"Wish it was an April Fools" — Internet left disappointed that Val Kilmer's death announcement is not an April 1 prank

Val Kilmer passed away at 65 in Los Angeles, California. The cause of his death was revealed to be pneumonia.

Val’s daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed the news of the Top Gun actor’s death to The New York Times on April 1, 2025. As soon the news made its way to social media, many paid their tributes to the late Hollywood actor. Many also showed dismay that Kilmer’s death was not an April Fool’s Day prank. A user (@KyleKalbfleisch) wrote on X and voiced the same emotion:

“Wish it was an April Fools… R.I.P. Val! 🙏”

Another user (@cagomez) shared their thoughts on X:

“Ugh, I was hoping it was an April Fools thing done in bad taste, but it looks like enough sources has confirmed that Val Kilmer has passed away. RIP”

Read on to learn about others' reactions to Kilmer’s sudden death announcement on April 1.

---

The demise of Batman Forever star, Val Kilmer, left man sad on the internet

The Doors actor gave numerous memorable performances in his career in movies like Top Gun, Willow, Tombstone, Heat, and many more. Due to his influential work, Kilmer’s unexpected death left social media users sad, with many displaying their disappointment that the news was not an April Fool’s Day prank:

“Logged in to see what April Fools pranks were on here. Just learned that Val Kilmer has tragically passed away instead. // I know what I'll be watching tomorrow. // Be at peace,” a user posted a GIF from The Prince of Egypt, in which Kilmer voiced Moses and God.

"Worst news I've gotten all day, on April Fools. No joke. // Val was a legend,” another used added.

“Dammit. I was hoping this was a bad April Fool’s joke. RIP Val Kilmer,” someone shared.

“Literally the worst april fools joke of all time. // RIP In Peace, Val Kilmer,” another one wrote.

A user remembered Kilmer’s portrayal of Doc Holliday from Tombstone and penned:

“RIP to one of the best. Val Kilmer, such a joker he even went out on April Fools just to mess with everyone. Who played the one character I’ve always most identified with”

Another user shared a quote from the late actor and wrote:

““I think death is just a transition to another state of consciousness.” - Val Kilmer // It sucks when part of your childhood is no longer here. // I really thought this was an April Fool’s joke, but this one stings. // RIP Ice Man”

Before he died in 2025, the Top Gun: Maverick actor battled with throat cancer. While getting treated—by chemotherapy, radiations, and tracheostomies—Kilmer severely damaged his voice.

The actor concealed his health struggles for a few years before candidly speaking about his recovery and loss of his voice. Kilmer’s battle with cancer was documented in Val (2021), which also featured archival footage from earlier life.

---

The Kiss Kiss Bang Bang star is survived by his two kids—Mercedes and Jack.