Val and Joanne met on the set of a huge 80s movie

VAL Kilmer was one of the most iconic film stars of all time, beloved for his roles in Top Gun and Batman.

He passed away on April 1, 2025 and was survived by his ex-wife Joanne Whalley, whom he shared the screen with multiple times.

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Headshot of Joanne Whalley wearing a necklace
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Joanne Whalley is the ex-wife of Val KilmerCredit: Alamy

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley at the screening of the CBS miniseries *Scarlett*
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Val and Joanne started dating in 1987Credit: Getty Images

An image collage containing 1 images, Image 1 shows Val Kilmer and Tom Cruise on the set of Top Gun
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Val starred alongside Tom Cruise in Top GunCredit: Corbis – Getty

Joanne’s incredible career

Joanne was born on August 25, 1961, and grew up in Salford, Greater Manchester.

She had an early start in showbusiness and landed roles in hit TV shows, including Coronation Street, at just 13 years old.

However, she rocketed to fame when she played Emma Craven in the BBC drama Edge of Darkness and Nurse Mills in The Singing Detective.

One of her most iconic roles was as Sorsha in the 1987 fantasy fim Willow.

She met Val Kilmer for the first time on the set of the film and the pair quickly began dating.

Tying the knot

Joanne and Val married in March 1988, after knowing each other for just a year.

After tying the knot, Joanne moved to Los Angeles and changed her name to Joanne Whalley-Kilmer.

She went on to star in several Hollywood blockbusters including Kill Me Again (1989), Shattered (1991), and Mother’s Boys (1993).

Partners in life and on-screen

Val and Joanne shared the screen four times in their career.

After appearing in Willow, they worked together on Kill Me Again.

The appeared in two more films together after separating in 1996, with Played (2006) and Twixt (2011).

Joanne and Val’s children

Before their divorce in 1996, Joanne and Val welcomed two children together.

Their first child, a daughter named Mercedes, was born on October 29, 1991.

Jack was born four years later on June 6, 1995.

After their split, the couple worked to co-parent their children together.

Val dated Angelina Jolie, Cindy Crawford and even Cher but said that he loved actress Daryl Hannah the most.

Mercedes Kilmer and Jack Kilmer at the Cannes Film Festival.
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Val and Joanne has two children named Mercedes and JackCredit: The Mega Agency

Val’s tragic passing

Sadly, Val passed away on April 1, 2025, after a gruelling health battle.

The star was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2013, which required intensive surgery to remove.

That operation significantly impacted Val’s ability to speak though he was able to return to the Top Gun franchise one more time in 2022.

His final credit was as the Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick, which also starred Tom Cruise.

A documentary film entitled Val followed him as his health declined, with the star speaking candidly about his wellbeing.

He said: “I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel.

“I can’t speak without plugging this hole”

The actor revealed that he had to have some meals through a breathing tube, which meant he had to “make the choice to breathe or eat”.

Val eventually died at the age of 68, due to complications from pneumonia.

Tributes to the star quickly rolled in, with Josh Gad labelling him an “icon”.

The official Top Gun X account also posted: “Remembering Val Kilmer, whose indelible cinematic mark spanned genres and generations. RIP Iceman.”