While much of the internet had fun posting pranks and fake news on April 1st, the passing of a beloved actor was not something anyone would have hoped to be real. Sadly, Val Kilmer’s sudden death is not a 4/1 joke, as he has indeed died at age 65. As one Instagram commenter put it, Kilmer was definitely “One HELLA of an Actor!” The legendary California actor starred in many well-known classic films, such as Batman Forever, Tombstone, Willow, Top Secret!, Real Genius, The Doors, and Top Gun, including the 2022 Top Gun: Maverick.
From TV shows to movies, Kilmer had a successful career from the early 80s until recent years, starring in dozens of roles across multiple genres. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with throat cancer back in 2015, which did a number on his vocal cords. Yet, he still kept going strong through the treatment and still kept up with his career as an actor over the years. While many know Kilmer for his roles in the film industry, he was also a talented artist and shared much of his modern artwork on his Instagram, where countless posts are available for fans to enjoy.
Josh Brolin Posts Heartfelt Tribute for Val Kilmer
Josh Brolin, who played Thanos in The Avengers and Gurney in the Dune series, reacted solemnly to Val Kilmer’s death in a heartfelt post on Instagram. “See ya, pal. I’m going to miss you,” Brolin began. He called Kilmer a “smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker,” stating that “there’s not a lot left of those.” He concludes the post by saying he hopes to see the Batman Forever actor again in heaven when he eventually gets there. “Until then, amazing memories, lovely thoughts.” Needless to say, the comments were flooded with fans posting heart emojis and praising the talented late LA actor for all the outstanding and memorable work he’d done.
Likewise, Redditors are torn that Val Kilmer had suddenly died but grateful for the grand legacy of films he’d left behind. One commends his decision to appear in Top Gun: Maverick, his final performance. “He was a fighter and held on for a long time despite a very aggressive and terrible disease.” Another Reddit user chimes in their favorite Kilmer roles: “I loved him in Real Genius, Willow, Tombstone. RIP to our Huckleberry.❤️” A third came in with a few puns using Kilmer’s movie titles in their tribute:
“He was a real genius. Even if some of his older films seem like they were top secret, to me he was always a top gun. He brought heat to every role and always brought viewers through the doors. I hope his tombstone becomes a shrine.”
Some Internet Users Thought Kilmer’s Death Was an April Fool’s
Due to the date of his passing, many initially thought and hoped Val Kilmer’s death was just dark humor. “If this is an April fools joke, f— you. If not, what a terrible death date,” remarks a commenter. “Seriously? No April fools? Thats really sad. Rip,” laments another. “If so, it is in poor taste,” said a third. Plenty more shared their shock and sadness at the news. Whatever the case, he will remembered by millions.
Better words can’t be said from film critic Roger Ebert in 1992: “If there is an award for the most unsung leading man of his generation, Kilmer should get it.”
