Mercedes Val Kilmer Remembers Her Late Father on His Birthday
Mercedes, daughter of the late Val Kilmer, recently paid a touching tribute to her father several months after his passing.
“Today would have been my dad’s 66th birthday, born on the last day of the fifties ❤️,” she shared via Instagram on Wednesday, December 31, alongside a slideshow of family memories. “I’m incredibly thankful for all my friends who have supported me through 2025.”
The post showcased various photos of Kilmer over the years, from his childhood to his Hollywood stardom. One image captured a moment between Kilmer, his daughter Mercedes (now 34), and his son Jack (now 30).
Kilmer shared his two children with his former wife Joanne Whalley, with whom he was married from 1988 to 1996. Mercedes’ tribute also featured a photo of her parents during their time on the set of the 1988 film Willow.
The news of Kilmer’s passing in April 2025 due to pneumonia shocked many. He had previously battled throat cancer, and viewers witnessed his struggles with a breathing tube in the 2021 documentary Val.
In the wake of his death, tributes flooded in for the famed Top Gun actor, with his family releasing a statement honoring his legacy and life.
“We appreciate everyone for honoring our extraordinary father’s memory,” their heartfelt message stated. “We are immensely proud of him and grateful to see his legacy celebrated. We kindly ask for privacy as we grieve.”
A few years prior to his passing, Mercedes expressed their close relationship during an interview with People.
“I admire my dad’s brilliance and creativity, and I enjoy spending time with him, even if he weren’t my father,” she remarked in 2020.
Mercedes appeared alongside her father in the film Paydirt, which marked his comeback to acting after a tracheotomy altered his voice.
“His talent is remarkable, and he creatively overcomes the challenges of his speech,” Mercedes noted. “I gained invaluable insights from watching him, especially regarding physical communication. It reshaped my understanding of acting.”
Kilmer often expressed his admiration for his “brilliant” children, praising both Mercedes and Jack.
“I find them endlessly entertaining,” he shared with the outlet. “My only complaint is I wish I could spend more time with them and enjoy the amusement that others experience.”
Kilmer himself provided immense entertainment to audiences through iconic roles in Top Gun, Batman Forever, Heat, and more. In 2022, he made a cameo in Top Gun: Maverick as Iceman.
“This film means a lot to my dad; he takes great pride in it. Acting is his passion,” Mercedes shared with the New York Post, reflecting on her father’s “extraordinary” reunion with the Top Gun team. “Being back on set with his friends from when they were my age felt surreal and incredibly special for him.”
Since her father’s passing in April 2025, Mercedes has continued to share cherished memories of him. In November 2025, she posted a black-and-white photograph of Val holding her as a baby, simply captioned with a red heart emoji.
