Val Kilmer’s Two Grown-Up Children — One Looks Just Like Him! Photos

Val Kilmer will always be remembered as a Hollywood legend, but behind the spotlight, he was most proud of one role: being a devoted father to his two “brilliant” children. Following his passing on April 1, 2025, at the age of 65, fans and loved ones are reflecting not only on his unforgettable career — but also on the legacy he built through his children, Mercedes and Jack.

Val Kilmer during a photoshoot in Los Angeles in 1986. | Source: Getty Images

A Legacy Beyond the Screen

Val Kilmer visiting the United Nations headquarters in New York to promote the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative on July 20, 2019. | Source: Getty Images

Though best known for his iconic roles in Top Gun, The Doors, and Tombstone, Kilmer’s greatest achievement was raising two talented, resilient children who have each found their own place in the entertainment world while honoring his memory.

Mercedes Kilmer — A Daughter’s Strength

Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley with daughter Mercedes Kilmer at a preview performance of the Broadway play “Death and the Maiden” on February 20, 1992, in New York. | Source: Getty Images

Born October 29, 1991, Mercedes Kilmer has carved out a space in Hollywood as both an actress and a producer. With credits in indie films like Ingrid and Prettyface, she’s built her own name in the industry — but her most meaningful work came through a deeply personal collaboration with her father.

In 2017, during the height of Val’s battle with throat cancer, Mercedes was injured in a severe car accident. In a twist of fate, father and daughter were hospitalized at the same time. That experience not only strengthened their already close bond but taught them both about the healing power of love and family.

Later, they shared the screen in Paydirt, a film that became a symbol of resilience. Despite Val’s speech being altered by a tracheotomy, he returned to acting with strength — and proudly recommended Mercedes for the role of his on-screen daughter.

Reflecting on the experience, Mercedes said, “Watching how he communicates physically taught me so much about acting — he’s still teaching me, always.” Val, in turn, called Mercedes his greatest teacher in life.

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

Jack Kilmer — A Son in His Father’s Image

Jack Kilmer during the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7 in Canada. | Source: Getty Images

Born June 6, 1995, Jack Kilmer initially had no plans to follow in his parents’ footsteps. But when family friend and director Gia Coppola cast him in Palo Alto (2013), Jack discovered his passion for acting.

Since then, he’s taken on bold roles — including a chilling performance as black metal musician Pelle “Dead” Ohlin in Lords of Chaos. His approach to acting is immersive and open-minded, calling himself an “experiential dilettante” — someone who learns through doing.

Jack has often been described as Val’s lookalike — fans repeatedly call him a “younger version” of the legendary actor. From his soulful eyes to his magnetic presence, Jack carries his father’s spirit both inside and out.

Jack Kilmer at the 2024 San Diego International Comic-Con on July 26 in California. | Source: Getty Images

He also had the chance to work with Val, deepening their creative connection. When both his father and sister were hospitalized in 2017, Jack admitted feeling helpless — but he was also inspired by their strength. “My dad’s been crazy prolific since his diagnosis. He just never stops creating.”

Carrying the Legacy Forward

Both Mercedes and Jack have been praised not only for their talents but for the grace with which they’ve navigated fame, loss, and legacy. Mercedes continues to pursue acting and music, striving to keep her identity her own, separate from fame. Jack moves freely between film and music, just as his father once did.

Social media users often point out how much of Val lives on in his children — from their physical features to their creative energy. One fan wrote: “Just a younger version of you… great picture.” Another said: “They both got the lips from Dad’s side. Beautiful family.”

Mercedes and Jack Kilmer at the premiere of “Val” on August 3, 2021, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images

Val Kilmer once said, “I turned down incredible roles just to be a present father. That was more important than any movie.” His children are a reflection of that choice — grounded, gifted, and fiercely devoted to one another.

Though Val is no longer with us, his legacy endures — not just in film, but in the hearts and futures of the two people he loved most.