Val Kilmer says he has no tumor, despite what tabloids say

Actor Val Kilmer has been the subject of wild rumors about his health due to his changing appearance, but he insists that he is doing well and does not have a tumor.

The tabloid site Radar Online claimed that Kilmer was recently admitted to a hospital and could “barely speak.” Radar also published several recent photos of the actor, which show him looking gaunt and still wearing a scarf around his neck.

Kilmer’s reps posted a statement on Facebook, calling Radar’s rumors “totally untrue.”

“Thank you all for your love and support,” the statement read. “There's a rumor I'm unwell again and in hospital which is totally untrue. I was in to verify I have no tumor or infection of any kind which was verified by the very caring experts at UCLA.”

It is true that Kilmer has had a recent health scare. In January, he was rushed to UCLA Medical Center and underwent surgery. It was rumored then that he had a throat tumor, but he denied that. He later posted a picture on Facebook to prove that he is doing well.

The actor, 55, also had to deny rumors that he had throat cancer in a June Facebook post.

“There has been a swelling that I have covered during this period of recovery from a procedure I had done which was not an operation on this area,” Kilmer’s June statement read. “But I didn't want to create an opportunity for exploitive press to generate a story like what apparently now exists. I imagine I'm going to keep wearing scarfs till the swelling goes down, even though it's a silly look for LA SUMMER! Or LA EVER!”

Kilmer is best known for his roles in Top Gun, Batman Forever and Heat. He recently appeared in the direct to video movie Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn and IFC’s The Spoils of Babylon.