Where cast of Willow are now – Val Kilmer's tragic death, Emmy winner and health battles
Val Kilmer was catapulted to superstardom after playing the role of Madmartigan in the 1988 fantasy film Willow, which also starred Warwick Davis, Joanne Whalley and Kevin Pollack
Hollywood is mourning the loss of one of its brightest stars after it was announced that Val Kilmer had died aged 65.
Val's daughter Mercedes confirmed the news that her father, who famously played Batman and Jim Morrison, had died from pneumonia in Los Angeles. The legendary actor had an illustrious career, playing a number of high profile roles. While often focusing on serious parts, he also starred in some family-friendly films, none more recognisable than George Lucas' fantasy romp, Willow.
Released in 1988, Willow told the story of Willow Ufgood, an aspiring sorcerer tasked with saving his world and a deserted infant from an evil enchantress.
Assisting him in his mission was Madmartigan, played by Kilmer, along with a slew of other characters. Despite having big names attached and being directed by Ron Howard, the film didn't ignite the box office. But it did develop a cult following and gave its main stars' careers a shot in the arm.
As the industry mourn Kilmer's passing, the Daily Star takes a look back at the actor and his co-stars to see what they've been up to since their Lord of the Rings-esque adventure.
Warwick Davis (Willow Ufgood)
After his iconic portrayal of Wicket the Ewok in Return of the Jedi, Davis teamed up with Lucas again for the lead role in Willow. His diverse choice of roles since then has made him one of the highest-grossing supporting actors ever. He's played a range of characters from a villain in the Leprechaun franchise to Griphook and Filius Flitwick in the Harry Potter series.
After a stint alongside Ricky Gervais in the sitcom Life's Too Short, Davis returned to the Star Wars universe with roles in The Force Awakens and Rogue One. The 3ft 6in actor, who is a father of two (a third child sadly passed away in infancy), tragically lost his wife in March last year.
Val Kilmer (Madmartigan)
Kilmer catapulted from the Top Gun volleyball court to the land of Nockmaar for his role as the brash swordsman Madmartigan. His performances in films like Real Genius and Top Secret had already made him a household name, but it was Top Gun and Willow that propelled Kilmer into superstardom.
It was on the set of Willow that he met co-star Joanne Whalley, who became his wife from 1988 to 1995. Throughout the 90s, the actor continued his successful streak, portraying everyone from Jim Morrison to Batman.
However, a series of box office failures and a reputation for being challenging on set led to a decline in his career. Tragically, the actor was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, and his ongoing battle with the illness resulted in him needing an electric voice box inserted into his trachea to aid his speech.
He shared his journey in the 2021 documentary Val, narrated by his own son. His final silver screen appearance was a poignant cameo in 2022's Top Gun: Maverick.
Joanne Whalley (Sorsha)
Whalley, who played the fierce warrior Sorsha opposite Kilmer in Willow, saw her personal and professional life intertwine as she married her co-star shortly after filming. The couple had two children before parting ways in 1995.
Whalley, already a recognised actress with a BAFTA TV Award nomination for Edge of Darkness under her belt, continued to build her career with roles in Scandal and other '90s films like Navy SEALs and Trial By Jury. She found further success on the small screen, starring in CBS' Scarlett miniseries and making appearances in Wolf Hall, The Borgias, and even the 2022 Disney+ TV series version of Willow.
Kevin Pollack (Rool)
Prior to scoring his first major film role as the beer-loving Rool, Pollak was a standup comic known for his impressions of celebrities like William Shatner. Post-Willow, Pollack's film career flourished with more than 90 credits to his name, including roles in The Usual Suspects and The Whole Nine Yards.
Nowadays, he's a familiar face on TV (Angel from Hell), the stand-up scene, poker tournaments, and hosts the Kevin Pollak Chat Show. From 2016 to 2022, he featured in Better Things, and from 2017 to 2023, Pollak was a regular on The Marvellous Mrs. Maisel.
Rick Overton (Franjean)
Like Pollack, Overton was an accomplished standup comic who brought his comedy chops to the role of mischievous brownie Franjean. After Willow, the actor/writer spent the '80s and '90s on sitcoms like Seinfeld, and in films like Groundhog Day. As a writer he was also behind the scenes penning jokes for Dennis Miller Live, for which he has won an Emmy.
Jean Marsh (Queen Bavmorda)
Marsh was best known for creating and starring in the British drama Upstairs, Downstairs when she took on the role of the evil Queen Bavmorda in Willow. Marsh reprised her Emmy-winning role as Rose Buck for the 2010 revival of Upstairs, Downstairs.
Now 90, she's taken a step back in recent years after suffering a stroke, with her last role being in a 2014 episode of the mystery series Grantchester.