Val Kilmer’s Family Shares Their Grief
The relatives of Val Kilmer have recently expressed their sorrow following his passing on Tuesday at 65 years old.
“We appreciate your gestures in remembering our beloved father,” said the family of the renowned Top Gun actor, including his 33-year-old daughter Mercedes and 29-year-old son Jack, in a statement to PEOPLE on Thursday.
“We are immensely proud of him and are grateful to witness his legacy being honored. We ask for privacy as we mourn during this time,” they added in their message.
Details on Kilmer’s Passing
Kilmer’s daughter had earlier informed The New York Times that the Batman Forever actor succumbed to pneumonia. It was known that Kilmer had battled throat cancer in 2014, from which he had recovered.
Following his death, numerous prominent figures in Hollywood have come forward to pay their respects, including Kilmer’s Top Gun co-star, Tom Cruise. Cruise honored him at CinemaCon in Las Vegas on Thursday.
“I cannot express enough how much I respected his talent, thought of him as a person, and how thankful and privileged I felt to have him join us in the original Top Gun and again in Top Gun: Maverick,” Cruise said to the attendees. “His contributions were immensely valuable to all of us.”
Cruise subsequently led the audience in a moment of silence. “Let’s take a brief moment to recall the wonderful times we shared with him,” he requested, before finally adding, “I wish you well on your next journey.”
Cher also took the opportunity to remember Kilmer, her dear friend and former partner, posting on X (formerly Twitter), “Will miss u. U were funny, crazy, a pain in the ass, GREAT FRIEND, adored by your kids, BRILLIANT as Mark Twain, BRAVE during your illness.”
Josh Brolin shared his reflections on his friendship with Kilmer on Instagram, stating, “See ya, pal. I’m going to miss you. You were a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker.” He went on, “There aren’t many like you left. I look forward to meeting you in the heavens eventually. Until then, cherished memories, lovely thoughts.”
Hi, I’m Emily, a passionate and dedicated member of the Sherburne County Citizen team. With a keen eye for detail and a love for writing, I ensure that the latest celebrity news, major economic trends, and helpful tips for your home are presented in the most engaging and informative way possible. Fun fact: During a particularly exciting news story, I once managed to finish an article in record time, fueled solely by copious amounts of coffee and pure adrenaline!
