The world of Hollywood has mourned the passing of an extraordinary talent.

Val Kilmer, renowned for his iconic role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in the 1986 blockbuster Top Gun and the superhero lead in 1995’s Batman Forever, tragically passed away from complications related to pneumonia on April 1. His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, shared this heartbreaking news with the New York Times, revealing that he was only 65 years old at the time of his death.

In 2014, Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer, a diagnosis that he managed to recover from, as his daughter confirmed to the publication.

Kilmer had been quite private about the specifics of his battle with cancer. It wasn’t until 2020 that he bravely began to share his health challenges with the public, disclosing that he underwent a procedure on his trachea. This surgery resulted in a distinctively raspy voice, which he had to adjust to.

“I feel a lot better than I sound, but I feel wonderful,” he expressed to ABC News during that period. “I was diagnosed with throat cancer, which healed quite quickly,” he added, revealing the resilience that characterized his journey.

Kilmer elaborated, “This is a tracheotomy to assist with my breathing, as the glands in my throat had swollen significantly.” His candidness about his medical situation highlighted not only his struggles but also his determination to press on.

In his 2020 memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry, Kilmer acknowledged the significant role that his ex-girlfriend Cher played in his recovery. He recounted a harrowing experience from that time: while staying at her guesthouse, he started “vomiting blood that covered the bed like a scene out of The Godfather,” showcasing the severity of his health issues.