Val Kilmer, star of films including Top Gun and Tombstone, has denied a claim by fellow actor Michael Douglas that he is suffering from oral cancer. 

Kilmer, a Christian Scientist, said in a Facebook post: "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 said his play and film about the 19th-century writer Mark Twain was in part inspired by Twain's "unlikely devotion to Mrs Eddy, the genius discoverer and founder of my faith, Christian Science".

He said: "Some fans have mistakenly thought my silence about my personal issues meant that somehow I wasn't being responsible to my health, because of my reliance on prayer and Love. Nothing could be further from the truth. Altho I am very grateful for all the support from around the world, when people found out I had a physical challenge."

Kilmer said: "Whatever led Michael Douglas to speculate about my health, he's a loving and devoted friend to a privileged group of talent people around the world, and I'm sure he meant no harm." [sic]