Val Kilmer, known for his acting career, considered his proudest role to be that of a loving father to his two children, daughter Mercedes and son Jack. He welcomed his daughter in 1991 with his then-wife Joanne Whalley but the couple split after welcoming their son in 1995, finalizing their divorce the following year. Kilmer’s role as a parent influenced his career decisions, as he wanted to be a responsible father and be present in his children’s lives. In a 2012 interview with Vanity Fair, he discussed the challenges of balancing work and family life.
Kilmer frequently gushed about his children, stating in a 2020 interview with People that he was entertained by them but lamented not being able to see them enough due to his work commitments. His daughter, Mercedes, also spoke about their close relationship, noting that their bond grew stronger during her father’s battle with throat cancer. Sadly, Kilmer passed away in April 2025 at the age of 65 from pneumonia, leaving behind his two children who were a source of strength and joy for him during his health struggles.
Val Kilmer’s family history includes his father, Eugene Kilmer, who was the founder of Liberty Engineering, and remarried before passing away from cancer in 1993. His mother, Gladys Kilmer, married William Bernard Leach in 1970 and operated the Kay L Bar Ranch in Arizona before her passing in 2019. Val’s older brother, Mark, was a father of two children, while his younger brother, Wesley, tragically passed away at age 15 from a drowning incident after suffering a seizure.
Val Kilmer’s relationship with Joanne Whalley, his ex-wife, began on the set of the film Willow in 1988. The couple tied the knot that same year, but their marriage ended in divorce shortly after the birth of their son, Jack, in 1995. Reports suggest that their split was attributed to rumors of Val’s on-set romances. Despite the divorce, Val expressed missing his children immensely and the difficulties of not being able to see them as much as he wanted.
Both of Val Kilmer’s children, Mercedes and Jack, have followed their father into the entertainment industry. Mercedes has acted in several short films and starred alongside her father in the film Paydirt. She also ventured into music and shared her excitement about her father’s reprisal of his Top Gun role in Top Gun: Maverick. Jack, on the other hand, has appeared in various film projects and lent his voice to the Willow character in the Disney+ TV revival. He also narrated the documentary Val in 2021, showcasing his father’s life, career, and health struggles. Val expressed his shock at how much Jack sounded like his younger self during the narration.
