KATHMANDU: The legendary Hollywood actor Val Kilmer, who most famously portrayed Batman in the film Batman Forever released in 1995, passed away on April 1 aged 65. Kilmer had just beaten a battle with throat cancer before meeting his untimely demise in Los Angeles. His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed the news.

According to The New York Times, Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014. Although he initially recovered, he later developed pneumonia and could not regain his health. His battle with cancer became severe in 2017, affecting his ability to breathe and speak. A surgical procedure inserted an electronic voice box, and he got a tremendous amount of chemotherapy. By the year 2020, Kilmer was declared cancer-free, but his condition continued to deteriorate, causing difficulty for him to eat, so he became reliant on a feeding tube.

Val Kilmer began his career in acting with Top Secret! in 1984 and had been a part of iconic films like The Ghost and the Darkness, The Saint, Alexander, and Top Gun: Maverick (2022), which was his final one. In 2021, Kilmer collaborated with a London-based AI company, Sonantic, to restore his voice digitally with the aid of artificial intelligence.

His work in the film industry is still unparalleled, and his resilience in tough times during illness continues to inspire cinema lovers worldwide.