Val Kilmer, a leading Hollywood star of his generation, has passed away at 65. He had been struggling with throat cancer for several years and made his final on-screen appearance in the hit film "Top Gun: Maverick". The movie incorporated his illness into the storyline, depicting the death of his character, Iceman. The New York Times confirmed his passing today.

Kilmer gained fame for his role as Iceman in the original "Top Gun" alongside Tom Cruise. He later starred as Bruce Wayne/Batman in the 1995 blockbuster "Batman Forever", though it was his only outing as the superhero, with George Clooney taking over the role in "Batman & Robin". 

He also voiced Moses in the acclaimed animated film "The Prince of Egypt" and portrayed Doc Holliday in the Western classic "Tombstone". One of his most celebrated performances was as legendary rock star Jim Morrison in "The Doors". 

Van Kilmer from "Top Gun".

Another standout role for Kilmer was in Michael Mann's crime classic "Heat", where he starred alongside Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. A sequel to the film has been in development for years, and just days ago, Mann confirmed that he had submitted a screenplay to the studio.

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Kilmer's life was honoured in the 2021 documentary "Val", featuring narration by his son. Over the course of his career, his films earned more than $3.5 billion globally.