Val Kilmer
Hollywood actor Val Kilmer denied throat cancer rumours Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Val Kilmer made his first public appearance nearly a fortnight after denying rumours that he is battling throat cancer. However, his couldn't get is speech correct as the Ghost In The Darkness actor struggled to speak with a swollen tongue.

He appeared before the public nearly a fortnight after his co-star and veteran actor Michael Douglas claimed that his friend is "dealing with exactly what I had, and things don't look too good for him," hinting at his cancer battle.

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The 56-year-old presented the film version of his play Citizen Twain in Los Angeles on Thursday, 10 November and a video of the press meet was published by People where the actor can be seen dabbing his mouth constantly as he was answering press questions with a slurred speech.

"I went into rehearsals down in Florida and started having trouble with my speech. Obviously I'm still recovering. My tongue swelled up and I cancelled the tour. As I'm recovering I'm showing this," he said to the crowd.

The website claims that Kilmer denied making further comments on his health. But later he posted a lengthy messaged on his official Facebook page and thanked his fans for their support. "Thanks to all those of you who came out to say hello and watch my film on Mark Twain last night. That standing ovation is going to fuel me for quite a while. It was humbling and I'm grateful. Especially because it's such an emotional and sobering time for so many people. I have a limited set of skills and I'm so fortunate to have found a story to tell and subjects to share, that I really care about," he wrote in the heart warming post.

During end of October, Douglas expressed his concerns for Kilmer saying "My prayers are with him. That's why you haven't heard too much from Val lately." However, the Top Gun actor denied the cancer rumours saying his friend is 'misinformed'.

"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. I ended up using a team at UCLA and have no cancer whatsoever. I still have a swollen tongue and am rehabbing steadily," he wrote in his social media account explaining his medical condition.