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Just days after the heartbreaking news of Val Kilmer’s passing at age 65, his children, Mercedes and Jack, are speaking out with love, pride, and a plea for privacy.
The Top Gun and Batman Forever legend passed away due to pneumonia, after years of health struggles, including a battle with throat cancer that ultimately left him without his natural voice. Kilmer, known for his iconic roles and off-screen resilience, shared his two children with ex-wife and fellow actor Joanne Whalley.
In a joint statement released to People Magazine, Mercedes and Jack shared how deeply touched they are by the public outpouring of love and admiration for their father. “We are proud of our dad,” they said, expressing gratitude for how his legacy has been honored in recent days. The siblings also gently asked for time and space to grieve privately as they begin to navigate life without him.
Mercedes had the difficult task of confirming her father’s death earlier this week, and was later seen leaning on her mother for comfort—an image that captured the weight of the moment for the family.
The father-daughter duo shared a special connection beyond real life—they acted together in the 2020 crime drama Paydirt, where Mercedes played Kilmer’s on-screen daughter. In a past interview with Good Morning America, she spoke of how meaningful it was to share that experience, especially knowing what her dad had endured.
“I’m so proud to have been in this film and to have worked on it—not just because my dad is my dad,” she said, “but because I know people don’t always lead with this, but he had lost his voice, and it really meant something to me to be part of a movie that centered a performer who was disabled.”
Behind the scenes, Mercedes and Jack are now handling arrangements for their father’s funeral, working through grief while honoring his wishes and memory.
Val Kilmer was hospitalized earlier this year, according to TMZ, and despite his health challenges over the last several years, he remained creatively active and deeply loved. His strength and vulnerability made him all the more legendary.