Val Kilmer and a Voice and Frame Reshaped by Illness
Val Kilmer garnered fame starring in films such as 1986's Top Gun, 1991's The Doors, and 1995's Batman Forever, after which he largely stepped away from leading parts. Following years of public speculation, he confirmed a throat cancer diagnosis in 2017; subsequent treatment, including a tracheotomy, significantly altered both his voice and physical appearance. The 2021 documentary "Val," compiled from decades of his private video archives, chronicled these changes in his own words. He returned to his role as Iceman in Top Gun Maverick in 2022, with some of his dialogue generated by an AI voice tool developed from his earlier recordings. Kilmer died in April 2025, and his documentary remains one of the most candid records of a star's personal transformation.