E! News has reached retired to a rep for Kilmer for remark but has not heard back.

Hours earlier the festival kickoff, the actor’s girl Mercedes Kilmer confirmed his decease to the New York Times, sharing that helium died of pneumonia. She besides confirmed helium was diagnosed with pharynx crab successful 2014 but aboriginal recovered from the illness. 

Kilmer antecedently discussed his crab journey successful April 2020, noting that contempt being “healed” from the disease, his dependable had go noticeably raspier arsenic a effect of his treatment.

“I consciousness a batch amended than I sound, but I consciousness wonderful,” helium told Good Morning America astatine the time. “This is simply a tracheotomy to assistance maine breathe, due to the fact that the glands successful my pharynx swelled up arsenic well.”

But done his wellness battle, helium retained a consciousness of wit astir the situation.

“You whitethorn announcement I dependable similar I person a frog successful my throat. It's not. It's a buffalo,” helium joked successful a station connected Instagram anterior to the TV appearance. “Though being healed from cancer, I americium dilatory and surely regaining my speech. As I haven't fto the adversity stifle my dependable arsenic an artist.”