Val Kilmer Opened Up About Throat Cancer Battle Before Dying

Actor Val Kilmer spoke candidly about his years-long battle with throat cancer.

Kilmer, 65, died of pneumonia on April 1 in Los Angeles, his daughter told The New York Times.

Cancer was taking a "toll" on Kilmer as far back as 2017, according to an interview The Hollywood Reporter did with Kilmer and his kids. He told the publication that the cancer diagnosis, which came in 2014, changed him.

"I was too serious. I'd get upset when things like Oscars and recognition failed to come my way," he told THR.

Kilmer also opened up on Reddit in a question-and-answer with fans.

“I did have a healing of cancer, but my tongue is still swollen altho (sic) healing all the time,” he wrote, according to People. “Because I don’t sound my normal self yet people think I may still be under the weather."

Kilmer told THR that his Christian Scientist faith helped him face cancer.

Kilmer also shared his cancer story in an Amazon documentary. He shared the documentary's trailer on his X page.

"Now that it's more difficult to speak, I want to tell my story more than ever," he said in it, according to People.

"I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel," Kilmer said in the movie, Val.

"I can't speak without plugging this hole [in his throat]. You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat," he said, according to People, which revealed he had a feeding tube. "It's an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me."