‘A genius actor’, ‘firecracker’, and ‘my friend’: Tributes paid to Top Gun star Val Kilmer | Ents & Arts News

Val Kilmer, known for his roles in Top Gun, Batman, and Heat, passed away at the age of 65 due to pneumonia, his daughter Mercedes confirmed.

Diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, Kilmer had battled the disease and eventually recovered.

Tributes poured in from actors, directors, and celebrity friends, with Josh Brolin, co-star in No Country For Old Men, among the first to share memories of the late actor.

Josh Brolin shared on Instagram: “See ya, pal. I’m going to miss you. You were a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker. There’s not a lot left of those.

“I hope to see you up there in the heavens when I eventually get there. Until then, amazing memories, lovely thoughts.”

Kyle Maclachlan, who appeared with Kilmer in The Doors, expressed on social media: “You’ll always be my Jim. See you on the other side my friend.”

Michael Mann, director of Heat, also honored Kilmer in a statement, acknowledging his remarkable talent and expressing sadness over his passing.

Co-star Danny Trejo from Heat described Kilmer as “a great actor, a wonderful person, and a dear friend of mine” on Instagram.

Cher, who previously dated Kilmer, expressed her sentiments on X, remembering him as a great friend and talented actor.

Francis Ford Coppola, Kilmer’s lifelong friend and director of Twixt, praised the late actor for his exceptional talent and wonderful personality.

The Top Gun account on X also paid tribute to Kilmer, acknowledging his significant contributions to cinema and spanning genres and generations with his iconic roles.

Nicolas Cage also expressed his sadness at Kilmer’s passing, describing him as a genius actor with a great sense of commitment and humor.

Cage believed Kilmer deserved an Oscar for his role in The Doors.