Val Kilmer’s family has broken their silence over his tragic death at age 65 earlier this week.
In a statement, obtained by People, his two children, Mercedes and Jack, expressed their gratitude to all those honoring their ‘extraordinary father’s memory.’
‘We are so proud of him and honored to see his legacy celebrated,’ Val’s two kids said. ‘At this time, we would like to grieve privately.’
Mercedes confirmed her father passed away from pneumonia in Los Angeles to the New York Times on Tuesday.
The screen icon was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and underwent surgery, including a tracheotomy which significantly impacted his ability to speak. He was later declared cancer free.
Kilmer was known for his role as Iceman in the 1986 hit movie Top Gun and as Batman/Bruce Wayne in the 1995 Batman Forever. Despite his permanently damaged voice, he made a brief return to the screen in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, reprising his role as Iceman opposite Tom Cruise. It was his final big screen appearance.
Val Kilmer’s family has broken their silence over his shock death at age 65 earlier this week; Val seen with his daughter Mercedes in 2019
The Los Angeles native also famously played musician Jim Morrison in the 1991 film The Doors.
Kilmer underwent both radiotherapy and chemotherapy for his cancer as well as a tracheostomy a procedure to create an artificial hole in this neck to help him breathe.
The latter permanently damaged his vocal cords and consequentially forever altered his speaking voice.
Kilmer reported in 2020 that he had been cancer-free for four years.
In the Amazon Prime documentary entitled Val, Kilmer spoke candidly about living with the consequences of throat cancer including having to use an electric device called a voice box on the artificial hole in his throat to talk.
In a statement, obtained by People , his two children, Mercedes and Jack (seen in 2021), expressed their gratitude to all those honoring their ‘extraordinary father’s memory’
‘I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel. I can’t speak without plugging this hole [in his throat],’ he said.
A voice box device is most commonly a battery-operated machine that produces sound to create a voice, and is used to help those suffering with throat cancer communicate.
The actor, who also had to have meals through a feeding tube, explained some of the other challenges.
‘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.
Val’s son provided the voice-over narration of the documentary but his lines were written by Val himself.
Read the full article here
