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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsVal Kilmer died in Los Angeles on April 1, 2025, at 65. The Associated Press reported pneumonia as the cause of death, citing confirmation from his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer. Actors and filmmakers including Michael Mann, Josh Brolin, Cher and Nicolas Cage publicly remembered him. The contemporaneous tribute reports cited here do not document a posthumous tribute from Michael Douglas.
What colleagues said about Val Kilmer
Tributes recalled both Kilmer’s work and personal relationships. These are selected remembrances, not a complete list of everyone who paid tribute.
- Michael Mann, who directed Kilmer in Heat, called the news “tremendously sad” after years of Kilmer “battling disease and maintaining his spirit.” Mann also praised the actor’s “range” and “brilliant variability” on the film. (AP)
- Josh Brolin, a friend and fellow actor, remembered Kilmer as “a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker,” adding, “There’s not a lot left of those.” (ABC News)
- Cher, a longtime friend, wrote, “VALUS Will miss u,” and described him as a “GREAT FRIEND” who was “BRAVE here during ur sickness.” (ABC News)
- Nicolas Cage, who had worked with Kilmer, said, “I always liked Val and am sad to hear of his passing. I thought he was a genius actor.” (ABC News)
- Francis Ford Coppola, who directed Kilmer in Twixt, wrote that he was “a wonderful person to work with and a joy to know.” (ABC News)
- Matthew Modine thanked Kilmer for a chance encounter in 1985 that, he said, helped lead to his casting in Full Metal Jacket. The official Top Gun account remembered Kilmer as Iceman, whose “indelible cinematic mark spanned genres and generations.” (ABC News) (TIME)
Did Michael Douglas pay tribute to Val Kilmer?
The cited contemporaneous tribute roundups do not report a posthumous statement from Michael Douglas. They do establish that Douglas and Kilmer had a professional connection: they co-starred in The Ghost and the Darkness, and an Associated Press photo caption places them together at the film’s 1996 premiere. The Guardian’s obituary recounts that Douglas criticized Kilmer’s professionalism during the production. That history is not a tribute after Kilmer’s death. (The Guardian) (AP)
Douglas also spoke about Kilmer’s health in 2016. CBS reported that Kilmer disputed Douglas’s comments, saying Douglas was misinformed. Those earlier remarks likewise should not be presented as a posthumous tribute. (CBS News)
#1 Best Overall
- Widescreen presentation
The roles behind the remembrances
Kilmer’s best-known performances included Iceman in Top Gun (1986), Jim Morrison in The Doors (1991), Doc Holliday in Tombstone (1993), Batman in Batman Forever (1995), and a detective in Mann’s Heat (1995). He later returned as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick (2022). These varied roles help explain why tributes came from both collaborators and colleagues across different parts of his career. (AP)
What is known about Kilmer’s illness and death
AP reported that Kilmer died from pneumonia, citing his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer. He had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014; treatment included two tracheotomies, and ABC News reported that it left him without his voice. The reported cause of death was pneumonia—not throat cancer. (AP) (ABC News)
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.For a first-person view of Kilmer’s life
Kilmer published his memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry, in 2020. The 2021 documentary Val drew on footage from his life and career. They offer different routes into his story: the memoir in his own words and the film through archival material. (AP)
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- COLLECTION CONTENTS: Features both the original 1986 Top Gun and the 2022 sequel Top Gun: Maverick in high-definition Blu-ray format
- REGION FREE: Compatible with Blu-ray players worldwide, allowing viewing across different geographical zones
- STARRING CAST: Features iconic performances from Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer across both films in the high-flying action series
- VIDEO QUALITY: Experience both films in stunning high-definition Blu-ray format, showcasing the spectacular aerial sequences
- STUDIO RELEASE: Official Paramount Pictures presentation of two blockbuster films in one comprehensive collection
Rank #3
- 4K ULTRA HD QUALITY: Experience Tombstone in stunning 4K Ultra HD resolution for exceptional picture clarity and detail.
- STAR-STUDDED CAST: Features iconic performances by Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp and Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday.
- 2-DISC SET: Includes both a 4K Ultra HD disc and a Blu-ray disc for versatile viewing options.
- REGION FREE: Play this disc on any Blu-ray or 4K player worldwide without regional restrictions.
- CLASSIC WESTERN: Relive the legendary 1993 Western film, widely regarded as one of the greatest of its genre.
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