Actor Val Kilmer would have been 66 on December 31, 2025. His daughter, Mercedes, didn’t let the occasion pass without acknowledging her late father, posting a touching tribute to him on Instagram. The post included a photo carousel rich with images of Kilmer across his life and career, from his earliest days to his biggest roles.
“So grateful to all my friends for getting me through 2025,” Mercedes captioned the post, acknowledging those who helped her navigate this devastating loss. Kilmer passed away in April 2025 after contracting pneumonia.
Mercedes Supported Her Dad Through Battling Throat Cancer
GettyIn 2017, Kilmer revealed to fans that he was battling throat cancer. A few years later, Mercedes told People about supporting her dad through that difficult time. “The health challenges have been just that, challenging, but so many good things have come out of it,” Mercedes said. She went on to explain that she had the chance to meet some of her father’s old friends in the process. “There are so many beautiful things that happen when you need help from people,” she said.
The interview also revealed how close Mercedes was to her dad, which makes his death even more tragic. “My dad is such a smart and creative person that I love hanging out with, even if he wasn’t my dad, too,” she explained. “Heâs a good friend of mine.”
Kilmer Continued Acting Despite Health Issues
GettyDespite battling cancer, Kilmer continued acting until only a few years before his death. One of the highlights of his late career is 2020’s “Paydirt,” which is special because it was a family affair. Mercedes starred alongside her dad in the action flick, and his performance opened her eyes to the challenges entertainers with disabilities face.
“It revealed how much I had to gain from working with people who have different abilities,” she said. “My dadâs able to very artfully circumvent the limitations of his speech, so I learned so much watching him, how he communicated physically.” As part of his cancer treatments, Kilmer underwent a tracheotomy, which changed the sound of his voice.
His final role was in 2022’s “Top Gun: Maverick,” where he reprised one of his most iconic characters. He starred in the film alongside real-life close friend Tom Cruise, and their shared screen time is a major highlight of the movie. In addition to Mercedes, Kilmer left behind his son, Jack, and countless heartbroken fans, friends, and Hollywood colleagues.
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