Val Kilmer Might Not Have Much Of A Voice After Throat Cancer Struggle But He Feels ‘Wonderful’

May 11, 2020 by apost team

Hollywood heartthrob Val Kilmer has been slightly out of the spotlight the last couple of years, as he's struggled with a throat cancer battle. Diagnosed four years ago, the actor received a tracheotomy, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, and although now his smooth voice has vastly been altered, he's been cancer-free for the last few years and admits to feeling great.

He spoke about his journey in his new memoir I'm Your Huckleberry.

Val Kilmer (2019), (Michael Tullberg/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images)

In a new interview with Good Morning America, Kilmer spoke with journalist Chris Connelly about his cancer battle in the last few years and past relationships, all of which are discussed in depth in his new book. Opening the interview with a joke, Kilmer said in a deep, raspy voice, that's due to the tracheotomy he received: "I feel much better than I sound. I feel wonderful." Clearly he hasn't lost his sense of humor.

He told GMA that he was diagnosed with throat cancer, which healed very quickly, and he received a tracheotomy to help him breathe, since the glands in his throat had swollen. After being asked what he missed most about his old voice, he continued the humorous route and proclaimed: "That I had one! And that I didn't laugh like a pirate."

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The interview then moves into talking about Kilmer's new memoir, titled I'm Your Huckleberry. In it he goes into detail about his iconic film roles, including as Jim Morrison in the film The Doors. 

It is also supposed to be very candid about his many famous ex-girlfriends, including Cher, Ellen Barkin, Cindy Crawford, and Michelle Pfeiffer. When asked what made him so appealing to these charismatic women, Kilmer had a very mature answer: "I'm committed. You have to be committed with a woman that's as dynamic and as committed to their work. As someone like Cindy Crawford, who was the number one model on the planet at the time."

Alongside medical therapies, Kilmer is very open in his memoir about leaning on religion to help him through his battle, as well as ex-girlfriend Cher, who he's still close friends with. As reported by People, Kilmer writes in I'm Your Huckleberry about an incident that happened when he was recovering at Cher's home: "One night I suddenly awoke vomiting blood that covered the bed like a scene out of The Godfather. I prayed immediately, then called 911. Then alerted my hostess. Cher stepped in and stepped up."

Cher has also spoken of when she dated Kilmer, telling James Corden in a game of Spill Your Guts that Val was a great kisser: "When we kissed, I thought my head would shoot right off my body."

Despite his past with many famous women, Val Kilmer has said that he's been single for 20 years and that every day he feels lonely. This is also included in his memoir, as reported by Consequence of Sound.

But one thing Kilmer has to look forward to is his role in the Top Gun sequel, Top Gun: Maverick. Starring alongside Tom Cruise once again, Kilmer told GMA: "It was absolutely moving." Not wanting to give any plot details away, Kilmer did disclose that "In between takes, Tom and I just laughed like we were in high school."

What an action-packed life for Hollywood veteran Val Kilmer, and one that doesn't look to be slowing down any time soon.

What do you think of Val Kilmer's brave battle with throat cancer and his memoir to tell the story? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this on to any friends and family who are fans of the actor!

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