Movies

Val Kilmer, star of ‘Top Gun’ and ‘The Doors,’ dies at 65

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Legendary actor Val Kilmer, who garnered fame not only for his exceptional roles in movies like “Top Gun,” “Tombstone,” and “Batman Forever,” but also for his unique personality traits, passed away at the age of 65.

A devoted Christian Scientist who preferred spiritual over conventional medical care, actor Kilmer passed away on Tuesday in Los Angeles, as reported by the New York Times. His daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, informed the newspaper that his death was due to pneumonia. Previously, Kilmer had undergone treatment for throat cancer, which significantly affected his voice. However, he declared himself cancer-free in 2021.

In the 1980s, this actor became well-known as a promising leading man, having trained at Juilliard and sharing the limelight with Tom Cruise in “Top Gun”. At his zenith, he was linked romantically with Cher and Cindy Crawford, earned $6 million per film, and developed a reputation for being challenging to collaborate with.

Kilmer was meticulous with his work, uncertain about notoriety, and generally preferred avoiding the media. Following his acclaimed performance as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s 1991 biopic “The Doors,” he relocated to a sprawling ranch in New Mexico, where he enjoyed horseback riding, tending to buffalo, and composing poetry.

Movies

In the midst of ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ dominating the summer cinema, Val Kilmer discusses the highly debated scene from the movie.

Behind the scenes, he had a reputation for being temperamental and draining, which strained relationships with directors and fellow actors, such as Marlon Brando during the filming of “The Island of Dr. Moreau.

Following the completion of “Batman Forever,” director Joel Schumacher expressed that he wasn’t fond of Val Kilmer, disliked his professional attitude, and had no desire to be connected with him in any future projects.

By the late 2000s, Kilmer’s fame had grown so much that main roles began to decrease following his outstanding lead performance in the 2005 comedy “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” alongside Robert Downey Jr., which was widely praised by critics.

Struggling under the scrutiny of the Internal Revenue Service, unhappy neighbors, and negative publicity, Kilmer was forced to sell his ranch to settle outstanding tax debts and child support arrears. Subsequently, he spent a decade immersed in “Citizen Twain,” a traveling one-man play that he authored, directed, and performed in as a reincarnated Mark Twain. Over the years, he brought this show to over 30 different cities.

At Tom Cruise’s strong urging, Val Kilmer took on the role of Tom “Iceman” Kazansky once more in the film “Top Gun: Maverick.” It was the top-earning movie of 2022 and received mostly positive reviews from critics. Despite needing to employ AI technology for his dialogue, Kilmer’s presence alone was enough to thrill fans.

In a single dramatic instance, Kilmer’s acting provides an undeniable, inescapable truth, partially by exposing the illusion of human indestructibility that his costar has consistently tried to peddle, according to Times film critic Justin Chang.

As I hail from the bustling cityscape of Los Angeles, born on the last day of 1959, my journey through life began in the suburbs of Chatsworth, nestled among three brothers. My Texas-born industrialist father, a significant player in San Fernando Valley real estate development, and my Swedish mother laid the foundation for my upbringing. Our family unit fractured when I was just nine years old, leaving my brothers and me under the care of our father post-divorce.

Growing up, Kilmer took part in school plays and made appearances in television advertisements. At 16 years old, he was admitted into Julliard’s drama program. However, on the eve of his departure for New York, Kilmer’s youngest brother suffered a seizure in the family’s backyard pool and tragically passed away. The following day, instead of attending his brother’s funeral, Kilmer headed straight to acting school. He admitted that he never fully recovered from the grief that ensued.

Movies

The outstanding acting performances in the sequel are largely due to the return of Val Kilmer, and it’s not only his acting that stands out.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I once had the privilege of gracing the off-Broadway stage in New York, sharing the limelight with none other than Kevin Bacon and Sean Penn, in the 1983 play “The Slab Boys.” My small screen debut came a bit later, in an “ABC Afterschool Special” that tackled the serious issue of drunk driving. I had the pleasure of acting alongside a young Michelle Pfeiffer in this production. Later on, moved by her radiant spirit, I penned a collection of poems and self-published it. Nowadays, these rare copies can fetch as much as $400.

