Michael Douglas apologises for Val Kilmer cancer rumours

Val Kilmer at a basketball game in 2014 (Photo/Getty)

Michael Douglas has apologised to Val Kilmer after claiming he had throat cancer.

The Willow star has revealed the 72-year-old actor penned him a "nice note" saying sorry for giving people the wrong impression, and Kilmer insists Douglas - who successfully fought tongue cancer six years ago - is a "classy guy".

He wrote on Facebook: "Michael Douglas wrote me a nice note apologising for suggesting to the press overseas, 'I 'wasn't doing too well...' and was grateful to hear I am doing well. He's a classy guy."

The 56-year-old star went on to recall meeting Douglas' father, Kirk Douglas - who turns 100 on December 9 - for the first time on the set of Tombstone in which Kilmer portrayed professional gambler Doc Holliday and Kirk Douglas was deputy sheriff Wyatt Earp.

He added: "One day I have to recount the story of when I met his father. He loved my performance in Tombstone so much, having played Doc himself in a mighty fine film, he was so animated about all the choices I was able to do, same as all the things he wanted to do but wasn't allowed to, the dialect, the coughing, drunk all day everyday... He was amazing. And the first time I met Michael is a good story too. Oliver Stone insisted I meet him, knowing what Michael would say about Oliver torturing him during Wall Street. It was hilarious and Oliver was relishing reliving Michael's pain... It all worked out and all was forgiven on Oscar night I believe...."

Kilmer recently wrote a 424-word Facebook post revealing Douglas was "misinformed" after he claimed the actor had cancer, admitting he hadn't spoken to him for two years.
Part of the post read: "I love Michael Douglas but he is misinformed. The last time I spoke to him was almost two years ago, when I asked him for a referral for a specialist to get a diagnosis for a lump in my throat, which prevented me from continuing a tour of my play Citizen Twain."

Michael Douglas wrote me a nice note apologizing for suggesting to the press overseas, I "wasn't doing too well..." and...

Posted by Val Kilmer on Tuesday, 15 November 2016

It comes after Douglas spoke about shooting The Ghost in the Darkness with Kilmer in 1996, and claimed he was now suffering with cancer.

He said: "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.

"My prayers are with him. That's why you haven't heard too much from Val lately."