Los Angeles: Renowned actor Val Kilmer was no stranger to high-profile Hollywood romances, having been linked to stars such as Cindy Crawford, Angelina Jolie, and Cher. Yet, among all his relationships, the one that left him utterly shattered was his breakup with actress Daryl Hannah.
In his candid memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry, Kilmer described his separation from Hannah as the most agonizing experience of his love life. “Lord knows I’ve suffered heartache. But Daryl was by far the most painful of all”, he confessed. Their love story began on the set of God We Trust in 2001, but their relationship came to an abrupt end the following year. Despite the passage of time, Kilmer admitted that his love for Hannah never wavered. When she married musician Neil Young in 2018, he reacted with raw emotion, saying, “Neil Young, I always loved you, but I’m afraid I hate you now”. He further revealed, “I knew I would love her with my whole heart forever, and that love has lost none of its strength”. Following their breakup, Kilmer was overwhelmed with sorrow, shedding tears every single day for six months.
Val Kilmer’s Passing and Health Struggles
The Batman Forever star, who had faced years of health battles, passed away on Tuesday in Los Angeles at the age of 65 due to complications from pneumonia, according to his daughter. Kilmer had been bedridden for weeks prior to his passing. His long battle with throat cancer, which first became public in 2014, led to multiple tracheotomies that severely weakened his voice, forcing him to step away from acting. However, he made a triumphant return to the silver screen in 2022, reuniting with Tom Cruise for Top Gun: Maverick.
Kilmer’s Notable Romances: Cher, Cindy Crawford, Angelina Jolie, and More
Before Hannah, Kilmer’s love life was a favorite topic in Hollywood circles. In the 1980s, he shared a highly publicized romance with Cher. Their chemistry was undeniable, making them a magnet for paparazzi. Even after their romance faded, Cher remained a constant presence in his life, offering unwavering support, especially during his battle with cancer. “Once Cher works her way inside your head and heart, she never leaves”, Kilmer wrote. “For her true friends, her steadfast love and loyalty never die”.
Kilmer’s next major relationship was with British actress Joanne Whalley, whom he met while filming Willow in 1987. The couple married a year later and had two children. However, their union ended shortly after the birth of their son Jack, with Whalley citing irreconcilable differences.
In 1995, Kilmer was spotted with supermodel Cindy Crawford at the premiere of Batman Forever. Their relationship lasted for two years before ending in 1997. Reflecting on their time together, Kilmer expressed deep affection: “Oh God, I loved Cindy and just kept loving her,” he wrote in his memoir. “I thought I could have died from her love because its delight was simply too much to bear”.
The 1980s also saw Kilmer in a brief romance with Ocean’s Thirteen star Ellen Barkin. Later, while working on Alexander (2004), Kilmer played the husband of Angelina Jolie and developed a deep admiration for her. “I couldn’t wait to kiss Angie”, he admitted in his memoir, describing her as “perhaps the most soulful and serious” of all the women he had dated.
A Life of Love and Admiration for Women
Despite his numerous relationships, Kilmer never remarried after his divorce from Whalley. However, his love and appreciation for women remained steadfast throughout his life. “I’ve always found women infinitely more interesting than men”, he once shared.
Though he endured heartbreak, Kilmer’s passion for love and life never faded. His legacy extends beyond his impressive film career, immortalized in the words of his memoir and the memories of those who loved him.
