Off The Record
Cher Speaks Out After The Passing Of Her Former Partner Val Kilmer
After actor Val Kilmer passed away, the pop legend posted a touching remembrance that provides insight into their decades-long relationship.
In a heartfelt post on X on April 2, 2025, Cher openly acknowledged the passing of her ex-partner, Val Kilmer. The singer, who dated Val in the 1980s, paid tribute to the actor’s legacy by showcasing his humor, creativity, and fortitude during his sickness. On April 1, Val, who starred in “Top Gun” and “The Doors,” passed away.
In her social media post, Cher wrote, “VALUS Will miss u, U Were Funny, crazy, pain in the ass, GREAT FRIEND, kidsđź’śU, BRILLIANT as Mark Twain, BRAVE here during ur sickness [sic].” She affectionately referred to him as “Valus,” a nickname from their time together.
After their romantic relationship ended, the two forged a close and enduring friendship that lasted for almost 40 years. Cher previously stated in an interview that she had a great deal of affection for many of her ex-partners, including Gregg Allman and Sonny Bono. Regarding Val, however, she acknowledged, “I thought my head would shoot right off my body when we kissed.”
They first crossed paths at a birthday celebration thrown by one of Cher’s pals in the early 1980s. Despite their different ages—Cher was in her 30s and Val was in his early 20s—the two soon became friends because they had similar senses of humor and inventiveness.
She once said they were just friends at first who laughed constantly, but that soon turned into a romance. In a 2021 People interview, the singer reflected on their unique connection, “He’s like nobody I’ve ever known. He is exasperating and hysterical. Thrilling and funny, and doesn’t do what anyone else does.”
She also explained how the relationship evolved, “It went from madly in love and laughing hysterically to respecting each other’s ability.” The two often gave each other playful nicknames, including Sid and Ethel, and later, Valus Maximus and Cherus Reprimandus.
On “The Howard Stern Show,” in 2024, Cher was asked what kind of man would ever abandon her. “A couple of men, including Val,” she said bluntly. She reiterated that she was “madly in love” with him, as she had in previous interviews, but their relationship ended.
“Sometimes you’re only meant to stay with someone so long,” she said in response to the talk show host’s questions, noting that Val was quite young when they were together.
Nevertheless, the actor and singer remained close friends. She talked about how Val encouraged her acting, including helping with her screen test for the movie “Mask.” She also recounted a New Year’s Eve spent working on art projects with their kids.
She also stayed by his side during his illness, visiting him at her house and seeing personally the bravery he displayed in the face of severe health problems. Since his recovery from a throat cancer diagnosis in 2014, the actor has continued to share his narrative and create art, such as in the documentary “Val.”
Cher finished her 2021 interview by sending him a message, “I love the things that pissed me off, the things that made me hysterical, amazed, hurt, astonished, etc. You are brave and beyond brilliant. Ethel.”
Val, the talented actor who portrayed Batman and Jim Morrison, died in Los Angeles at the age of 65, as was announced earlier today.
Mercedes Kilmer, his daughter, claims that pneumonia was the reason of his passing. On December 31, 1959, Val was born in Los Angeles. He was raised in the Chatsworth area, which is located in the extreme northwest portion of the city.
In the 1990s, Val became a well-known actor with a repertoire that went beyond blockbuster parts. His portrayal of the Caped Crusader in “Batman Forever” (1995) is one of his most famous roles.
He battles the antagonists Two-Face (played by Tommy Lee Jones) and the Riddler (played by Jim Carrey) in the movie. Despite the movie’s financial success, not everyone agreed that Val’s performance or the picture itself were the pinnacles of the Batman canon.
The years that followed saw a significant change in his off-screen life. Val sat next to his two daughters, Mercedes and Jack, who were born during his marriage to British actress Joanne Whalley, in a rare interview conducted in 2017 at his Brentwood art studio.
He was fighting a hard battle with throat cancer at the time. His breathing was laborious, and his voice had a rough rasp from a tracheotomy. A personal crisis made the struggle even more challenging.
