Val Kilmer's ex-wife Joanne and daughter Mercedes share emotional hug after star's death
Top Gun and Batman star Val Kilmer's ex-wife Joanne Whalley and his daughter Mercedes have been seen for the first time since his death at the age of 65 was announced
Val Kilmer's ex-wife Joanne and their daughter Mercedes have been seen for the first time since the Top Gun actor's tragic death.
The Hollywood star sadly died on Tuesday after a battle with pneumonia. Val had suffered with his health for years and had been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014. Joanna, 65, and her daughter Mercedes, 33, were pictured sharing a warm embrace in West Hollywood shortly after the tragic news. Mercedes was seen carrying two large tote bags while heading to her car.
She wore a black jumper with Ugg boots and was seen hugging her mother, who wore a burgundy cardigan. Val and Joanne also share son Jack, 29.
Kilmer and Whalley, now 63, first locked eyes on the set of the 1988 fantasy film Willow, and a whirlwind romance led to a wedding in the same year that their movie was released.
Things took a turn, however, in 1995, when Whalley served Kilmer with divorce papers, citing irreconcilable differences. Kilmer would later tell the Tampa Bay Times that he learned of the divorce while watching CNN in a hotel room.
Speaking to the publication at the time, he said: "It was no fun." He later admitted: "I miss my children every single way that's possible, and ways I didn't know were possible."
Shortly afterwards, Kilmer began dating model Cindy Crawford. He then dated producer Jayce Gosset in the late 90s and early 2000s, before entering into a relationship with Daryl Hannah in 2001.
It's been reported that Val was bed bound for several years before his death. The star was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and was later given the all clear after after rounds of chemotherapy and a tracheostomy.
However, Val's body had given up, a source close to his family told TMZ. They told the publication that the actor succumbed to a "lack of energy related to his cancer treatment".
The source continued by saying that the star was "very frail" and that his health "suddenly declined in the past week". It's also been reported that Val was rushed to hospital and was surrounded by friends and family before his body shut down.
The Mirror has reached out to Val's estate for comment.
Despite losing his voice after treatment, Val appeared in Top Gun: Maverick in 2022 alongside Tom Cruise. The movie would end up being Val's final on screen appearance before his death.
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