Val Kilmer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Val Kilmer
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Kilmer in 2005
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Val Edward Kilmer
December 31, 1959 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Died | April 1, 2025 (aged 65) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Education | Juilliard School (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1980–2025 |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2, including Jack |
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Val Edward Kilmer (December 31, 1959 – April 1, 2025) was a talented American actor. He started his career on stage before becoming a well-known leading actor in many different types of movies. These included comedies, dramas, action films, and fantasy stories. His films earned over $3.85 billion worldwide. A film critic once called him "the most unsung leading man of his generation."
Kilmer began in comedy films like Top Secret! (1984) and Real Genius (1985). He then moved into more serious roles. He became famous for playing Iceman in Top Gun (1986) and Jim Morrison in The Doors (1991). Other memorable roles include Doc Holliday in Tombstone (1993) and Batman in Batman Forever (1995). He also voiced Moses in the animated film The Prince of Egypt (1998). His last film role was in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), where he played Iceman again.
On stage, Kilmer performed in plays like The Slab Boys (1983) on Broadway. He also acted in William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1 (1981). He even wrote and performed a one-man show about Mark Twain called Citizen Twain in 2012.
In 2015, Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer. He had medical procedures that affected his voice, making it hard for him to speak. He shared his journey in his memoir, I'm Your Huckleberry: A Memoir (2020), and in the documentary Val (2021). Val Kilmer passed away in 2025.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Val Edward Kilmer was born in Los Angeles, California, on December 31, 1959. He was the second of three sons. His parents divorced when he was eight years old. In 1977, his younger brother, Wesley, passed away at age 16.
Kilmer went to Chatsworth High School. There, he was friends with actors Kevin Spacey and Mare Winningham. He was the youngest person at the time to be accepted into the Juilliard School's Drama Division.
Acting Career Highlights
Starting with Comedy and Action Films
Val Kilmer turned down a role in the 1983 film The Outsiders because he had other acting plans. His first big movie role was in the comedy Top Secret! (1984). He played an American rock and roll star and sang all the songs in the film. He even released an album under his character's name, "Nick Rivers."
After a break, Kilmer starred in the 1985 comedy Real Genius. He then became a major star in the action film Top Gun (1986). In this movie, he played naval aviator Tom "Iceman" Kazansky alongside Tom Cruise. Top Gun earned over $344 million worldwide. Later, he played Madmartigan in the fantasy film Willow. On the set of Willow, he met his future wife, Joanne Whalley.
Becoming a Star: The Doors and Batman
In the early 1990s, Kilmer took on the challenging role of Jim Morrison, the lead singer of The Doors, in the film The Doors (1991). He spent a lot of time preparing for the role. He memorized all of Morrison's songs and even dressed like him. His performance was highly praised. Some members of The Doors said his voice sounded so much like Morrison's that it was hard to tell them apart.
Kilmer continued to star in many popular films. He played Doc Holliday in the western Tombstone (1993) with Kurt Russell. For this role, he practiced playing a specific piano piece for months. In 1995, he starred in Heat alongside Al Pacino and Robert De Niro. This film is now considered one of the best crime dramas of the 1990s.
In 1995, Kilmer took on the iconic role of Batman in Batman Forever. The director, Joel Schumacher, was very impressed with Kilmer's acting in Tombstone. Batman Forever was a big success at the box office. Some critics and even Batman's co-creator, Bob Kane, thought Kilmer gave a great performance as Batman. Kilmer decided not to return for another Batman film, and George Clooney took over the role.
Later Career and Health Journey
In 1996, Val Kilmer starred with Michael Douglas in the thriller The Ghost and the Darkness. In 1997, he played Simon Templar in the action film The Saint. He enjoyed playing this character, who was a "master of disguise." Kilmer also wrote some of the poetry used in the film. The Saint was a financial success, earning $169.4 million worldwide. In 1998, he voiced both Moses and God in the animated film The Prince of Egypt.
In the 2000s, Kilmer continued to work in various films. He played a supporting role as painter Willem DeKooning in Pollock (2000). He also starred in the thriller The Salton Sea (2002). In 2004, he appeared in Alexander, an epic film directed by Oliver Stone.
Kilmer also returned to the stage, playing Moses in a musical production of The Ten Commandments: The Musical in Los Angeles in 2004. In 2005, he co-starred with Robert Downey, Jr. in the action-comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. His performance in this film was highly praised.
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In 2006, Kilmer worked with director Tony Scott again in the film Déjà Vu, starring Denzel Washington. He also voiced the car KITT for the 2008 Knight Rider TV movie and series. In 2010, Kilmer appeared in the film MacGruber. He also worked with his long-time friend Francis Ford Coppola on the film Twixt.
In 2012, Kilmer received a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word. He also voiced the character Bravo in the Disney animated movie Planes (2013). In 2017, he appeared in Song to Song and The Snowman. In 2020, he shared the screen with his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, in Paydirt.
His health struggles were documented in the 2021 film Val. This documentary showed his career and his battle with throat cancer. For his role in Top Gun: Maverick (2022), his actual voice was digitally adjusted to help with clarity.
Personal Life and Interests
Val Kilmer was married to actress Joanne Whalley from 1988 to 1996. They had two children: a daughter, Mercedes, born in 1991, and a son, Jack Kilmer, born in 1995.
Kilmer owned a large ranch in New Mexico for many years. He enjoyed hiking, fishing, and raising bison there. He was also a musician, painter, and photographer. He released a demo album called Sessions with Mick in 2007.
Kilmer was known for being passionate about his roles. Some people found him challenging to work with, but many co-stars praised his professionalism and kindness. For example, Kurt Russell, who worked with him on Tombstone, said it was "absolutely" great working with him. Drew Barrymore said Kilmer was "so nice" and "nurturing" when they worked together on Batman Forever.
Kilmer was also involved in charity work. In 1998, he traveled to Iraq to deliver humanitarian aid. He also helped with Hurricane Katrina disaster relief in New Orleans in 2005. He supported Native American causes and worked to protect the environment.
Health Journey
In 2014, Val Kilmer had to cancel a show because he lost his voice. He later found a lump in his throat. In 2015, he was hospitalized for tests. He later confirmed he had throat cancer. He underwent treatments, including chemotherapy and tracheotomies. These procedures affected his vocal cords, making it difficult for him to speak clearly.
In 2020, Kilmer shared that he had been cancer-free for four years. However, he continued to manage the effects of his medical treatments, including using a feeding tube.
Passing and Tributes
Val Kilmer passed away from pneumonia in Los Angeles on April 1, 2025, at the age of 65. Other health issues contributed to his passing.
Many people in the film industry shared their sadness and memories of Kilmer. Filmmaker Michael Mann, who directed Kilmer in Heat, praised his acting range. Director Francis Ford Coppola remembered him as a "wonderful person to work with." Tom Cruise honored his Top Gun co-star, asking for a moment of silence at an event. Oliver Stone, who directed Kilmer in The Doors and Alexander, called him "brilliant" and "exciting on film." The Doors' drummer John Densmore said Kilmer's portrayal of Jim Morrison was so convincing it "gave me the creeps."
Images for kids
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Kilmer in 2005
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Val Kilmer's signature
See also
In Spanish: Val Kilmer para niños
