Val Kilmer has died

Mercedes also noted that Val had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, but later recovered from the disease.

The actor made his movie debut in 1984 spy spoof 'Top Secret!' but was best known for his portrayals of the late rocker Jim Morrison in 1991 biopic 'The Doors', the Caped Crusader in 'Batman Forever', and Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky in 1986's 'Top Gun'

Val's final movie appearance came in 2022's 'Top Gun: Maverick', where he reprised his role as Iceman and shared a brief and "emotional" moment with co-star Tom Cruise.

His pal told talk show host Jimmy Kimmel in 2023: "I just want to say that was pretty emotional.

"I've known Val for decades, and for him to come back and play that character... he's such a powerful actor that he instantly became that character again."

Val was born in Los Angeles in 1959 and his younger years were blighted by the death of his younger brother Wesley, who drowned in a swimming pool at the age of 15 in 1977.

He became one of the youngest students ever admitted to the acting programme at Juilliard in New York when he was 17, and he went on to make his Broadway debut in 1983 in 'The Slab Boys' and had a number of stage roles before transitioning to the big screen.

He met actress Joanne Whalley on the set of 1988's 'Willow' and they went on to have Mercedes in 1991 and son Jack in 1995 but divorced in 1996.

After years of speculation about his health, Val confirmed in December 2017 that he had been battling throat cancer and had undergone a procedure that left him short of breath and raspy-voiced.

His confirmation came after he had denied having a tumour in January 2015 after his spokesperson had said he'd been rushed to hospital for a "possible tumour".

He wrote on Facebook at the time: "I have not had a tumor, or a tumor operations, or any operation I had a complication where the best way to receive care was to stay under the watchful eye of the UCLA ICU.

"I am praying for a speedy return to the boards as they say. God bless you all and please don't worry.(sic)"

And he shut down further speculation, despite being spotted with a tracheostomy tube in October 2015 though he was without the breathing aid when seen again five months later.

Val's difficult recovery was documented in 2021's documentary 'Val', which was directed by Leo Scott and Ting Poo and produced by the actor himself along with his two children.