Celebrities are paying tribute to 'Top Gun' star Val Kilmer after his death: 'Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood'
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- Actor Val Kilmer died on Tuesday in Los Angeles at age 65.
- He was known for starring alongside Tom Cruise in the 1986 film "Top Gun," which became a cult classic.
- Fellow celebrities and friends are paying tribute to the actor on social media.
Celebrities are paying tribute to Val Kilmer after he died at age 65 on Tuesday.
His daughter confirmed to The New York Times that pneumonia was the cause of the actor's death.
Kilmer was previously diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 but recovered. However, due to a tracheostomy, his voice was permanently damaged.
He was known for his roles in 1986's "Top Gun," 1991's "The Doors," and 1995's "Batman Forever."
Following the news of Kilmer's death, friends and fellow celebrities shared their reactions on social media.
Josh Brolin shared a heartfelt message to Kilmer
Actor Josh Brolin, who portrays Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, shared a heartfelt message to Kilmer on Instagram.
"See ya, pal. I'm going to miss you. You were a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker. There's not a lot left of those. I hope to see you up there in the heavens when I eventually get there. Until then, amazing memories, lovely thoughts," Brolin wrote in his caption.
Michael Mann posted a throwback photo of Kilmer
"While working with Val on 'Heat' I always marvelled at the range, the brilliant variability within the powerful current of Val's possessing and expressing character. After so many years of Val battling disease and maintaining his spirit, this is tremendously sad news," filmmaker Michael Mann wrote in his caption.
Mann worked with Kilmer in 1995's crime drama film "Heat," which also starred Robert DeNiro and Al Pacino.
Josh Gad thanked Kilmer for being a part of many movies from his childhood
Josh Gad, best known for voicing Olaf in Disney's "Frozen" franchise and for playing Elder Arnold Cunningham in the Broadway musical "The Book of Mormon," shared a tribute to Kilmer on Instagram along with a photo of the "Top Gun" star.
"RIP Val Kilmer. Thank you for defining so many of the movies of my childhood. You truly were an icon," Gad wrote in his caption.
Matthew Modin shared an anecdote about meeting Val Kilmer in 1985
"RIP Val Kilmer. If it wasn't for our chance encounter at the Source in 1985, I may never have been cast in FULL METAL JACKET. Thanks, Val," Matthew Modin, who also starred in "Stranger Things," wrote on X.
Accompanying Modin's post was a video telling how his bumping into Kilmer in a restaurant on Sunset Boulevard set off a chain of events that eventually culminated in him getting cast in Stanley Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket."
Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash posted a photo of Kilmer from the film "Tombstone"
In the 1993 film, Kilmer plays the American outlaw Doc Holliday.
"RIP #ValKilmer," Slash wrote in his caption.