VAL Kilmer spent the last 24 years of his life single despite having a string of public relationships with some of Hollywood’s brightest stars.
He made a heartbreaking revelation about his faltering love life in the years before his tragic death as he admitted to feeling “lonely every day”.
Co-stars Val Kilmer and Angelina Jolie, who later dated, at the premiere of Alexander in 2004[/caption]
Kilmer met his ex-wife and mum of his two children Joanne Whalley on the set of 1988 hit Willow[/caption]
Kilmer always confessed to loving actress Daryl Hannah more than any previous woman[/caption]
The Batman and Top Gun star passed away at the age of 65 in Los Angeles on Tuesday after suffering from pneumonia.
He was surrounded by his family and friends when he was pronounced dead but a wife or close lover was notably absent from his bedside.
Kilmer spent almost two and half decades living alone without a partner despite having one whirlwind marriage and several other high profile Hollywood relationships.
He was always viewed as a Casanova to those who knew him with many of his on-screen flings turning into lovers in the 80s, 90s and even into the early 2000s.
But after a number of unfortunate failed attempts at falling in love forever, Kilmer decided to live a quiet life by himself.
In his 2020 memoir titled I’m Your Huckleberry, the then 60-year-old actor spoke out about how being a single man has affected him.
He said he has always been interested in women more than men even as just friends.
Kilmer said: “Perhaps that’s why we’ve always gotten along. We are big oafy elephants and they are butterflies.”
In a heartbreaking admission later on in the book, he stated: “I haven’t had a girlfriend in 20 years.
“The truth is I am lonely part of every day.”
Kilmer was once considered to be a Hollywood heartthrob with his most well known relationship ending up in a marriage and two children.
Kilmer met Joanne Whalley in 1987 when they paid acted alongside each other in the hit film Willow.
They started dating shortly after filming and quickly tied the knot just a year later.
Joanne, an actress from Salford, Greater Manchester, was seen to many as the love of Kilmer’s life when the pair announced the birth of baby girl Mercedes in 1991.
Less than four years later, Joanne welcomed young Jack into the world.
A year later, the couple announced a shock split as they both amicably went their separate ways and divorced.
Kilmer would also date hit maker Cher, actress Michelle Pfeiffer and supermodel Cindy Crawford.
Despite the a-list names in his dating history, Kilmer always confessed to loving and missing one woman the most.
His short lived relationship with actress Daryl Hannah in 2001 was particularly impactful to the actor.
He said years after they split: “Lord knows I’ve suffered heartache. But Daryl was by far the most painful of all.
“I knew I would love her with my whole heart forever and that love has lost none of its strength. I am still in love with Daryl.”
The breakup was so devastating that Kilmer even admitted: “I cried every single day for half a year.”
Hannah would go on to marry Neil Young in 2018 with the pair still together today.
Val’s Hollywood loves
VAL Kilmer was once known as the prickly Hollywood playboy who managed to grow close to several female celebrity elites during his decades at the top.
- Cher – In the early 1980s, Kilmer was introduced to singer and actress Cher. Initially skeptical about meeting her, he soon discovered her to be “the funniest person you’ll ever meet.” Their relationship blossomed, leading Kilmer to move into Cher’s residence at Caesars Palace during her Las Vegas residency. He reflected, “Cher trafficked an intoxicating glamour and I, a Valley boy, fell under her spell.” Despite parting ways romantically, they maintained a lifelong friendship.
- Michelle Pfeiffer – Kilmer’s connection with actress Michelle Pfeiffer began in 1985 on the set of “One Too Many.” Although brief, their relationship was significant during that period.
- Joanne Whalley – While filming “Willow” in 1987, Kilmer met British actress Joanne Whalley. Their on-set chemistry led to marriage in 1988. The couple had two children: daughter Mercedes, born in 1991, and son Jack, born in 1995. Despite their shared experiences, the marriage ended in divorce in 1996.
- Cindy Crawford – Following his divorce, Kilmer was linked to supermodel Cindy Crawford. He admired her deeply, expressing: “I thought I could have died from her love because its delight was simply too much to bear.” However, their demanding careers made sustaining the relationship challenging.
