Actor Val Kilmer, Known for ‘Batman Forever’ and ‘The Doors,’ Passes Away

Preview

• Val Kilmer has died at the age of 65.
• He was famous for many projects including ‘Top Gun’ and ‘The Doors.’
• Kilmer was also part of the select number who have played Batman.

Val Kilmer, a talented actor known for his boyish good looks but chameleonic abilities, has died. He was 65, and had been diagnosed with throat cancer several years ago.

George Cosmatos, who directed Kilmer in ‘Tombstone,’ told the L.A. Times this about the actor in 1993:

“He works harder than most actors to make it look believable. He’s in the ranks of the great actors in America like Pacino or De Niro.”

Related Article: Jack Kilmer Talks ‘Detective Knight: Independence’ and Bruce Willis

Val Kilmer: Early Life

Val Edward Kilmer, part Cherokee, Irish, German and Swedish, was born on New Year’s Eve 1959 in the Los Angeles suburb of Chatsworth. His father was an aerospace engineer and real estate developer and his mother a housewife — they would end up divorcing when he was 9 — and he had one older brother, one younger.

Wesley, his younger sibling, suffered an epileptic seizure and drowned in a swimming pool at the family home that his father had bought from Western movie legends Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. At the time, Kilmer was about to leave to study acting at Juilliard in New York; he was 17 and the youngest person to be admitted to the school’s drama division.

Here’s what he said in a 2005 interview about that:

“It was quite an emotional time for me, and in a way, the extremely high standards and the activity of the school I’m sure were good for me, because I was forced to really challenge myself about my very life, you know — what I believe about life and death.”

Val Kilmer: Film Career

After reportedly turning down a role in Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘The Outsiders,’ Kilmer broke out with the lead in 1984 spy spoof ‘Top Secret!,’ in which he played a rock star and sang his own songs.

Following his turn as a brainy college student in the underrated, fondly remembered 1986 sci-fi comedy, ‘Real Genius,’ he became a major star, appearing with Tom Cruise in the worldwide hit ‘Top Gun.’

He met future wife Joanne Whalley, on the set of Ron Howard’s fantasy film ‘Willow,’ and then appeared with her in ‘Kill Me Again’ in 1989. They would be married from 1988 until their divorce in 1996.

A wide variety of roles followed; Kilmer refusing to simply coast as a handsome movie star.

His other films included ‘At First Sight,’ ‘Red Planet,’  ‘The Salton Sea,’ and ‘Wonderland’.

There were also the likes of ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ with Robert Downey, Jr., ‘Déjà Vu’ with Denzel Washington, and ‘Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans’.

A much more controversial choice was troubled dark movie ‘The Island of Dr. Moreau,’ where Kilmer tangled with both the film’s star, Marlon Brando, and director John Frankenheimer.

Frankenheimer, the second director to work on completing the film, reportedly said this:

“There are two things I will never ever do in my whole life. The first is that I will never climb Mt. Everest. The second is that I will never work with Val Kilmer ever again.”

Still, many other directors were happy to work with him. He starred in Michael Apted’s Western ‘Thunderheart’ and ‘The Real McCoy’ and had a small but memorable role as an Elvis-like mentor in Tony Scott’s ‘True Romance.’

His role as Doc Holliday in 1993’s ‘Tombstone’ was hailed one of his best performances, and in 1995, he appeared in ‘Heat’ alongside Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. For Oliver Stone, he memorably portrayed musician Jim Morrison in ‘The Doors.’

Kilmer took over from Michael Keaton for Joel Schumacher’s ‘Batman Forever,’ receiving mixed reviews, and was replaced by George Clooney for ‘Batman & Robin.’

He went on to star in ‘The Ghost and the Darkness’ and the forgettable adaptation of TV series ‘The Saint.’

After the mid-1990s, the studio roles dwindled amidst his reputation as difficult and combative, and he appeared mostly in independent films and supporting roles such as Stone’s poorly-reviewed ‘Alexander.’

For his acting swan song, he made an emotional, impactful return as Iceman in ‘Top Gun: Maverick,’ working with Cruise in one of the movie’s best scenes.

Val Kilmer Reflects

Talking to The Hollywood Reporter to publicize ‘Val,’ the documentary about his varied career, he said the following about his career:

“I was too serious. I’d get upset when things like Oscars and recognition failed to come my way. I would like to have more Oscars than anybody. Meryl Streep must feel pretty good, you know? It must feel nice to know that everyone loves her. It’s about being loved.”

His memoir, ‘I’m Your Huckleberry,’ named for a line in ‘Tombstone,’ was published in 2020.

Kilmer lived for many years on a ranch in New Mexico, where he continued to own land after selling off most of the ranch. He also painted and helped oversee theater programs for high-schoolers to perform Twain and Shakespeare.

He doesn’t have to worry about being fondly regarded.

Kilmer is survived by daughter Mercedes and son, Jack.