Val Kilmer Death: Michael Mann, Josh Brolin, Josh Gad, Bill Simmons Pay Tribute to Actor

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On Tuesday, I joined Michael Mann, Josh Brolin, Josh Gad, Richard Roeper, and Bill Simmons in paying tribute to the incredible Val Kilmer, following the sad announcement of his passing in the entertainment world.

65-year-old actor Jim Kilmer passed away from pneumonia in Los Angeles, as confirmed by his daughter, actress Mercedes Kilmer, to The New York Times. Back in 2015, he received a diagnosis of throat cancer.

A well-adored and multitalented actor boasted a wide range of roles across various film genres. He shone equally as a leading man in films such as “Batman Forever,” “The Saint,” “Top Secret!”, “Willow,” “The Doors,” and “Real Genius,” while also captivating audiences with his memorable supporting performances in “Tombstone,” “Top Gun,” “Kiss, Kiss, Bang Bang,” and “Heat.” In recent years, Kilmer was the focus of a 2021 documentary titled “Val,” which provided an intimate look at the actor’s life, including his struggle with throat cancer, his artistic pursuits, and his musings on his career.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, filmmaker Michael Mann expressed admiration for actor Al Pacino’s versatility during their collaboration on the movie “Heat.” After years of Pacino bravely fighting illness and staying strong, Mann finds the recent news of his passing particularly heartbreaking.

As a devoted fan, I’m rephrasing Josh Brolin’s heartfelt Instagram post about Val Kilmer:

“It’s time to say goodbye, my friend. You’re going to be deeply missed. You were intelligent, bold, and incredibly creative – a rare, fiery spirit in this world. I hope we’ll meet again among the stars one day when it’s my turn. Until then, I’ll cherish the wonderful memories and thoughts of you. ❤️💔❤️💔❤️💔💎 #valkilmer #marktwain”

This post highlights Kilmer’s lifelong passion for Mark Twain, symbolized by the hashtag “#marktwain,” as he portrayed the iconic writer and humorist on screen twice and in the stage production “Citizen Twain.

On Instagram too, actor Josh Gad expressed, “Val Kilmer has passed away. Thank you for shaping countless films from my childhood. You were undoubtedly a legend.

On Bluesky, the Emmy-nominated television writer and comedian Mike Drucker penned, “Val Kilmer seemed like an actor who, regardless of the role or script, consistently grasped the task at hand.

Brian Lynch, the writer of “Minions” and “The Secret Life of Pets,” posted on Bluesky: “Val Kilmer… unparalleled talent in films like ‘The Doors’, ‘Top Secret!’, ‘Tombstone’, ‘Top Gun’, ‘Real Genius’, ‘Willow’, ‘Batman Forever’, ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’, ‘True Romance’, ‘Macgruber’, and ‘Heat’. May he find peace.”

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On Bluesky, Brian Lynch, the screenwriter for “Minions” and “The Secret Life of Pets”, paid tribute to Val Kilmer: “A one-of-a-kind actor in movies such as ‘The Doors’, ‘Top Secret!’, ‘Tombstone’, ‘Top Gun’, ‘Real Genius’, ‘Willow’, ‘Batman Forever’, ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’, ‘True Romance’, ‘Macgruber’, and ‘Heat’. Rest in peace, Val Kilmer.

Pablo Hidalgo, an executive at Lucasfilm, posted on Bluesky: “Gosh, it’s not Val Kilmer! He was hilarious with exceptional comic timing, but there was also a deep, intriguing turmoil hidden beneath. Madmartigan was truly iconic.

Renowned film critic Richard Roeper tweeted, “Val Kilmer deserved a Best Supporting Actor nomination for ‘Tombstone’ and ‘Heat’. He was an outstanding element in some of the most lasting movies of his era. Rest in peace. Thanks for your remarkable contributions.

Bill Simmons, the proprietor of Ringer, expressed on Twitter, “There was no one quite similar to Val Kilmer. I truly appreciated his performances. Rest In Peace.

From the official Twitter account of Top Gun movie, they posted: “Reminiscing about Val Kilmer, whose unforgettable influence on cinema transcended various film genres and touched multiple generations. Farewell, Iceman.

Similarly to numerous other social media users, Indonesian filmmaker Timo Tjahjanto (known for films like “The Shadow Strays” and “Nobody 2“), shared a notable scene from the movie “Heat“, where Kilmer’s character has a poignant interaction with Ashley Judd’s character for the last time. Tjahjanto expressed, “A brilliant demonstration of saying nothing yet expressing everything. Farewell, in tranquility.

Actress Sasha Grey expressed her condolences on X by saying, “Farewell Val Kilmer, a true icon. His roles in some of my cherished films will always be memorable. My sympathies go out to his loved ones 🙏 He passed away at the age of 65.

More to come…

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2025-04-02 08:54