Why is "RIP Doc" trending on X? Val Kilmer's character in Tombstone explored after actor's death

Val Kilmer has died at the age of 65.

The homegrown Hollywood actor renowned for his work as Doc Holliday in Tombstone and Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever met his demise this Tuesday in Los Angeles. His daughter, Mercedes, told the New York Times that the cause was pneumonia, though he had been battling throat cancer since 2014 and eventually recovered.

In the wake of his death, "RIP Doc" has begun trending on X, with scores online inundating the platform with condolences and sharing their grievances. Kilmer's Doc Holliday was one of the main characters in the 1993 Western film. He is a gunfighter cum gambler who helps his best friend, Wyatt Earp, fight The Cowboys, a notorious criminal gang.

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Val Kilmer's life and legacy explored:

Paying his respects on Instagram, Heat director Michael Mann said of Val Kilmer:

"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."

Actor James Woods also chimed in:

"His rendition of Doc Holliday in Tombstone was what every actor dreams of achieving. So many wonderful performances. Sad to lose him so soon."

The veteran actor starred in some of the most prolific movies of the 1980s and 90s, including Top Gun and The Doors. However, he had to undergo tracheotomy surgery because of the cancer, effectively curtailing his acting career. Nonetheless, he made a comeback as fighter pilot Iceman alongside Tom Cruise in the 2022 film Top Gun: Maverick.

Josh Gad also echoed the sentiments on social media, noting that he defined "so many of the movies of my childhood" and referring to Kilmer as "an icon." Josh Brolin also penned a tribute, noting that he's going to "miss" the actor, adding, "You were a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker. There's not a lot left of those."

Back in 2021, a documentary that chronicled his life came out, titled Val. His son filled in for the actor's voice, and the film drew from hundreds of hours of footage taken over the course of Val Kilmer's career, showcasing a new insight into his work as an actor.

Born Val Edward Kilmer on December 31, 1959, Kilmer was raised in a middle-class family in Los Angeles. At the age of 17, he became the youngest student to ever enroll at the Julliard School in New York. In 1988, he married British actress Joanne Whalley, and they eventually welcomed two children. However, they parted ways in 1996.

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Val Kilmer leaves behind his daughter, Mercedes, and his son, Jack.