Val Kilmer, 59, is best known for his acting career, starring in iconic films such as “Top Gun,” and “The Doors.” He’s also an inspiring throat cancer survivor and a talented artist, and lately, he’s been embracing the latter. Kilmer recently opened his own art gallery in Los Angeles, “HelMel Studios” and showcased his own original works at the Lumberyard Gallery in Malibu, California. The exhibition at the Lumberyard Gallery featuring Kilmers’ art has been open since the end of August, and as it draws to a close this coming weekend, Kilmer is reflecting on the experience with tremendous gratitude.
Read More
In addition to the original works that Kilmer showed at Lumberyard Gallery, he also collaborated with other artists, including the talented graffiti artist Kelly “RISK” Graval and photographer and director Brian Bowen Smith, to create what he referred to as “special, one-of-a-kinds.”
Kilmer’s artwork is often colorful and bold, using enamel paints on metal to create eye-catching pieces. In the past, Kilmer has used stencils and enamel paint to create art that features the iconic film characters he’s played in the past — including “Ice Man,” Batman, and Jim Morrison.
Val Kilmer’s Original Art
Kilmer’s artwork also depicts Mark Twain, an author that has captured his passion for many years. Kilmer was recently honored for his work with his charity, the TwainMania Foundation, which educates children about writer Mark Twain's legacy.
When Kilmer accepted an award for his work with the TwainMania Foundation several months ago, he acknowledged that the tracheostomy breathing device in his neck hinders his ability to speak.
What is a Tracheostomy?
A tracheostomy (or tracheotomy) may be needed when a person needs to have part or all of either their larynx (voice box) or pharynx (throat) removed. The procedure connects the trachea (windpipe) to a hole (stoma) in the front of the neck. This allows a person to breathe by letting air in and out of the lungs through the stoma, according to the American Cancer Society.Val Kilmer's Journey With Throat Cancer What We Know
It's encouraging for fans to see Kilmer out and about and in high-spirits, because for a while, Kilmer's health condition remained a mystery. The star had kept his cancer journey a secret for two years after his diagnosis initially denying he had cancer at all in a 2016 Facebook post, after the actor Michael Douglasswho has been battling throat cancer himselftold the press about Kilmer's condition.
The denials continued until 2017, at which time Kilmer bravely admitted in an interview with the Hollywood Reporter that he did indeed have throat cancer, and that he'd had surgery on his trachea, which affected his breathing and left his voice raspy and labored. He revealed shortly thereafter that he'd had a "healing of cancer," and that his "tongue was still swollen," but did not explicitly say whether he was cancer-free.
Although Kilmer did finally confirm he had throat cancer, he has been keeping the detailsincluding the type and stage of his cancer and the treatment he's receivedto himself. The star told the Hollywood Reporter that the disease had "taken its toll" on him, but did not elaborate.
Val Kilmer's Journey With Throat Cancer
- “Top Gun” Actor Val Kilmer Embraces Artistic Passions During Cancer Recovery — Many Survivors Find Solace In Art
- “Top Gun” Actor Val Kilmer is Living With a Tracheostomy; What is it and What Are The Next Treatment Steps?
- Cancer Survivor Val Kilmer Celebrates Life with Art, Music, and Oh Yeh That New Big Budget “Top Gun” Film
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
