Val Kilmer Undergoes Emergency Surgery for Throat Tumor: Reports

Actor was reportedly rushed to UCLA Medical Center on Monday night

By Natalie Finn Jan 31, 2015 2:43 AMTags
Val Kilmer Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

Val Kilmer is said to be recovering after a major health scare.

The Tombstone star was rushed to UCLA Medical Center  on Monday night after he started bleeding from his throat and ended up undergoing emergency surgery to treat a tumor, TMZ reported Friday.

The Santa Monica Fire Department confirmed to People that a call came in at 11:31 p.m. on Jan. 26 and the patients was transported via ALS to UCLA's Santa Monica location. While ALS stands for advanced life support, that doesn't necessarily mean Kilmer's situation was that dire; the ALS crew is dispatched for other types of situations as well.

Kilmer—whose most memorable films include Willow, Top GunThe Doors, Heat, Batman ForeverKiss Kiss Bang Bang and Tombstone, in which he played Wyatt Earp's right-hand man Doc Holliday—has never spoken out about any health issues. Last fall, onlookers couldn't help but notice that he had lost what appeared to be a great deal of weight after looking heavier for some time.

The 55-year-old actor made headlines in 2013 when he transformed himself into Mark Twain for his one-man show Citizen Twain, which he also wrote and directed.

Also recently, his voice was featured in the animated Disney film Planes and he appeared in Palo Alto, with James Franco and Emma Roberts, and the comedic IFC miniseries The Spoils of Babylon.