Nicolas Cage Says Val Kilmer 'Should Have' Won 'Best Actor' Oscar

Val Kilmer left a lasting legacy in Hollywood with his iconic roles and memorable performances, but he was never even nominated for an Academy Award. A-list actor Nicolas Cage thinks that was a mistake.

Kilmer passed away this week at the age of 65 after coming down with pneumonia. The star had previously battled throat cancer, and while he was cancer-free at the time of his death, it seems that his previous battle with cancer left him too weak to fight the pneumonia.

Despite his legendary career that saw him star as Batman in the 1995 film "Batman Forever" and Ice Man in the 1986 film "Top Gun." However, he was never nominated for an Academy Award for his work. But one of his former co-stars thinks that not only should he have been nominated, but that he should have won an Oscar.

Nicolas Cage starred alongside Kilmer in the 2009 film "Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans." Following the news of Kilmer's passing, Cage offered a heartfelt tribute to his former co-star.

In the statement, Cage expressed his admiration for Kilmer, calling him a "genius actor" and declared that he "should have" won the Oscar for Best Actor for his performance in the 1991 film "The Doors."

“I always liked Val and am sad to hear of his passing. I thought he was a genius actor. I enjoyed working with him on Bad Lieutenant and I admired his commitment and sense of humor. He should have won the Oscar for The Doors,” Cage told The Hollywood Reporter.

In the film, which is a biographical musical film about the band The Doors, Kilmer portrays the band's iconic lead singer Jim Morrison.

Though Kilmer did receive some recognition for his performance as he was nominated for best actor by the Chicago Film Critics Association, Cage clearly thinks he deserved more praise.