Around the time of his diagnosis, Mercedes was struck by a car in a serious accident. “We were in the same hospital at the same time,” she later recalled. Jack, watching both his sister and father endure medical recoveries, remembered the moment vividly. “I was just, you know, miserable, distraught, sitting next to these two.”
Val relied on his faith in spite of the difficulties. He received chemotherapy in his fight against the disease, but as a Christian Scientist, he found spiritual footing in his affliction. His bond with his kids grew stronger during it all.
Val quietly but resolutely returned to the screen in 2020. He played a sheriff in the independent action movie “Paydirt,” which was a reflection of his actual situation. He had a speech impairment, and so did his persona.
“It’s pretty historic to have a lead with a speech disability,” Mercedes, who co-starred in the film, told People at the time. She called the experience a revelation, both professionally and personally.
“My dad’s able to very artfully circumvent the limitations of his speech,” she stated. Mercedes clarified that she had learned a lot about acting and broadened her perspective on what acting could be by observing his bodily communication.
Never one to back down from a challenge, Val embraced the change. “The business changes every six months,” he laughed. “The Batmobile has become much smarter since then.”
The project became more than a film, it became a symbol of resilience. “The health challenges have been just that, challenging,” Mercedes said, “but so many good things have come out of it.” Val echoed the sentiment. “They really have done everything to make my health as usual,” he said.
In another joint interview with Mercedes, when Val was asked how he was doing, he replied in a coarse and strenuous voice, “I’m doing great, I feel a lot better than I sound.”
His creative spirit persisted till the very end, notwithstanding the change in his voice.
His final public moments reflected the artist he had always been. On March 23, Val posted an image of his latest artwork, a glowing visual piece accompanied by the caption, “It’s got that late-night glow. Cool tones with a low burn, like when the camp fire cools down but you’re still wide awake.”
Val used social media in June 2019 to consider his life’s work as an artist. He posted a number of images and a statement demonstrating his faith in the transformative and uplifting potential of art.
For him, being an actor was always about discovering the truth in each character and telling people about it. He talked about using that same enthusiasm to his work with the TwainMania Foundation, a program that uses education to advance tolerance, empathy, and literacy.
Val had been working with others to create a curriculum that was based on those principles. He anticipated the initiative would gain traction in Los Angeles and eventually spread across the country.
Additionally, the post was an expression of gratitude to friends and supporters who had supported him and the cause. He emphasized the power of education to create a more humane future and urged people to join the cause.
Val had a varied filmography during the course of his career that demonstrated his versatility and charm. Early on, he frequently got rock-star-edge roles due to his strong personality and stunning appearance. One such role was his debut in “Top Secret!” (1984), in which he played a singing American enmeshed in Cold War pandemonium.
One of Val’s most notable performances was in “The Doors” (1991), where he hypnotically inhabited the role of Jim Morrison. Two years later, he appeared briefly but notably in “True Romance.”
He played prominent parts in movies such as “The Saint” (1997), in which he portrayed a master of disguise caught up with the Russian mob, and “Thunderheart” (1992), in which he played a young FBI agent on a Native American reservation.
Val was praised for his performance in “Tombstone” (1993), which also starred Kurt Russell and Sam Elliott. In the criminal thriller “Heat” (1995), he costarred with Robert De Niro and Al Pacino as a part of a high-stakes heist squad.
“Pollock” (2000) and “The Ghost and the Darkness” (1996) were two other noteworthy appearances. Val played Philip of Macedon, the father of the future conqueror, in Oliver Stone’s “Alexander” (2004).
Val gained not only recognition for his parts but also for his ability to blend in with them. He was erratic, dedicated, and consistently captivating. His career was distinguished by his daring decisions and multi-layered performances.
Despite personal struggles, his commitment to his profession made a lasting impression on the picture. He left a legacy of daring artistic expression and remarkable live performances. We send our sympathies to his family. Peace be with you, Val Kilmer.
Now Trending:
- Val Kilmer’s Final Words Shared Online As Daughter Confirms Cause Of Death
- Val Kilmer, An Icon And A Legend In Hollywood Dies At 65
- Actor James Darren, 88, Passed Away. May He Rest In Peace
Please SHARE this story with Family and Friends and let us know what you think!
