Val Kilmer Was Most Proud of His Role as a Father to His Children

Val Kilmer's children, Jack and Mercedes, discussed their father's health before he died in April 2025.

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Updated April 2 2025, 11:39 a.m. ET

Val Kilmer with Jack Kilmer
Source: Getty Images

For a time, Val Kilmer was one of the biggest movie stars on the planet. He had starring roles in everything from Heat to Batman Forever, and his career suggested that he would be famous for decades. However, in his later years, Val seemingly vanished from the spotlight as he experienced ongoing health issues, which he often spoke candidly about.

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On Tuesday, April 1, Val died of pneumonia. Over the years, his children have shared how his health battles brought them closer in his later years. Here's what to know.

Val Kilmer on the red carpet
Source: Getty Images
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Who are Val Kilmer's kids?

As Val details, Val Kilmer has two kids, Jack and Mercedes, and because the actor is still recovering from throat cancer, they've been giving many of the interviews to promote the new documentary. In an interview with Entertainment Tonight (via CNN), Jack and Mercedes said that their father was doing well after undergoing a tracheotomy as part of his treatment for throat cancer.

“It’s very emotional for him to watch it and we wish he could be here but, you know, he’s here in spirit and he’s just so proud of this and that people get to see a side of him that has never been seen before,” Jack said during the interview.

Jack narrates Val, which takes a look at the actor primarily through home movies he's shot over the course of his life.

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Because of the tracheotomy, Val now has to speak with help from a device. Jack added that his father was happy to have his son speaking for him.

“We sort of brought him in and there is a scene in the movie where he comes into the studio and I am there and we embrace and it was sort of a surprise for him,” Jack explained. “It was something that really means a lot to him.”

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Who is Val Kilmer's ex-wife?

Val's two children are a product of his marriage to Joanne Whalley, which lasted from 1988 to 1996. The two met on the set of Willow and started dating quickly after that. Joanne is a British actress, and she worked with Val a total of four times on screen. A couple of those films were shot after the two were divorced, which suggests that their marriage didn't end with much resentment between them.

Although the two seem to be on good terms generally, Joanne did sue Val in 2011 for falling behind on child support payments for Jack. After Joanne gave birth to her children, she decided to take a short break from her career in order to focus on being a mother. Ultimately, it seems she and Val raised two fairly happy children.

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