Val Kilmer passed away on Tuesday, just moments before he was scheduled to walk the red carpet at the Beverly Hills Film Festival. He was 65 years old.
“It was a shock to find this out. We had just confirmed Val to attend the West Coast premiere of American Badass: A Michael Madsen Retrospective this past weekend,” said Nino Simone, founder of the Beverly Hills Film Festival.
Kilmer died from pneumonia in Los Angeles, according to his daughter, actress Mercedes Kilmer. She shared the heartbreaking news with The New York Times.
“He was thrilled to come out in support of his friend,” Simone noted. "PR was on the phone, trying to reach Val’s driver for his 7:30 p.m. arrival. The news of his death broke at the exact same time. Unbelievable and so heartbreaking.”
The festival started with the world premiere of Hello Beautiful, a drama featuring Tricia Helfer. The story revolves around a successful model diagnosed with breast cancer. Kilmer himself battled throat cancer, diagnosed in 2015. A documentary about his life, Val, screened at Cannes in July 2021, showing him with a breathing tube.
Kilmer’s career included iconic roles – he played Batman, Jim Morrison, and memorable characters like Iceman in Top Gun and Doc Holliday in Tombstone. He also appeared in films like Heat, where he was Robert De Niro’s fierce henchman, The Island of Dr. Moreau, and The Saint, where he portrayed a charming crook.
Michael Mann, who directed Kilmer in Heat, paid tribute, stating, “While working with Val, I always marveled at his range. After so many years of battling disease and maintaining his spirit, this is tremendously sad news.”
Kilmer’s passing brings reflections on the fragility of life and the impact of illness on even the most celebrated figures. Recent studies show that over 40% of Americans have been affected by a major health crisis, underscoring the importance of health awareness and support systems.
The 25th Beverly Hills Film Festival will continue to run until April 6, celebrating film and remembrance.
Check out this related article: Why Netflix’s ‘Once Upon A Time in Hollywood’ Sequel Sparks Concern: What You Need to Know
Source linkBeverly Hills,Top Gun,Tricia Helfer,Val Kilmer
