loved hanging out with. That same year, she played his daughter on screen in the film Paydirt , after her father said she was perfect for the role. According to Mercedes, the experience helped her mature as an actress.

"Obviously my dad's speech is limited and this whole experience has been a personal effort for me to work with disabled actors, which I've never done before," she said.

Mercedes continued: "I learned a lot from working with people of different abilities. My dad was able to overcome his vocal limitations very well, so I learned a lot from watching him, how he communicated with gestures. That taught me a lot about acting, expanded what I thought about acting."

Mercedes is also credited as an associate producer on Prime Video's documentary Val , released in 2021.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nguyen-nhan-cai-chet-cua-sao-phim-top-gun-val-kilmer-185250411112127583.htm