Val Kilmer shared final art piece on Instagram the week before his death

Val Kilmer, known for portraying the character of Batman in the 1995 film Batman Forever, passed away on April 1. The actor died after having contracted pneumonia, his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, revealed to the New York Times. Val Kilmer was 65 at the time of his death.

Mercedes Kilmer also told the New York Times that the actor had been diagnosed with throat cancer back in 2014; however, the actor had beaten the disease.

Apart from Batman Forever, Kilmer also appeared in numerous blockbusters in the late 80s and 90s, which included films such as the Tom Cruise starrer Top Gun, Oliver Stone’s The Doors, and Michael Mann’s Heat. Apart from being an actor on both stage and film, Kilmer was a passionate artist.

Before he passed away, Kilmer posted one of his artworks to Instagram on March 23. The abstract work was described eloquently by the actor and artist, who wrote,

“It’s got that late-night glow. Cool tones with a low burn, like when the camp fire cools down but you’re still wide awake.”

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Val Kilmer’s career as an artist

Val Kilmer always carried an artistic streak. The actor got his first start in the performing arts when he was accepted into the prestigious Juilliard School at the age of 17, according to BBC. Kilmer’s website notes that it was at Juilliard that the legend co-wrote a play titled How It All Began.

Kilmer first began dabbling in art during the production of the 2003 film, Wonderland. As per the multi-pronged artist’s website, who also wrote poetry, Kilmer began an art and photography series of the behind the scenes with Ali Alborzi, a project that was released as a photo book that was exhibited across the globe.

Kilmer, who frequently posted images of his abstract artworks to his Instagram account, had his debut New York exhibition, titled 'VALHOLLA,' in 2017. At the time, Kilmer spoke to The Observer of the intent behind the artwork on display, saying,

"I’ve been in a transition and focusing in on this moment of moving through a period of my life as the concept of a black hole—ones [sic] third act or for an actor, from lead to character parts. Its [sic] this moment of identifying the passageway, that black hole moment, and the promise or recognition that it’s not black at all.”

As per Observer, Kilmer’s dedication to his work was such that he has also made himself available at the gallery during the exhibition at certain times.

Kilmer also began a project, Kamp Kilmer, which, through a gallery and a studio, sought to back emerging artists, as per Kilmer’s website.

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Tributes pour in for Val Kilmer

Kilmer touched many hearts during his time in Hollywood. Icons such as Francis Ford Coppola took to Instagram to mourn the actor’s death. Coppola wrote,

“Val Kilmer was the most talented actor when in his High School, and that talent only grew greater throughout his life. He was a wonderful person to work with and a joy to know — I will always remember him.”

Heat director Michael Mann also wrote a tribute to the actor, praising his skill and talent. Mann wrote,

“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.”

Fans and well-wishers of the actor and artist will remember the legend who, alongside gracing the big screen, was also an artist in his own right.