- Angelina Jolie – In 2004, on the set of “Alexander,” Kilmer met actress Angelina Jolie. He described her as “perhaps the most soulful and serious of them all,” noting: “She’s like other women and other superstars but just more. More gorgeous. More wise. More tragic. More magic. More grounded.” Their relationship was brief but left a lasting impression on Kilmer.
- Daryl Hannah – Kilmer’s relationship with actress Daryl Hannah in 2001 was particularly impactful. He confessed: “Lord knows I’ve suffered heartache. But Daryl was by far the most painful of all.” He continued: “I knew I would love her with my whole heart forever and that love has lost none of its strength. I am still in love with Daryl.” The breakup was so devastating that Kilmer admitted, “I cried every single day for half a year.”
After the heartache of his split from Hannah, Kilmer only managed to have one final foray in the dating pool.
In 2004, he again grew close to a co-worker on the set of “Alexander” when he met actress Angelina Jolie.
He described her as “perhaps the most soulful and serious of them all”.
Adding: “She’s like other women and other superstars but just more.
“More gorgeous. More wise. More tragic. More magic. More grounded.”
Their relationship faded shortly after Alexander was released when Angelina met Brad Pitt on the set of Mr & Mrs Smith.
Inside Kilmer’s incredible career
The actor spent 38 years rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s biggest movie stars from Robert De Niro and Al Pacino to Robert Downey Jr and Tom Cruise.
He first appeared in slapstick comedy Top Secret! in 1984 before landing a role in Top Gun two year later as his career took off.
In 1988, he played the lead role in Willow alongside his former wife Joanne before starring in a string of 90s classics.
He played Jim Morrison in The Doors in 1991 before featuring in Quentin Tarantino’s second ever screenplay True Romance in 1993.
Kilmer in his first major Hollywood role in Top Gun[/caption]
Kilmer arguably had the best year of his life in 1995 as he played the role of Bruce Wayne and Batman and starred in Heat alongside legendary duo Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.
Throughout the next 20 years, Kilmer started to play a range of role in musicals, TV shows and even doing voice overs for children’s movies.
These included Knight Rider, Planes and The Ten Commandments before his final brief role back in the Top Gun universe in 2022.
He had to bravely fight to return to the big screen for Top Gun: Maverick after almost a decade battling with serious health issues.
In 2014, he was diagnosed with throat cancer and left needing a voice box to speak.
Kilmer underwent major surgery including a tracheotomy which significantly impacted his speech but ultimately helped him defeat the disease.
Inside Kilmer’s health battles
BY Milad Sherzad, Sun News Reporter
VAL Kilmer was left using an electronic voice box and feeding tube after bravely battling throat cancer before his death aged 65.
The legendary actor began his battle in 2014 and later underwent chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.
This tough fight forced him to step back from the Hollywood spotlight for a number of years.
After undergoing both radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the star underwent a tracheostomy in 2015 to help him breathe.
This procedure permanently damaged his vocal cords and left the iconic actor’s voice forever altered.
He was forced to use an electric voice box on the artificial hole in his throat in order to speak.
Kilmer would cover his neck in a scarf following the surgery to hide the device.
In a candid Amazon Prime documentary entitled Val, the Top Gun and Batman Forever star said: “I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel.
“I can’t speak without plugging this hole [in his throat].”
When asked what he missed most about his voice, Kilmer joked about how he “didn’t laugh like a pirate” before the surgery.
The actor also faced numerous other challenges, including having meals given to him through a feeding tube.
He said: “You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat. It’s an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me.”
He had initially kept his cancer diagnosis secret before revealing his struggles in 2021.
He explained how he was unaware of his throat cancer until he coughed up “coagulated blood” one day and was rushed to hospital after passing out.
Val Kilmer played the lead role in Batman Forever in the 90s[/caption]
Val Kilmer found fame in the Hollywood blockbuster Top Gun back in the 80s alongside Tom Cruise[/caption]
Kilmer in his final ever film role after returning to the Top Gun franchise speaking to Cruise[/caption]
