Val Kilmer

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ValVal Last Updated: 4/12/25
Real Name: Val Edward Kilmer
Born: December 31, 1959
Died: April 1, 2025 (aged 65)
Height: 5' 10"

Grade: A
Actor/Movie Star: 90%-10%
Prime Years: 1986, 1991-93, 1995-97, 1999, 2002, and 2004
Most Famous Film: Top Gun (1986)
Most Infamous Film: The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996)
Masterpiece: The Doors (1991) and Tombstone (1993)
Outstanding: The Ghost and the Darkness (1996) and At First Sight (1999)
Honorable: Top Gun (1986), Kill Me Again (1989), Thunderheart (1992), Heat (1995), The Salton Sea (2002), Wonderland (2003), and Spartan (2004)

Opinion: One of the most exceptional actors who never received much recognition for his work, Val Kilmer used to surprise me constantly when he turned in brilliant performances during the 90's. After each time, I had high expectations for him, and he still met them. What Val Kilmer did in The Doors bowled me over. Safe to say, he was robbed of an Oscar. Then, there's Tombstone, cementing his legacy. What a surprise that Val Kilmer wasn't given an Academy Award nomination for it. Unfortunately, I didn't care for his 80's stuff although he was all right but memorable as Iceman in Top Gun. He certainly got better over time, having mastered the art of acting while using as little as possible.

Confirmed: Mostly of Swedish descent, born and raised in Los Angeles, California. Went to high school with future actor Kevin Spacey. Had an epileptic brother who died of drowning in a hot tub at age 15. Graduated from Juilliard School with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in drama. Made his screen debut in Top Secret! in 1984. It's not until two years later that his life would completely change when he played Iceman in Top Gun. Met future wife Joanne Whalley, an actress, on the set of Willow (they divorced in 1996).

When Oliver Stone set out to make the film about Jim Morrison and The Doors, he thought of Val Kilmer for the lead role. Upon hearing about it, Val went out of his way to transform himself into Jim Morrison for one solid year, going so far as to memorize all of his songs. The band later confessed that it couldn't tell his singing voice apart from Jim Morrison's.

When Tombstone was theatrically released, word of mouth spread so quickly that everybody had to see it because of Val Kilmer's performance. Took a huge detour in his career when he agreed to appear in two blockbuster films: Batman Forever and Batman Returns. Then, it was made worse when he did The Island of Dr. Moreau with Marlon Brando, causing his reputation to nosedive despite having done a couple of commercially successful films: The Saint and The Ghost and the Darkness. Became less and less visible thereafter, beginning with the sci-fi disaster Red Planet in 2000. Acquired a notorious reputation of being difficult to work with. Had never broke character whether or not the camera was still rolling. Idolized Marlon Brando. Could sing very well.

Rumors started to circulate around the internet, especially through Michael Douglas, that Val Kilmer was dying, and pictures showed him looking completely different. Eventually, the truth came out that he was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015, causing him to lose his voice. Had an electric voice box installed in his trachea and was unable to eat anymore, requiring to be fed intravaneously. Was a lifelong Christian Scientist. Had a mole on the right side of his jawline.

Rumors: Bisexual. Was physically abusive to his ex-wife. Contracted throat cancer via either oral sex or smoking.