Top Gun’s Val Kilmer uses electronic voice box to speak as he battles throat cancer
HOLLYWOOD star Val Kilmer can no longer speak unaided and uses an electronic voice box to communicate.
The Top Gun and Batman actor, 61, revealed his decline in a documentary he has produced.
He appears in the Amazon movie, called Val, pushing his throat and straining to get words out with the device.
The footage will shock fans of the action hero. He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015 but, at first, kept his condition private.
During treatment for the disease, Kilmer had a tracheotomy, which robbed him of the ability to talk.
Much of the documentary consists of videos taken by Kilmer throughout his life and shot either at home or while making movies.
Speaking in public for the first time with his voice box, he says in the clip: “It feels like yesterday and yet it has been a lifetime. As I write this, my documentary is getting ready to premiere at Festival de Cannes.
"And as grateful as I am for being selected with this high honour, I look forward most to sharing my life’s story with all of you.”
Fans on social media told how moved they were by the trailer for the film, directed by Leo Scott and Ting Poo.
One of them wrote: “I just saw the trailer for your movie and wanted to send you massive love and good vibes. Keep sharing your voice, your struggles, your pain.
“Through that you inspire others to do the same!” And another wrote: “An absolute brilliant talent of an actor.”
- The documentary will be released on Amazon Prime Video on August 6.