Hollywood legend Val Kilmer faced significant health challenges in the years prior his death.
The beloved actor, who passed away on Tuesday at the age of 65 following a battle with pneumonia, was first diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 after he began coughing up blood.
He underwent intensive treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation first.
Read also: Val Kilmer dead at 65: Tributes pour in for Hollywood star of Top Gun and Batman Forever as daughter reveals cause of death
Then the aggressive cancer led to two emergency tracheotomies—procedures that create an opening in the neck- after it caused his tongue to swell and blocked his lymph passages, making it increasingly difficult to breathe.
Though he eventually overcame cancer, the aggressive surgeries, while lifesaving, left him with a permanently altered voice.
By 2020, Kilmer confirmed he had been cancer-free for four years, but the impact on his voice was irreversible.
In 2021, the Batman Forever star opened up about his harrowing health journey in the Amazon Prime documentary Val.
He spoke candidly about the difficult choices he had to make, explaining, “You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat.”
“I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel. I can't speak without plugging this hole," he continued - pointing to his throat.
As well as his voice being affected, the star revealed he was being fed his meals through a tube.
“You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat. It's an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me," he said.
Despite the challenges, he remained determined to share his story and continue his passion for acting.
Against the odds, Kilmer made a triumphant return to the big screen in 2022, reprising his role as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in Top Gun: Maverick alongside longtime friend Tom Cruise.
Due to his impaired speech, his voice in the film was digitally recreated using AI technology, piecing together past recordings to bring his lines to life.
The emotional on-screen reunion between Kilmer and Cruise left audiences moved, with Cruise later admitting that he was brought to tears during the scene.
Fans celebrated Kilmer’s return to the franchise, and Top Gun: Maverick went on to become the highest-grossing film of 2022.
The actor is survived by his two children, Mercedes and son Jack.
