Val Kilmer, who died on Tuesday at the age of 65 after battling throat cancer, became one of the biggest stars of the ’80s and ’90s with a diverse array of films, ranging from action thrillers to biopics and comedies.

After scoring his first movie role in the 1984 action comedy “Top Secret,” Kilmer broke through with his performance in the sci-fi comedy “Real Genius” (1985) before soaring into the mainstream alongside Tom Cruise in 1986 blockbuster “Top Gun.” He then starred in Ron Howard’s fantasy “Willow” (1988) before receiving critical acclaim for his portrayal of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s 1991 “The Doors” biopic.

The ’90s brought a steady stream of hits for Kilmer, who became one of the best-paid actors of the decade. He took on the Western genre alongside Kurt Russell in “Tombstone” (1993), starred in crime dramas including Michael Mann’s classic “Heat” (1995) and became a superhero the same year with Joel Schumacher’s “Batman Forever.