Val Kilmer is out promoting his new memoir and has allowed for several rare on-air interviews where he is opening up about life after throat cancer.
The ‘Top Gun’ actor appeared on ‘Good Morning America’ to promote the book, ‘I’m Your Huckleberry’ — and it is the first time we have heard the legendary actor speak in a very long time.
“I feel a lot better than I sound, but I feel wonderful,” the actor said.
In the clip, it is clear Val struggles to speak following several surgeries on his throat to combat the cancer.
After being asked about his voice, and the issues with speaking, he responded, “I was diagnosed with throat cancer, which healed very quickly. This is a tracheotomy to help me breathe because the glands in my throat swelled up as well.”
In the interview, he was asked if there was anything he missed most about his voice, the actor quickly answered wittingly…“That I had one! That I didn’t laugh like a pirate.”
Actor Val Kilmer opens up about his battle with cancer and past relationships in new memoir. @ChrisConnelly has the story. https://t.co/8jVW3sLFzp pic.twitter.com/PzmE12EWFo
— Good Morning America (@GMA) April 21, 2020
As we reported, Val Kilmer revealed in the memoir that one of the scariest moments in fighting the disease came at the home of his ex-girlfriend, Cher.
Kilmer explains after getting sick, the singer allowed him to stay in her guest house while receiving treatment. At one point, the actor began to choke and had to be rushed to a nearby hospital via ambulance. The story does have a funny angle after Kilmer describes how Cher thought one of the firefighters was handsome.
“I have been healed of cancer for over four years now, and there has never been any reoccurrence. I am so grateful,” the actor reveals in the book.
Val is scheduled to return to the big screen for the ‘Top Gun’ sequel which is slated for release in December. Minimal details of the movie have been leaked, but obviously he is returning as his classic character Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky.
Kilmer described being on set with his co-star Tom Cruise while filming the remake — “It was absolutely moving. I really was surprised. Tom was wearing his jacket, the original jacked from the first movie. It was just very moving. I don’t want to give away anything, but in between takes, Tom and I just laughed like we were in high school.”
