**Val Kilmer’s 10-Year Health Struggle: The Untold Journey to His Tragic Pneumonia Death at 65**

Val Kilmer’s Hollywood journey covered over 40 years, yet behind the scenes, the actor faced significant health challenges during his final ten years.

The Top Gun star passed away from pneumonia on April 1, having earlier overcome throat cancer diagnosed more than a decade prior. Surrounded by loved ones at his Los Angeles residence, his daughter Mercedes Kilmer confirmed the news to The New York Times.

After debuting in 1984’s Top Secret!, Kilmer rose to global prominence through Top Gun. Subsequent years saw him shine in cinematic landmarks including Tombstone, Heat, and Batman Forever.

Following his throat cancer diagnosis and recovery, Kilmer chronicled his experiences in Amazon’s 2021 documentary Val before making a poignant final appearance in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick.

“Regrets have no place in my life,” Kilmer declared to the Associated Press in 2021. “Miracles have shaped my path.”

Below, we revisit the health battles preceding Kilmer’s passing at age 65.

Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014

While Kilmer received his cancer diagnosis in 2014, he remained private until a 2017 Reddit Q&A. Questions arose after co-star Michael Douglas referenced Kilmer’s condition during a 2016 interview about The Ghost and the Darkness.

“He likely meant to support me when pressed about my absence,” Kilmer responded online. “Though cancer-free, my tongue remains swollen. My altered speech sometimes leads people to assume I’m unwell.”

A tracheostomy permanently damaged his speaking voice

Successful treatment involved radiation, chemotherapy, and a tracheostomy that irreversibly affected his vocal abilities.

“With speech now challenging, sharing my story becomes vital,” Kilmer expressed in Val. “My voice doesn’t reflect how I truly feel.”

“Communication requires covering this opening,” he demonstrated in the film, indicating his throat. “Every interaction reminds others of this visible hurdle.”

The health crisis reshaped Kilmer’s perspective: “I took myself too seriously,” he admitted to The Hollywood Reporter in 2017. “Awards and recognition once consumed me.”

Daughter Mercedes updated Extra in 2021: “Dad progresses steadily, though recovery parallels the illness’s difficulty.” That year, Kilmer graced PEOPLE’s cover, confirming his cancer-free status.

His voice was “digitally altered” for clarity in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick

Kilmer’s 2022 return as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick featured enhanced vocal clarity. Director Joseph Kosinski clarified to USA Today that while rumors suggested A.I. usage, technicians instead refined existing recordings digitally.

Kilmer died of pneumonia on April 1, 2025

Pneumonia claimed Kilmer’s life at his LA home. Though cancer-free, tracheostomy complications increased respiratory risks.

The American Thoracic Society notes that tracheostomies elevate pneumonia susceptibility. Posthumous tributes flooded social media, including from Heat director Michael Mann: “Val’s dynamic artistry in Heat showcased his profound talent. His enduring spirit through illness makes this loss profoundly saddening.”