Throughout the early stages of his film career, Val Kilmer’s choices showcased both variety and quirkiness. He declined an opportunity to act in Francis Ford Coppola’s cherished 1983 adaptation of “The Outsiders,” as he was already devoted to a stage production. Similarly, he rejected David Lynch’s offer for a role in the film “Blue Velvet.

Initially, he embarked on his acting career by portraying a 1950s rock star in the 1984 comedic spy movie “Top Secret!”. Following this, an album featuring the film’s tunes was put out. Subsequently, without uttering a single word, he vanished for over a year, using that time to backpack across Europe.

Upon his comeback, Kilmer gained prominence as the rival naval pilot to Tom Cruise in the 1986 blockbuster “Top Gun.” Following this success, he portrayed a fallen knight in Ron Howard’s 1987 fantasy film “Willow.” Later, Howard described Kilmer as ‘immature’ and ‘difficult.’

However, it was only after Kilmer embodied the character of Jim Morrison in a movie that he attained the stature of a movie star. At the time, Stone expressed that he selected Kilmer due to his “suggestive air of arrogance.

To get ready for the role, Kilmer immersed himself in Sunset Strip clubs for a year, impersonating a rock star and committing all of Morrison’s song lyrics to memory. In the movie, he sang 15 songs so authentically that even the original members of The Doors found it hard to tell his voice apart from Morrison’s.

In the coming years, Kilmer gained significant critical acclaim for playing the alcoholic gunfighter Doc Holliday in the 1993 western movie “Tombstone”. Sadly, just prior to filming, his father passed away due to cancer.

During an interview, Michael Biehn shared that his fellow actor immersed himself so profoundly into the role of Doc Holliday that it seemed like Val Kilmer had disappeared entirely.

When folks inquire about my experiences working alongside Val Kilmer, I can’t say as I have any. I’ve never crossed paths with him personally, not even a handshake. However, I’m quite familiar with his character Doc Holliday – just not Kilmer himself.

Review

Turning the camera on himself, ‘Val’ is a revealing portrait of the life of Kilmer

“Val” is a documentary by Val Kilmer about Val Kilmer, employing home movies shot by Val Kilmer.

1995 saw Jim Carrey portraying a superhero in “Batman Forever,” raking in $336 million at the box office. However, director Schumacher labeled him as “one of the most mentally distressed individuals I’ve ever collaborated with” later on. In the same year, he garnered acclaim for his role as a henchman to Robert De Niro in Michael Mann’s crime drama “Heat.

However, following the 1996 cinematic mishap “The Island of Dr. Moreau,” Kilmer’s professional standing didn’t fully regain its former luster. In fact, both directors involved in the project swore off collaborating with him in the future.

Kilmer frequently showed up in various movies, often in brief appearances or minor parts. In the year 2020, he released his autobiography titled “I’m Your Huckleberry,” offering an unfiltered and honest account of the highs and lows of his life experiences. The Washington Post characterized it as a thrilling journey through Kilmer’s unique life and career, written by a spiritual narrator who is not shy about sharing his eccentricities.

He addressed his tattered reputation head on in the bestseller.

He wrote that in a relentless effort to let directors, actors, and others bring authenticity to their projects, and to infuse Suzukian spirit into numerous Hollywood scenes, he was perceived as challenging and distanced himself from the heads of all major studios.

Additionally, he established Kamp Kilmer, a creative hub nestled in Hollywood, where artists such as poets, visual artists, musicians, and filmmakers found both workspace and companionship. Regularly, he began and concluded his daytime hours within the studio situated on Melrose Avenue.

In a quiet whisper, Kilmer expressed that his imagination was overflowing and spilling out. He began to create anew, painting and writing whatever he could. He sensed that the act of creating was helping him heal.

Kilmer’s survivors include daughter Mercedes and son Jack.

Piccalo is a former Los Angeles Times staff writer.

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2025-04-02 08:01

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