Val Kilmer's cause of death as daughter confirms heartbreaking news

Hollywood icon has . The actor, best known for his roles in huge hits such as Top Gun and Batman died after a career spanning over four decades.

He died in Los Angeles, California. His daughter, Kilmer, revealed her legendary dad had died following a bout of pneumonia. She revealed to the NY TImes that he had recovered from a throat cancer diagnosis in 2014. A year later, he had to be rushed to UCLA Medical Center in 2015 to treat severe bleeding in his throat. The tumour was the result of oral cancer.

Kilmer was well known for his impressive role as Iceman in the 1986 hit movie alongside . He also starred in Batman/Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever (1995, while also famously playing musician Jim Morrison in the 1991 film The Doors.

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His success led to his own documentary entitled Val on Amazon Prime, in which he spoke candidly about his career and cancer journey.

Following his cancer diagnosis, Kilmer underwent both radiotherapy and chemotherapy. He also had a tracheostomy, which is a procedure to create an artificial hole in this neck, in order to help him breathe.

While the star has survived his cancer ordeal, he had due to the radiation and chemotherapy treatments and a tracheostomy that he endured.

In his documentary, Kilmer explained the low points of his recovery. He said: "You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat."

He also explained his rationale for allowing the documentary about his life to be made. With his voice noticeably changed, the Hollywood star went on: “Now that it's more difficult to speak, I want to tell my story more than ever.

"I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel. I can't speak without plugging this hole [in his throat]."

He also explained his gratitude for all the treatments that saved his life as he went on: "I am blessed… I have behaved bizarrely to some. I deny none of this and have no regrets because I have lost and found parts of myself that I never knew existed."

Despite his ill health, Kilmer continued to act until 2022. It was then that he reprised his role as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick. Two years earlier he had took on a lead role in 2020 crime thriller film Paydirt among other later roles.

Kilmer is survived by his two children; Jack and Mercedes. He previously worked with his daughter in Paydirt in his final acting years.

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