‘Top Gun’ Alum Val Kilmer Confirms He Is Recovering From Oral Cancer

“Top Gun” alum Val Kilmer recently confirmed that he is still recovering from his oral cancer.

During a recent Reddit AMA session with his fans, the “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” actor was asked whether or not it is true that he suffered from the disease. The 57-year-old actor previously denied that he suffered from serious health issues. But the fan cited Michael Douglas’ shocking revelation months ago when he said that Kilmer was battling the same type of cancer that he fought against before.

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“He was probably trying to help me ‘cause press probably asked where I was these days, and I did have a healing of cancer, but my tongue is still swollen although healing all the time. Because I don’t sound my normal self yet people think I may still be under the weather,” he replied. In October 2016, Douglas, who worked with Kilmer in the 1996 film, “The Ghost and the Darkness,” said, “Kilmer is dealing with exactly what I had, and things don’t look too good for him. My prayers are with him. That’s why you haven’t heard too much from Val lately.”

Immediately after the 72-year-old actor’s statements made it online, Kilmer posted a rebuttal on his Facebook account saying that Douglas was misinformed. “I love Michael Douglas but he is misinformed. The last time I spoke to him was almost two years, when I asked him for a referral for a specialist to get a diagnosis for a lump in my throat, which prevented me from continuing a tour of my play, ‘Citizen Twain.’ I ended up using a team at UCLA and have no cancer whatsoever,” he wrote.

Additionally, Kilmer revealed via another Reddit AMA session two years ago that the doctors did not find any tumor or infection in his body. But according to People, the actor was spotted with what looked like a tracheostomy tube around his neck. He was also seen wearing scarves and bandanas to cover his neck area.

At present, Kilmer feels that he has become much healthier, and he even expressed his desire to reprise his role as Batman, should the opportunity arise. On top of this, Kilmer is also being kept busy by his ongoing tour to promote “Cinema Twain,” the film version of the one-man stage show, “Citizen Twain,” which chronicles the life of author Mark Twain, according to Today.

He also gushed over Tom Cruise, who served as his big screen rival in the movie, “Top Gun.” “He was a sweetheart. We were all quite rowdy. Me and all the real flyboys and the actors, so I actually felt a little sorry for him cause we all had time to play and date the cute extras and zoom around San Diego in muscle cars, but Tom was always in some scene and never go to play with us,” he recounted. But despite Cruise’s busy schedule, the actor was able to work well with his co-stars, and he and Kilmer developed a special bond on- and off-screen.