Fans have been sharing their memories of Val Kilmer’s iconic style following news that the Top Gun actor died today (April 2), aged 65.
The news was confirmed by his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, who told the New York Times that the actor had passed away following a battle with pneumonia. The actor was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014.
Kilmer was acclaimed for his breakout role as LT Tom “Iceman” Kazansky opposite Tom Cruise in Top Gun. He was also known for his distinctive portrayals of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s The Doors and Shane Black’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
Other key roles included those in Thunderheart (1992), Tombstone (1993), True Romance (1993), Batman (1995) and Heat (1995).
Fans have been sharing their memories of many of Kilmer’s performances online, not least his acclaimed role in Heat.
On Reddit, an old post that admired Kilmer’s style in the film Heat resurfaced today with fans admiring the iconic watch the actor wore for his role.
Some speculated that the watch in question was a vintage Bvlgari Diagono Chronograph, something also worn by his co-star Al Pacino in other scenes in the film.
Meanwhile others have previously speculated that his watch in Heat was the Bvlgari Diagono, but the Scuba version of the watch.
You can see Kilmer in the watch here:
Internet users have also been sharing another famous scene of Kilmer when he wore a Bvlgari in his 1997 film, The Saint. In this scene, his character was asked to hand over his @bvlgari Chronograph in return for help – you can watch it here:
Bvlgari also released 100 special editions of Kilmer’s watch from the film at the time of its release, which you can view here.
It came as tributes poured in for the iconic actor on social media, including from Heat director Michael Mann, who said in a statement: “While working with Val on Heat I always marvelled at the range, the brilliant variability within the powerful current of Val’s possessing and expressing character.
“After so many years of Val battling disease and maintaining his spirit, this is tremendously sad news.”
Francis Ford Coppola, who worked with Kilmer on Twixt, added: “He was a wonderful person to work with and a joy to know — I will always remember him.”
Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, losing his voice following complications after a tracheotomy. He later went on to reprise his role as Lt. Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky in Top Gun: Maverick, which Cruise described as an “emotional” experience for him.
In 2021, Kilmer made a very personal documentary titled Val, in which he detailed his illness with cancer and the subsequent loss of his voice.
Like this? Read more about Bvlgari hosting an extravagant high jewellery gala in London’s National Gallery
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