EXCLUSIVE: How Val Kilmer's Cancer Treatments Left Him Unable to Talk and Caused His Premature Death — as 'Top Gun' Star Is Remembered One Year After His Demise
Val Kilmer died on April 1, 2025.
April 1 2026, Published 2:23 p.m. ET
Val Kilmer beat throat cancer, but his battle with the illness left him with limited speaking abilities and a potentially compromised immune system.
More than 10 years after his diagnosis, the Top Gun actor died at 65 years old, and according to a doctor, the cancer treatments that saved his life may have actually contributed to his death, RadarOnline.com can exclusively reveal.
Val Kilmer's Cancer Treatments May Have Damaged His Immune System
Val Kilmer contracted pneumonia shortly before his death.
While Kilmer's family confirmed that his cause of death was pneumonia, Dr. Gabe Mirkin, who was not involved with treating the Hollywood star, explained that "treatments for cancer often suppress your immune system" – even after recovery – and can "make a cancer survivor more susceptible" to other illnesses.
"Your body just doesn’t have a great ability to fight back," he continued. "It’s ironic that we can cure cancer — but we may also kill people by curing it!"
Val Kilmer Was Unable to Narrate His Own Documentary
Val Kilmer struggled to speak in his final years.
His cancer treatments included chemotherapy, radiation therapy and a tracheostomy – which the Mayo Clinic defines as a surgically created hole in the windpipe, otherwise known as a stoma, that is made to help a patient breathe.
However, the surgeries left him with difficulties speaking and his voice became "progressively worse" over the years. In 2021, a source revealed that Kilmer spoke with the aid of a voice box and was unable to speak well enough to narrate a documentary detailing his storied life.
A source claimed Val Kilmer 'losing his voice' was a 'hard price to pay.'
"Val really wanted to narrate his documentary, but even he had to agree it was better done by someone else," the source shared at the time. "He says he’s doing better, but no one really believes that the moment he utters a word — or tries to."
"He may have conquered throat cancer, but losing his voice has been a hard price to pay," added the source.
Fans Remember Val Kilmer on 1-Year Death Anniversary
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Fans reflected on Val Kilmer's iconic Hollywood career one year after his passing.
On the one-year anniversary of Kilmer's death, fans took to social media to mourn the loss and remember some of his most iconic roles.
One X user wrote, "It's already been 1 year without Val Kilmer and I'm still just as sad," and another person penned, "Wow, that was fast. Gone way too soon!"
Others called him "one of a kind" and a "true cinema legend" who would be "forever missed" in heartfelt tributes.
An additional fan praised, "He truly was everyone's wingman, everyone's Huckleberry, my first Batman, and quite a charismatic Moses..." referring to his characters in Top Gun, Tombstone, Batman Forever and The Prince of Egypt.
Another person chimed in, "We all miss him but at least to say he is free from pain. But what a legacy this man left behind. We all miss you VK," and a final fan said, "R.I.P. Val we appreciate all the fine entertainment you left us with to enjoy."
