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More Tributes: Tom Cruise Honors ‘My Dear Friend’ Val Kilmer

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Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s 1991 film, The Doors.

Val Kilmer, who in scores of films portrayed such real-life figures as Jim Morrison in The Doors and Doc Holliday in Tombstone and perfected fictional characters like Batman (Batman Forever) and Iceman in the two Top Gun pictures, died April 1, 2025, at just 65. Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015 and had undergone several medical procedures.

Following his passing, the box-office star was mourned by fellow actors and others who raved about his talent.

At the film distributor event CinemaCon, in Las Vegas, to promote his upcoming Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, Tom Cruise praised his fellow Top Gun star. “I’d like to honor a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer, for a moment,” he said to the industry audience. “I can’t tell you how much I admired his work.” He added, “If we just all take a moment to remember the wonderful time we had with him… let’s just take a moment.” Cruise closed his remarks by saying, “I wish you well on your next journey.”

Michael Douglas wrote, “It was an honor working with Val on The Ghost and the Darkness nearly 30 years ago. Val will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on forever in the films and performances he so brilliantly shared with us!”

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Many of Kilmer’s movies are available to stream or purchase in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.

Related: Musician and celebrity deaths of 2025

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3 Comments so far

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  1. Rackateer
    #1 Rackateer 2 April, 2025, 13:07

    Val Kilmer always delivered something special. My best bud and I dressed in 60’s clothes and weaseled our way into the Whisky to see Val as Morrison. He was moments away from performing when we were spotted and tossed out. We listened to him from outside next to Eric Burdon who was playing the doorman. Good times! R.I.P Val.

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  2. MUDDYWATERSMANN....
    #2 MUDDYWATERSMANN.... 3 April, 2025, 01:04

    THIS news hit me really hard yesterday, and still does today! SAD and bewildering! 65 is too young…my fave role of his was DOC HOLLIDAY, and scene where he and Wyatt visit in hospital, and DOC asks him to leave is one I will carry with me in memory and heart forever…and his presence in HEAT!

    GOD BLESS YOU, VAL KILMER, you are loved and will be missed by me and millions of others! RIP!

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  3. Jim C
    #3 Jim C 3 April, 2025, 08:47

    He was a great actor in all the films listed above. But my favorite of his was probably Top Secret! which came out in my formative years. I still laugh for 90 minutes straight when I watch that movie. He will be missed.

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