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Friends, fans and former collaborators are paying tribute to the “Top Gun” star, Val Kilmer, who died Tuesday by Pneumonia, his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, to New York Times. The interim icon, who was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 but then recovered, was 65 years old.

Kilmer broke into Hollywood with comedies of the 1980s as “Top Secret!” and “Real Genius”, but quickly became a protagonist with whom she dealt with: going to face with Tom Cruise in “Top Gun” of 1986, as well as Pacino and Robert De Niro in “Heat” by Michael Mann (1995).

“I always amazed the range, the brilliant variability within the powerful current of the possessor and express character of Val,” Mann told The Hollywood Reporter. “After so many years of Val fighting against the disease and maintaining his spirit, this is a tremendously sad news.”

Kilmer’s courage in front of cancer was reported in the 2021 “Val” documentary. The following year, he repeated his role as Lieutenant Tom “Iceman” Kazansky in “Top Gun: Maverick”, allowing a sweet meeting on screen with Cruise, in what became the final film of Kilmer.

Jason Merritt through Getty Images

His friend and companion actor Josh Brolin shared a sincere tribute on Tuesday on Instagram.

“I know, friend,” Brolin wrote. “I’m going to miss you. You were an intelligent, challenging, brave and super creative firecracker. There are not much left. I hope to see you there in heaven when I finally get there. Until then, incredible memories, charming thoughts.”

Kilmer was one of the most versatile film stars of his time: Cape and Cowl became in “Batman Forever” in 1995, verbally, Robert Downey Jr. in “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang” (2005) and inhabited the deceased Jim Morrison with creepy precision in “The Doors” of 1991.

“Val Kilmer was the most talented actor when he was in his high school, and that talent only increased throughout his life,” wrote the legendary director Francis Ford Coppola on Instagram. “He was a wonderful person to work and a pleasure to know, I will always remember.”

Kilmer left an indelible legacy; An actor of characters committed to the body of a protagonist, his films raised $ 3.8 billion worldwide. The resulting taxes have a similarly similar range, and come from fans of generations and friends who knew Kilmer personally.