Val Kilmer's official cause of death revealed days after actor died at 65
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Val Kilmer's cause of death has been revealed, nine days after his death on April 1 at his LA home.
According to the 65-year-old actor's death certificate released by the LA County Department of Health on Thursday, the cause of death has now been confirmed as pneumonia.
Notably, Kilmer, whose death was confirmed by his daughter, had struggled with health issues in the past, including a battle with throat cancer in 2015.
How did Val Kimer die?
Val Kilmer’s official cause of death has been revealed in a death certificate obtained by TMZ from the Los Angeles Department of Health.
According to the document, the actor died from "acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, chronic respiratory failure, and squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue."
Squamous cell carcinoma, also known as laryngeal cancer, is a form of cancer that affects the thin, flat cells lining the throat, including the larynx and pharynx.
Kilmer had a well-documented battle with throat cancer, first diagnosed 11 years ago. He underwent multiple emergency tracheotomies, which permanently altered his voice. In 2020, he shared that he had been cancer-free for four years, but the death certificate confirms the disease had returned.
Additional contributing factors to his death included malnutrition and a tracheocutaneous fistula, an abnormal opening between the trachea and the skin that can occur following the removal of a tracheostomy tube. Following his death, the actor’s body was cremated.
Last week, Val Kilmer’s children, Mercedes and Jack, shared a heartfelt statement with People, expressing their appreciation to those paying tribute to their late father and his enduring legacy.
The statement read, “We are so proud of him and honored to see his legacy celebrated. At this time, we would like to grieve privately.”
Mercedes later confirmed that her father died from pneumonia at his Los Angeles home.
Val Kilmer had close bond with daughter Mercedes
Val Kilmer made his final public appearance in 2019, joined by his daughter Mercedes at the annual Thespians Go Hollywood Gala at Avalon Hollywood.
The moment marked a touching display of their close bond, a relationship Kilmer often spoke about with great pride, as per Daily Mail.
Throughout his career, Val prioritized his children, Mercedes and Jack, especially during his health challenges and the demands of Hollywood.
He once shared that he turned down offers from "10 really great directors" to focus on his family.
"I can't be a responsible parent and only be there three or four months a year," he explained, underscoring his commitment to fatherhood over fame.
Mercedes, too, has spoken about growing up in the spotlight. In a 2017 interview, she said she couldn’t “remember not being aware” of her parents’ celebrity status. Rather than grappling with fame, she learned to navigate how others perceived her family.
In a personal and painful memory, Mercedes recalled being hit by a car shortly after Val’s cancer diagnosis—an event that led to both father and daughter being hospitalized at the same time. Despite these challenges, their connection only deepened.
In 2020, Mercedes described her dad as not just a father but “a good friend” and “a smart and creative person” she’d want to spend time with regardless of their relation.
