Val Kilmer, who passed away at 65 from pneumonia complications, faced health challenges for nearly a decade, including a battle with cancer that he initially downplayed due to his Christian Science beliefs. His treatment journey evolved as he prioritized his children’s emotional well-being, leading to surgeries and therapies. In his later years, he utilized AI to recreate his voice for his role in “Top Gun: Maverick,” expressing gratitude for the technology that allowed him to communicate authentically despite his struggles.
Val Kilmer’s Battle with Illness
Val Kilmer passed away at the age of 65 due to complications from pneumonia. His health struggles began nearly a decade ago, although he had a different perspective on these events.
Since 2014, speculation surrounding Kilmer’s health has been rampant. He consistently refuted his cancer diagnosis for a long time, attributing his silence to his religious beliefs. In 2015, following a hospital visit, he took to Facebook to quash rumors about a tumor, asserting, “I have neither a tumor nor a tumor operation or any operation.” However, in 2016, his friend and fellow actor Michael Douglas revealed that Kilmer was battling the same illness he had been diagnosed with, a claim Kilmer again denied. It wasn’t until two years later that he openly discussed his cancer diagnosis during a Reddit Q&A, claiming he was in remission.
The Influence of Faith on Kilmer’s Treatment Choices
Val Kilmer was a devout follower of ‘Christian Science,’ which emphasizes healing through faith rather than conventional medical practices. In a 2020 interview with the ‘New York Times,’ he expressed that, according to his beliefs, a diagnosis is more of a claim than a fact. Initially, Kilmer intended to forgo traditional treatments and confront his cancer solely through prayer and faith. However, his perspective shifted due to the concerns of his children, Jack and Mercedes. “I just didn’t want to experience their fear, which was very great,” he shared. “I would have had to leave, and I just didn’t want to be without them.”
This change in approach led to a series of surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments, ultimately resulting in the need for a tracheostomy and feeding tube. While his medical team considered the treatments successful, Kilmer often expressed that he believed his faith and prayers were responsible for his healing, viewing the medical interventions as detrimental. In his 2019 memoir, ‘I’m Your Huckleberry,’ he claimed to have been cancer-free for over four years, referring to his recovery as a ‘miraculous healing.’
Thanks to his faith, Kilmer had no fear of death. “When someone tells you that you have only four months to live, remember that time is a human concept. In the divine realm, time does not exist,” he remarked.
Reviving His Voice with Modern Technology
One of Kilmer’s final roles was in the 2022 film ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’ The screenplay cleverly integrated Kilmer’s real-life battle with cancer into the narrative, showcasing his character, Iceman, communicating with Tom Cruise’s character through typed words on a computer. In reality, Kilmer used an esophageal voice, a newly learned method of speaking that often sounded distant. He sought to restore his original voice through the use of artificial intelligence, providing the company Sonantic with extensive archival recordings to create a voice model.
In a heartfelt statement, Kilmer reflected on this innovative technology, stating, “As human beings, the ability to communicate is at the core of our existence. The effects of laryngeal cancer have made communication challenging, and the opportunity to share my story with a voice that feels authentic is an incredibly special gift.”