The director worked with the late actor in the ’80s and again in 2003

From Left: Ron Howard; and Val Kilmer. Photo:

Frazer Harrison/Getty; BILLY FARRELL/Patrick McMullan via Getty

Ron Howard is remembering his collaborator, Val Kilmer.

The actor, best known for roles in Top Gun and Batman Forever, died of pneumonia at the age of 65 on Tuesday, April 1.

Howard, 71, directed Kilmer in 1988’s Willow and worked with him again in 2003’s The Missing. On Wednesday morning, he took to X to pay tribute to the late film star.

Val Kilmer Opens Up About His 2-Year Battle with Throat Cancer and How It Changed His LifeVal Kilmer appears in ‘Willow’.

Lucasfilm/Kobal/Shutterstock

“#RIPValKilmer I was incredibly fortunate to collaborate with Val a number of times over the years,” Howard posted. “As the off beat swordsman #Madmartagen in #Willow , his stunning #JimMorrison in Oliver Stone’s #TheDoors & in a chilling cameo in #TheMissing. I list these titles because even my own personal creative experiences reflect his awesome range as an actor.”

He continued, writing, “Check out his filmography. Amazing. His art extended to his poetry, artworks, filmmaking and simply the way he lived. Bon Voyage, Val And thank you.”

Kilmer began his career in Hollywood in the 1980s and was catapulted to a new level of fame after 1986’s Top Gun became a blockbuster success. His final on-screen appearance was in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, where he reprised the role of Iceman.

Val Kilmer in September 2013.

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Where to Watch Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick

Tributes to Kilmer are pouring in from friends, costars and others who knew and worked alongside him over the years.

“See ya, pal. I’m going to miss you. You were a smart, challenging, brave, uber-creative firecracker,” Josh Brolin wrote on Instagram. “There’s not a lot left of those. I hope to see you up there in the heavens when I eventually get there. Until then, amazing memories, lovely thoughts. ❤️💔❤️💔❤️💔”

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Michael Mann, who directed Kilmer in the 1995 film Heat, opened up about the actor in a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter. “While working with Val on Heat I always marveled at the range, the brilliant variability within the powerful current of Val’s possessing and expressing character,” he recalled.

“After so many years of Val battling disease and maintaining his spirit, this is tremendously sad news,” the director continued.

Kilmer was previously diagnosed with throat cancer, which he recovered from after undergoing treatment. However, his voice was damaged. “Now that it’s more difficult to speak, I want to tell my story more than ever,” Kilmer said in his 2021 documentary, Val.