Why did Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley divorce? Actor admitted he didn't have a girlfriend in 20 years before his death

The late Val Kilmer met Joanne Walley on the set of Willow, and they got married in 1988. The couple had two children — daughter Mercedes was born in 1991, and son Jack in 1995. The actors were together for eight years, and they divorced in February 1996.

Kilmer shockingly learnt his wife had filed for divorce while watching CNN at his hotel in the Virgin Islands. Men's Journal reports that according to The Times, significant issues in the marriage were caused by:

"constant rumors about his on-set romances" .

Val Kilmer died of pneumonia on April 1, 2025, at the age of 65. Despite enjoying an illustrious career and having a phenomenal filmography, the actor did not find love in the last years of his life.

In his memoir, I'm Your Huckleberry: A Memoir, the late actor revealed a heartbreaking truth about his love life. He wrote:

"I haven’t had a girlfriend in 20 years."

Here's what we know about Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley's divorce

The news of his impending divorce from Joanne Whalley was no less than a surprise for Val Kilmer. When the news broke, he was shooting The Island of Dr. Moreau. According to The Tamba Bay Times, The actor was in his hotel room and heard the upsetting update on CNN. Joanne stated 'irreconcilable differences' as her reason for divorce from Val.

According to Looper, in a conversation with The Telegraph Val expressed how he felt when he came to know the harsh truth of Joanne Whalley leaving him. He said:

"It's a really weird thing, modern divorce. I found out I was getting divorced on television. That was kind of weird."

Recalling the incident, he added how divorce has become "more normal." While speaking with the outlet, the Top Gun actor added:

"It's not something bad now that parents just 'love each other differently' and say the things that counselors teach them to say when they don't know what to say to their kids."

As per a report by The Sun, in his memoir, Val talked about feeling lonely and the things he experienced during his years of being single. He said:

"The truth is I am lonely part of every day."

Val Kilmer was romantically linked with several celebrities besides his ex-wife, Joanne Whalley. He dated Cher, Michelle Pfeiffer, Cindy Crawford, Daryl Hannah, and Angelina Jolie.

According to The Sun, Val was heartbroken after his relationship with Daryl ended. Remembering those days, he shared a few years later:

"Lord knows I’ve suffered heartache. But Daryl was by far the most painful of all."

He added:

"I knew I would love her with my whole heart forever and that love has lost none of its strength. I am still in love with Daryl."

Val told The Sun the divorce shattered him. In his words:

"I cried every single day for half a year."