Heartbreaking new details in Val Kilmer’s cause of death have been uncovered just nine days after his demise aged 65. The iconic film star, widely known for hits including Batman and Top Gun, died from pneumonia on April 1, a death certificate issued by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and obtained by confirmed, after his daughter revealed the lung infection killed her father last week.
Underlying causes listed on the death certificate are ‘acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, chronic respiratory failure, and squamous cell carcinoma of the base of the tongue. Additional factors noted on the death certificate include malnutrition and a tracheocutaneous fistula. Kilmer was cremated April 7, the document said.
Squamous cell carcinoma, also known as laryngeal cancer, is a type of cancer that develops in the thin, flat ells lining the throat, including the larynx and pharynx.
Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure is ‘a condition where you don’t have enough oxygen in the tissues in your body (hypoxia) or when you have too much carbon dioxide in your blood (hypercapnia).”The official ruling on the ‘Tombstone’ star’s cause of death corroborated a previous statement made by his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer. The actress, 33, shared that her father passed away from pneumonia April 1 in LA.
Widely known for his iconic roles in ‘The Doors,” “Batman Forever” and “Heat,” Kilmer’s health deteriorated after he was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2016, but in 2021, he declared he was cancer-free.
The cancer treatments did take a toll on Kilmer’s body, however. Aside from undergoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy, Kilmer had two tracheotomies to create an artificial hole in his neck to help him breather. The surgeries permanently damaged his vocal cords and left him barely able to speak.
“I can’t speak without plugging this hole,” he said in his 2021 documentary “Val” produced by Mercedes and his son, Jack Kilmer, 29. “You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat.” Kilmer added, referring to a feeding tube.
“It’s an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me. I’m still recovering, and it is difficult to talk and to be understood. But I want to tell my story more than ever.”In his final film performance, reprising his role as Iceman in 2022’s “Top Gun: Maverick,” AI technology was used to revive his voice.