Val Kilmer Family: Ex-Wife Joanne Whalley, Kids Mercedes & Jack Kilmer

Val Kilmer wasn’t just a Hollywood icon—he was a devoted father, a creative mentor, and the heart of a tightly knit family. After his passing on April 1, 2025, due to complications from pneumonia at the age of 65, fans around the world are revisiting not only his legendary film roles but also the quieter, more personal legacy he left behind: his family.

From his once fairy-tale romance with actress Joanne Whalley to raising two talented children, Mercedes and Jack Kilmer, Val’s greatest role may have been the one off-camera—as a loving and present father.

In this article, we explore Val Kilmer’s family in 2025, their backgrounds, careers, and the love they shared through both triumphs and challenges.

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Who is Val Kilmer’s ex-wife?

Joanne Whalley, now 63, is a British actress best known for her roles in Willow, Scandal, and The Borgias. She met Val Kilmer in 1988 on the set of Willow, and the two married that same year. Their chemistry on-screen carried over into real life, and the couple welcomed two children—Mercedes in 1991 and Jack in 1995.

Whalley filed for divorce in July 1995, shortly after Jack was born, citing irreconcilable differences. Despite the separation, both parents remained devoted to co-parenting their children, with Kilmer especially emphasizing the importance of being a present father.

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Mercedes Kilmer, 33

Born on October 29, 1991, Mercedes Kilmer grew up surrounded by creativity. A graduate of NYU and a talented actress in her own right, she made her film debut in 2020’s Paydirt, starring alongside her father in a poignant father-daughter pairing both on and off-screen.

In interviews, Mercedes has often praised Val for his creativity, humor, and resilience—especially during his long battle with throat cancer. In 2021, she served as an associate producer on the Amazon Prime documentary Val, which gave an intimate look at her father’s career and health journey.

Beyond acting, Mercedes has spoken about the lessons she learned while working with Val—especially how he adapted his performance style after losing his natural voice. She credited him with expanding her view of what acting could be, calling him “a smart and creative person I love hanging out with, even if he wasn’t my dad.”

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In 2025, Mercedes continues to work on screen and behind the scenes, preserving her father’s artistic legacy while building a unique path of her own.

Jack Kilmer, 29

Jack Kilmer, born June 6, 1995, is the younger of Val and Joanne’s children. Though more private than his sister, Jack has pursued a successful acting career since his breakout role in Gia Coppola’s Palo Alto (2013), where he starred alongside James Franco.

He’s since taken roles in indie films like The Pretenders, Lords of Chaos, and Summer 03, developing a reputation for his laid-back charisma and thoughtful screen presence.

In 2021, Jack gained further attention when he narrated the Val documentary, lending his voice to represent his father, whose speech was affected by cancer treatments. The result was so striking, Val said it was “shocking to hear how much” Jack sounded like his younger self.

Jack remains involved in creative projects in 2025, reportedly helping manage his father’s estate and participating in legacy-focused productions that honor Val’s influence on the industry.

The Kilmer family bond

Even through divorce, health struggles, and the pressures of fame, the Kilmer family remained deeply connected. Both children were by Val’s side throughout his two-year throat cancer battle and later, during his declining health in early 2025.

Mercedes has spoken openly about how their father’s illness brought the family closer. “So many good things have come out of it,” she told People, reflecting on how time spent together helped build even deeper relationships with their father—and with each other.