Overview

• Val Kilmer passed away on April 1, 2025, from pneumonia, a complication following his prolonged fight with throat cancer.
• Diagnosed in 2014, Kilmer underwent chemotherapy, radiation, and two tracheotomies, which permanently affected his voice and breathing.
• Early symptoms of throat cancer, including hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, and lumps in the neck, are often mistaken for minor ailments, delaying diagnosis.
• Throat cancer cases are rising, especially among younger individuals, due to HPV, with smoking and alcohol use also identified as significant risk factors.
• Kilmer shared his journey and reflections on resilience in his 2020 memoir, 'I’m Your Huckleberry,' contributing to increased public awareness of the disease.