Cher Speaks Out After the Passing of Her Former Love, Val Kilmer

The legendary pop icon Cher has spoken out publicly, sharing a heartfelt tribute following the passing of her former partner, Val Kilmer — a man she described as brilliant, brave, infuriating, and unforgettable.

Cher and Val Kilmer during the Bette Midler Video Party on January 9, 1984, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images

On April 2, 2025, just one day after Kilmer’s death at the age of 65, Cher took to X (formerly Twitter) to break her silence and honor the man who once held her heart. The two had shared a romantic relationship in the 1980s that blossomed into a decades-long friendship.

In her emotional post, she wrote:
“VALUS Will miss u, U Were Funny, crazy, pain in the ass, GREAT FRIEND, kids💜U, BRILLIANT as Mark Twain, BRAVE here during ur sickness.”
“Valus” was her nickname for Kilmer — a tender reminder of their bond that lasted long after their romance ended.

Cher and Val Kilmer during the 55th Annual Academy Awards on April 11, 1983, in Los Angeles, California | Source: Getty Images

Their connection began in the early 1980s at a birthday party hosted by one of Cher’s friends. Despite their age difference — she was in her 30s, he in his early 20s — they quickly formed a deep bond. What started as constant laughter between friends turned into an intense love story.

Cher once told People magazine, “When we kissed, I thought my head would shoot right off my body.” Even after their relationship ended, they never truly let go of each other. Over the years, they shared holidays, personal moments, and creative support. Val even helped Cher prepare for her screen test for Mask.

Val Kilmer during an interview in Munich in 1992 | Source: Getty Images

In a 2024 appearance on The Howard Stern Show, Cher revealed that Val was one of the few men who ever left her, admitting she was “madly in love with him”. She added, “Sometimes you’re only meant to be with someone for a certain chapter of your life.”

That chapter, however, turned into a lifelong friendship.

During Val’s battle with throat cancer, Cher stood by him. He lived for a time in her guest house, and she cared for him during some of his most vulnerable moments. In his memoir I’m Your Huckleberry, Kilmer recalled a terrifying night at Cher’s home when he woke up vomiting blood. “Cher stepped in and stepped up,” he wrote.

Val and Mercedes Kilmer at the 2019 Annual Thespians Go Hollywood Gala on November 18, 2019 | Source: Getty Images

Though his voice was forever changed by a tracheotomy, Kilmer never lost his artistic drive. He returned to the screen in 2020’s Paydirt, alongside his daughter Mercedes, playing a sheriff with a speech disability — a character that mirrored his own reality. Mercedes later said it was “historic” to see someone with a speech limitation in a lead role.

Cher’s tribute wasn’t just about the past — it was a final love letter to a man who had shaped her life. In one of her earlier interviews, she said to Val, “You are brave and beyond brilliant. Ethel.”

Val Kilmer died on April 1, 2025, in Los Angeles. His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed that the cause was pneumonia. Though he had survived cancer, his health never fully recovered.

Mercedes Kilmer at “Val” photocall during the 74th annual Cannes Film Festival on July 7, 2021, in France. | Source: Getty Images

Val was born on December 31, 1959, in Los Angeles, and rose to fame in the 1990s with standout roles in Top Gun, The Doors, Tombstone, Batman Forever, and Heat. Off-screen, he was a devoted father, artist, and fierce believer in the power of storytelling.

His final Instagram post, just a few weeks before his passing, read: “u r enuff [sic]” — a short but powerful message that fans have taken as his farewell.

Val Kilmer at the United Nations headquarters on July 20, 2019 | Source: Getty Images

Now, as Hollywood mourns one of its most enigmatic stars, Cher’s voice reminds us of the man behind the roles — bold, stubborn, brilliant, and deeply loved.

🕊 Rest in peace, Valus Maximus. You were more than a legend — you were a light.