Following Val Kilmer’s death, two of the most important women in his life were seen together for the first time, sharing a moment that stopped onlookers in their tracks.
For the first time since Val Kilmer’s passing, his ex-wife Joanne Whalley and daughter Mercedes Kilmer have been seen in public. The two were caught in a deeply emotional moment that spoke louder than words.
The pair shared an emotional embrace outside Joanne’s home on Wednesday. Mercedes appeared to be mid-move, her hands full of bags that she loaded into a car. As she turned, she was met by her mother, and the two collapsed into a hug. The grief was written across their faces.
Photos of the moment quickly spread online, and the response was swift and heartfelt. Fans expressed sorrow, posting messages of support across social media. “Love and prayers to you and the family ladies,” one wrote. Another added, “So sorry for their loss and ours. He was a great actor.” Someone else commented, “My heart goes out to all of them.”
Messages poured in from longtime admirers of Val, who made his mark in films like “The Doors,” “Heat,” and “Top Gun.” But some also turned their thoughts to Joanne, wondering about her recent absence from the screen. “I haven’t seen her in anything since ‘Borgia,'” one person noted.
The presence of the press and the intense scrutiny it brings reignited conversations about privacy, especially in the wake of personal tragedy. Another commenter, seemingly unaware of Joanne’s marital history with Val, asked, “Ex wife?”
Others fixated on appearance, with one blunt remark reading, “Boy has she aged.” The comment sparked debate among fans, some of whom defended Joanne.
One person, reacting to the sight of cameras capturing the intimate moment, wrote, “Oh leave them alone!!! That is a mother being there for her grieving daughter, not an actress for your tabloid!!! Yes I know she’s an actress too but still.[sic]”
Val died on Tuesday, April 1, in Los Angeles, at the age of 65. According to his daughter, Mercedes, the cause of his death was pneumonia. She noted that Val had previously battled throat cancer, diagnosed in 2014, and had since recovered.
Val was born on December 31, 1959, in Los Angeles. He grew up in the Chatsworth neighborhood, tucked into the city’s far northwest corner.
The actor rose to stardom in the 1990s, becoming a leading man with a range that extended beyond blockbuster roles. Among his most iconic appearances was as the caped crusader in “Batman Forever” (1995).
In the film, he faces off against villains Two-Face, played by Tommy Lee Jones, and the Riddler, portrayed by Jim Carrey. While the film achieved commercial success, neither Val’s performance nor the movie itself were universally embraced as high points in the Batman legacy.
His off-screen life took a dramatic turn in the years that followed. In 2017, during a rare interview at his Brentwood art studio, Val sat beside his two children, Mercedes and Jack — both born during his marriage to Joanne.
At the time, he was in the midst of a grueling fight with throat cancer. A tracheotomy had left his voice a harsh rasp, and his breathing labored. The struggle was made even more difficult by a personal crisis.
Around the time of his diagnosis, Mercedes was struck by a car in a serious accident. “We were in the same hospital at the same time,” she later recalled. Jack, watching both his sister and father endure medical recoveries, remembered the moment vividly. “I was just, you know, miserable, distraught, sitting next to these two.”
Despite the hardship, Val leaned on faith. As a Christian Scientist, he found spiritual grounding through his illness, though he also underwent chemotherapy in his battle against the disease. Through it all, his relationship with his children deepened.
By 2020, Val made a quiet but determined return to the screen. He starred in “Paydirt,” an indie action film in which he portrayed a sheriff — a role that mirrored his real-life condition. His character, like him, had a speech disability.
“It’s pretty historic to have a lead with a speech disability,” Mercedes, who co-starred in the film, told People at the time. She called the experience a revelation, both professionally and personally.
“My dad’s able to very artfully circumvent the limitations of his speech,” she said. Mercedes explained that watching how he communicated physically had taught her a great deal about acting and had expanded her understanding of what acting could be.
Val, never one to shy away from change, took the shift in stride. “The business changes every six months,” he joked. “The Batmobile has become much smarter since then.”
The project became more than a film, it became a symbol of resilience. “The health challenges have been just that, challenging,” Mercedes said, “but so many good things have come out of it.” Val echoed the sentiment. “They really have done everything to make my health as usual,” he said.
