Val Kilmer 'cried every day for half a year' after split from one of world's most famous women
Late Top Gun star Val Kilmer previously shared an insight into his love life and admitted that splitting from one of the world's most famous women left him inconsolable
Val Kilmer was left inconsolable for six months after splitting from one of the biggest female movie stars. The late Top Gun star has died aged 65, his daughter has announced. His daughter, Mercedes, confirmed he died from pneumonia. 11 years before his death, Val had been diagnosed with throat cancer and underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy, as well as a tracheostomy which damaged his vocal cords.
In an Amazon Prime documentary, he revealed that he couldn't speak unless he plugged the hole in his throat and had been left deciding whether he wanted to eat or to breathe. "It's an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me," he said.
But in his 2020 memoir, I'm Your Huckleberry, Val gave a rare insight into his life – including his romantic relations with some of the biggest names in entertainment. Over the course of his life, the star dated a string of famous women including Angelina Jolie, Cindy Crawford, Cher and Carly Simon.
However, there was one woman who left him inconsolable following their split. Val dated actress Daryl Hannah after they met in 2001 while working on the film, In God We Trust. He later said that their split was "by far the most painful," heartbreak he had endured over the course of of his life.
"Lord knows I've suffered heartache," he wrote. He went on to add: "But Daryl was by far the most painful of all. I knew I would love her with my whole heart forever and that love has lost none of its strength. I am still in love with Daryl. When we finally broke up, I cried every single day for half a year."
Daryl went on to marry singer Neil Young, with Val joking: "Neil Young, I always loved you, but I'm afraid I hate you now." When Val's health started to decline, it was Cher who was there for him, inviting him to stay at her guest house. "One night, I suddenly awoke vomiting blood that covered the bed like a scene out of The Godfather," he said.
He went on to add: "I prayed immediately then called 911. Then alerted my hostess. Cher stepped in and stepped up." But despite his condition, Cher managed to make Val laugh. He recalled: "And yet even in my grave condition, I saw her scanning the paramedic, who was Gregory Peck drop-dead handsome.
"Only in Hollywood, right? Despite the fact that I was covered in blood, I caught her eye and bounced my brows like Groucho Marx. Hubba hubba. Cher was bashful to be busted but then couldn't help laughing out loud at the audacity. Here we were, joking about beauty and desire, while I looked like a stuntman from Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and, yes, while my life seemed to be in mortal danger.
"We laughed out loud before they finished with my vitals and shut me up with an oxygen mask. Born on New Year's Eve in 1959 in Los Angeles, Kilmer's father Eugene was a real estate developer, while mum Gladys stayed at home to raise her three sons. Middle child Val attended Chatsworth High School at the same time as Kevin Spacey and Mare Winningham and, at the age of 17, was reported to be the youngest person to be given a place at New York’s prestigious Juilliard drama school.
He got his big break in 1984 comedy Top Secret!, in which he also sang, and he also starred in the comedy Real Genius the following year. He married British actress Joanne Whalley in 1988, whom he met while working on the Ron Howard-directed film Willow, which also saw him star alongside Warwick Davis.
The couple had two children before divorcing in 1996. Other films he starred in included 1993 Western Tombstone, alongside Kurt Russell and Bill Paxton, and he also won praise from critics for his turns in The Salton Sea and Kiss Kiss, Bang, Bang. He also starred in Michael Mann’s 1995 crime drama Heat with Hollywood heavyweights Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.
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