Val Kilmer, the American actor who soared to stardom in “Top Gun” and later portrayed iconic characters like Batman and Jim Morrison, has passed away at 65, according to a Tuesday report from the New York Times. His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, revealed to the Times that pneumonia was the cause of death, following his battle with throat cancer diagnosed in 2014, from which he had previously recovered.

Kilmer’s journey in entertainment began on stage before he broke into film with the 1984 Cold War comedy “Top Secret!” His breakout came in 1986 as the brash, taciturn aviator Iceman in “Top Gun,” where he played the foil to Tom Cruise’s Maverick. The role cemented his place in Hollywood, showcasing his ability to command the screen.

A chameleon of an actor, Kilmer’s career evolved with standout performances as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s “The Doors” and as Bruce Wayne in “Batman Forever,” stepping into the cape after Michael Keaton and before George Clooney. Admitted to New York’s prestigious Juilliard School as its youngest-ever student, Kilmer harbored ambitions for serious cinema. Yet, the early 2000s saw him navigating a string of big-budget misfires and forgettable blockbusters.

After years of lower-profile projects, Kilmer was staging a resurgence in the 2010s with a well-received one-man stage show about Mark Twain, which he aimed to adapt into a film. His plans were derailed by his cancer diagnosis. The 2021 documentary “Val,” which chronicled his Hollywood highs and lows—including his struggle to speak amid health challenges—debuted at Cannes, offering an intimate look at his life. That same year, he delighted fans with a cameo as Iceman in “Top Gun: Maverick,” the long-anticipated sequel to his career-defining hit.