Val Kilmer Gets Candid About Surviving Throat Cancer In Amazon Documentary

Val Kilmer is opening up about surviving throat cancer in his new documentary "Val."

The 61-year-old "Batman Forever" star — who is now cancer-free — was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015.

Following radiation and chemotherapy treatments, along with a tracheostomy that permanently damaged his speaking voice, the actor explained in his Amazon Original documentary: "You have to make the choice to breathe or to eat. It's an obstacle that is very present with whoever sees me."

"Now that it's more difficult to speak, I want to tell my story more than ever," Kilmer insisted in the film, with his voice sounding raspy. "I obviously am sounding much worse than I feel. I can't speak without plugging this hole [in his throat]."

Kilmer's team also spoke to People about his life and his new documentary after living with cancer. The documentary is co-directed by Leo Scott and Ting Poo and produced by Kilmer, his son Jack, 26, and his daughter Mercedes, 29.

Scott and Poo told the outlet they were inspired to make a documentary about the "Top Gun" star’s life after learning about his extensive collection of personal film archives and after getting to know him personally.

"We approached him three years ago," Scott told People. "I'd worked with him on his Cinema Twain project and when he couldn't tour the play Citizen Twain, he was touring a film of the play, so I was working with him on that and some other projects too, archiving his footage."

Poo added that Kilmer was open to collaborating with them and showing the world his personal and professional life.

"He doesn't have the vanity that you would expect from someone of his fame and celebrity. There was never any of that kind of artifice or protection that people who are really famous have to put up around themselves," she said. "It's humbling to be around that."

Poo went on to describe Kilmer as a "layered person" with both "childlike playfulness" and "the deep wisdom of somebody who's been on a spiritual path their whole life at the same time."

"He's a lot of opposites that make him incredibly interesting, and it's kind of why our film is so interesting," she added.

Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 but only went public with his condition in 2017 after denying Michael Douglas' claim that he was ill. In an Ask Me Anything segment on Reddit, he confirmed his condition, saying, "Michael was probably trying to help me because the press probably asked where I was these days."

Recently, Kilmer, who lost his voice to cancer, worked with Sonatic in developing an AI prototype that recreates his voice using archival footage he owns. The company released a video of Kilmer speaking about his "creative soul" using the technology, and he sounded like his old self.

"I’m grateful to the entire team at Sonantic who masterfully restored my voice in a way I’ve never imagined possible," Kilmer said in a statement obtained by The Wrap. "As human beings, the ability to communicate is the core of our existence and the side effects from throat cancer have made it difficult for others to understand me. The chance to narrate my story, in a voice that feels authentic and familiar, is an incredibly special gift."

Kilmer is continuing to act amid his condition. In 2020, he co-starred with his daughter in the film "Paydirt" and will also appear in the upcoming "Top Gun: Maverick."

"Val" is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video