Val Kilmer's family tragedy that haunted him for years and inspired harrowing acting role

Hollywood actor was one of the highest-earning actors during the 1990s, known for his memorable roles in Top Gun, Batman Forever, and The Doors. But before finding fame, the star was hit by a family tragedy that haunted him for years, with the heartbreak later inspiring one of his acting jobs.

The filmstar sadly died at his on Tuesday, April 1, his daughter confirmed. The actor had previously suffered with throat cancer after a diagnosis in 2014, a health battle that rendered him speechless and largely absent from the public eye for several years before making a recovery.

was born on December 31, 1959, in Los Angeles, California and was the second of three sons to Gladys Swanette and Eugene Dorris Kilmer. His mother was of Swedish descent, although his lineage also includes Irish, German, and Cherokee roots. His father was a real estate developer, and his parents divorced when he was just nine years old in 1968.

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His mother went on to marry William Bernard Leach in 1970. Kilmer's lineage includes a grandfather who was a gold miner in New Mexico, close to the Arizona border. In 1977, the family faced tragedy when Kilmer's younger brother Wesley, who suffered from epilepsy, tragically drowned in a hot tub when he was just 15 years old.

The incident deeply affected Kilmer, and the loss was at the heart of his 2002 performance in 'The Salton Sea', which was about a man riddled with guilt after witnessing his wife's murder and being unable to save her. In an interview with in 2002, Kilmer shared: "There are several points in the movie where the guy just can't go on."

Reflecting on his own traumatic experience, he said: "I didn't really get back to earth until about two or three years after my brother died." Kilmer had also praised Wesley for his filmmaking skills and said that "he was a genius."

Following the devastating loss, Kilmer became one of the youngest students to be accepted into the acting program at Juilliard School in New York, at just 17 years old. He went on to have a hugely successful career and was one of the highest-earning actors of the 1990s. Films featuring Kilmer have raked in over $3.7 billion at the global box office.

He is recognised by fans for his iconic roles as Batman in 1995's Batman Forever and Iceman in the Top Gun films. Kilmer's last appearance on the big screen was when he reprised his role as Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky for a cameo in the 2022 sequel Top Gun: Maverick.

In a 2023 interview with Jimmy Kimmel, who also returned for the sequel, reflected on Kilmer's cameo: "I just want to say that was pretty emotional." He continued: "I've known Val for decades, and for him to come back and play that character... he's such a powerful actor that he instantly became that character again."

Kilmer's character, Iceman, was a rival to Cruise's Maverick in the film series. Fans will recall Kilmer's memorable line to Maverick in Top Gun: "You can be my wingman any time."