NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The country is mourning the death of Val Kilmer on Wednesday night. The Hollywood icon was loved on the big screen, but when he took a break from Hollywood, he moved to a place he had grown up loving. Story continues below Sports: Rio Rancho baseball player accused of urinating in opponent’s water jug Don't Miss: New Mexico businesses slow to accept mobile ID program Crime: Second trial begins against former APD officer accused of false imprisonment Hollywood legend Val Kilmer died at 65 years old, leaving a legacy behind full of iconic roles in films like Top Gun, Tombstone, and Batman Forever. But he would later escape from Los Angeles to a nearly 6,000-acre ranch east of Santa Fe with stunning views near the Pecos River. Kilmer once told Architectural Digest, "In New Mexico, it's easier to understand that there's more than one absolute. " He said his love affair with the southwest dates back to his California boyhood and family camping trips to New Mexico. In 2010, Kilmer was seen in photos spending the day with then-Governor Bill Richardson. The pair attended an event with Holly Holm before heading to The Pit for a Lobo basketball game, where fans even gave Top Gun's Ice Man shout out. But some of his time in New Mexico was surrounded in controversy. Kilmer made headlines after he faced the San Miguel County Commission. He was there to apologize to New Mexicans after words attributed to the actor in a Rolling Stones article, painted the state in a bad light. Kilmer told the commission in 2010, "I sincerely apologize for comments that I made that have been seen as a negative about our community about myself, about my neighbors, because it's just not who I am.” The New Mexico Wildlife Center expressed its sadness at the passing of the actor on social media. They said Kilmer was a strong supporter of the center and even allowed the group to host events at his ranch in 2008 and 2009. Kilmer also broke into the world of art in 2016, represented by a Santa Fe art gallery. In 2011, Kilmer sold the Sprawling Ranch to pay back taxes. As tributes pour in on social media, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham shared a statement recalling how Kilmer once said, "I love filming in New Mexico just because of the variety of the landscapes and the character of the people." In that same post, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham also said in part, "On behalf of all New Mexicans, I extend my condolences to Val's family, friends, and fans worldwide. His spirit will remain a lasting part of our state's legacy." ...read more read less