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Michael Douglas Reveals Val Kilmer Is Battling Cancer

Michael Douglas Reveals Val Kilmer Is Battling Cancer
HOLLYWOOD - OCTOBER 3: Actor Michael Douglas and actor Val Kilmer attend 'The Ghost & the Darkness' Hollywood Premiere on October 3, 1996 at Paramount Theatre, Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)
Ron Galella via Getty Images
HOLLYWOOD - OCTOBER 3: Actor Michael Douglas and actor Val Kilmer attend 'The Ghost & the Darkness' Hollywood Premiere on October 3, 1996 at Paramount Theatre, Paramount Pictures Studios in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)

After months of speculation surrounding Val Kilmer’s health, his former co-star Michael Douglas revealed the actor is battling cancer.

During a Q&A session in London on Saturday, People reports that Douglas spoke about filming 1996’s “The Ghost and the Darkness” with Kilmer, who is now 56.

“The picture didn’t turn out as well as I hoped but I had a wonderful time. Val was a wonderful guy who is dealing with exactly what I had, and things don’t look too good for him,” Douglas said to host Jonathan Ross. “My prayers are with him. That’s why you haven’t heard too much from Val lately.”

Douglas, 72, battled tongue cancer ― which he initially said was throat cancer ― in 2010. After undergoing aggressive chemotherapy and radiation treatment, the actor was declared cancer-free in January 2011.

Rumors surrounding Kilmer’s health began circulating in January 2015, when it was reported that the “Top Gun” actor had been hospitalized after he began bleeding from his throat. At the time, it was believed the star underwent surgery for a throat tumor.

However, after reports of his possible illness surfaced, Kilmer denied having a tumor or undergoing surgery.

“I had a complication where the best way to receive care was to stay under the watchful eye of the ucla ICU,” the “Batman Forever” actor wrote on Facebook. “Friends have assisted who know my spiritual convictions and have been most sensitive and kind for the extra effort in making sure there’s minimum gossip and silly talk.”

In October 2015, Kilmer denied another report that he was ill, calling all the rumors “totally untrue” and saying he had “no tumor or infection of any kind.”

The actor was spotted out with what seemed to be a tracheostomy tube around his neck in December that same year. Afterward, he continued covering his neck with scarves and bandanas when out in public.

In February of this year, the actor shared a few photos on social media in which he was seen without the medical device or scarf around his neck. Still, he has yet to address the medical device.

The Huffington Post has reached out to a representative for Kilmer regarding Douglas’ revelation and will update this post accordingly.

UPDATE ― 5:40 p.m.: A rep for Michael Douglas has released a statement regarding the actor’s comments about Val Kilmer, noting that Douglas was “under the assumption” his former co-star was ill.

“Michael has not spoken to Val in well over a year so if he doesn’t have throat cancer, great,” his rep told Us Weekly on Monday. “Michael qualified in his interview that he hasn’t spoken with him in a long time and wished him the best.”

UPDATE 2 ― Nov. 1, 11:55 p.m: Val Kilmer took to Facebook on Tuesday to further dispute claims made by Michael Douglas:

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