Val Kilmer has left an indelible mark on Hollywood, starring in iconic films like “Top Gun” and “The Doors.” But his greatest legacy might just be his children. Both grown now, they’ve made their mark in the entertainment industry.

Meet the actor’s kids — his daughter, who shares a deep bond with her dad forged through a harrowing hospital experience and continues to teach him about life, and his son, a talented actor Val shared the screen with, who also happens to bear an uncanny resemblance to him.

Mercedes Kilmer

Mercedes, born on October 29, 1991, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is Val’s eldest child and has forged a path in Hollywood as an actress and producer.

Known for roles in films like “Ingrid” in 2015 and “Prettyface” in 2016, she quickly gained recognition for her talent and determination to create a career independent of her famous lineage.

From an early age, Mercedes was aware of the spotlight that followed her parents, Val and mother Joanne Whalley. “It was about navigating how other people perceived us rather than any kind of reckoning,” she explained, reflecting on her upbringing in the public eye.

This ability to adapt and persevere became even more critical when her family faced a major challenge. In 2017, her father went public with his throat cancer diagnosis, a battle that began when he discovered a lump in his throat.

Shortly after his diagnosis, Mercedes endured a traumatic car accident that left her hospitalized with a scar on her leg. During that challenging period, the father-daughter duo found themselves in the same hospital, supporting each other through their respective recoveries.

“The health challenges have been just that, challenging, but so many good things have come out of it. We all spend so much time together. Even just getting to meet all my dad’s friends from before I was born — there are so many beautiful things that happen when you need help from people,” she said.

After undergoing a tracheotomy that altered the sound of his voice, Val triumphantly returned to acting in “Paydirt.” In the film, he portrayed a sheriff whose pursuit of a career-defining case ultimately led to his downfall, mirroring his own life with a speech impairment.

The film marked not only his comeback but also Mercedes’ feature film debut. Val shared that when the producer approached him for the role, he suggested his daughter.

“I’m not sure if you’ve already cast someone for the part of my daughter, but I might know the perfect person — her name is Mercedes Kilmer,” he recalled saying.

After the producer and Mercedes met, they had a “ball” and the collaboration began. For Mercedes, working on the heist film turned into an invaluable learning experience.

Playing alongside her father, she embraced the opportunity to learn from his resilience and adaptability as an actor. “It’s pretty historic to have a lead with a speech disability,” Mercedes said of her father’s role in the film.

Reflecting on the experience, she credited her father for teaching her new dimensions of acting. Watching him use physical expression to overcome the challenges of his speech taught her invaluable lessons about communication and performance.

“My dad’s able to very artfully circumvent the limitations of his speech, so I learned so much watching him, how he communicated physically. It taught me so much about acting that expanded what I thought acting was, which was central to speech,” she explained.

Val was equally in awe of his daughter, revealing that she taught him about “everything — life itself.” The “Top Gun” star described both of his kids as “really brilliant” and admitted, “I am just madly, wildly entertained by them.”

The famous actor has long prioritized his family over work, revealing that he turned down “really great directors” to be a “responsible” family man.

“[…] I was trying to be responsible to my family or my marriage. I just didn’t pay attention to business. I can’t be a responsible parent and only be there three or four months a year,” he said. The actor’s dedication to his family not only shaped his career choices but also inspired his children to find their own paths.

In addition to acting, Mercedes has a passion for music and dreams of blending her talents by playing a singer on screen. However, she’s kept many of her creative projects private to carve her own identity, separate from her family’s fame.

“[…] Not ’cause I don’t love my family or respect their work or anything, but just for the sake of having my own individual experience from which to draw as an actor […],” she explained.

With her dedication to acting and storytelling, Mercedes continues to build a career defined by her unique perspective and the lessons she’s drawn from her family’s extraordinary journey.

Jack Kilmer, born on June 6, 1995, is Val’s second child who followed in the famous actor’s footsteps. He made his acting debut with a breakout role as Teddy in the 2013 film “Palo Alto.”

Interestingly, despite being born to celebrity parents who divorced six weeks after he was born, with his mother citing irreconcilable differences, Jack hadn’t initially planned to follow them into the spotlight.

His first passion was music, and he may have pursued a career in that field if not for director Gia Coppola, a schoolmate, who saw him as the perfect fit for her project. Gia cast Jack in “Palo Alto,” which not only launched his acting career but also gave him a sense of purpose.

From there, he went on to appear in several notable films, including his acclaimed portrayal of Pelle “Dead” Ohlin, a black metal musician, in “Lords of Chaos.” Jack embraced acting as an avenue to explore diverse experiences, describing it as a way to try “a little bit of everything, like an experiential dilettante.”

He also worked alongside his father on a few projects, further cementing their shared creative bond. Reflecting on their family’s struggles, he recalled feeling helpless when both his father and sister were hospitalized at the same time.

“I was just, you know, miserable, distraught, sitting next to these two,” he said. In recent years, Jack and Mercedes have spoken about Val’s enduring positivity and creative drive despite his battle with cancer.

“My dad’s been crazy prolific since he was diagnosed with cancer, sometimes against his better judgment,” Jack noted. However, while Val has maintained a bright outlook, his son also acknowledged the toll cancer treatments have taken on his body.

In addition to his acting talent, Jack has garnered attention for his striking resemblance to his father, particularly from the famous actor’s younger days. “His boy looks just like him he was a nice-looking kid,” one social media user shared. “Handsome young man,” another said of Jack.

In 2020, Val took to Facebook to share a series of him and his mini-me and one person commented on the post, “Nice picture. Looks like a young Val Kilmer.” Another typed, “Awww! What a handsome young man!” A third person wrote, “Just a younger version of you….great picture.”

Mercedes has received praise for the features she’s inherited from her famous dad during a public appearance with her younger brother. One X, formerly Twitter, user noted, “They got the lips from Dad’s side.” Another person agreed, writing, “Yes! They are lovely!”

From Mercedes’ resilience and artistic growth to Jack’s striking resemblance and diverse talents, Val Kilmer’s children have honored their family bond and personal ambitions, proving the Kilmer name continues to shine brightly.