Val Kilmer has died aged 65, as he leaves behind a filmography few can match with lasting legacy roles in Batman Forever and Top Gun.
He also appeared in 1991's The Doors - playing the legendary band's frontman Jim Morrison - plus the Western Tombstone and crime drama Heat
However fans will know him best from Top Gun in 1986 and Top Gun: Maverick in 2022 to which he returned upon the insistence of its star Tom Cruise.
Kilmer portrayed LT Tom "Iceman" Kazansky, Pete "Maverick" Mitchell's enemy before they went on to become friends.
When Cruise began conceiving the idea of the sequel to his '80s cult classic there was one person he knew had to return and that was Kilmer.
The actor's career had however been put on the back burner after a throat cancer diagnosis and having undergone a tracheal procedure as a result..
Mega producer Jerry Bruckheimer said that it was a necessity for Cruise, sharing: "He said, 'We have to have Val, we have to have him back. We have to have him in the film.'
"And he was the driving force. We all wanted him, but Tom was really adamant that if he's going to make another Top Gun, Val had to be in it."
Kilmer's appears in a poignant scene where Maverick confides about his reservations about leading the new Top Gun mission and whether Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw, the son of their late friend, should fly on it.
Kilmer shared how grateful he was for it, describing it as "like being reunited with a long lost friend".
He also said that even after 30 years "the characters never really go away. They live on in deep freeze. If you'll pardon the pun."
Having his co-star appear in the scene meant a lot to Cruise, who said after the film was released that he was "pretty emotional" throughout filming.
Top Gun: Maverick has since gone on to become Kilmer's final onscreen performance, and following his passing it comes as a touching tribute.
Val Kilmer was a versatile American actor known for his intense performances and eclectic roles. Born in 1959 in Los Angeles, he rose to fame in the 1980s with roles in Top Secret! and Top Gun, later portraying Jim Morrison in The Doors, Doc Holliday in Tombstone, and Batman in Batman Forever.
A Juilliard-trained actor, Kilmer was respected for his dedication to his craft. He faced significant health challenges after a throat cancer diagnosis in 2015 but made a moving return in Top Gun: Maverick (2022).
He passed away at the age of 65, leaving behind a rich and unforgettable legacy.
