Val Kilmer’s complicated stardom: 11 films that defined his career

There’s one thing about Val Kilmer that no one disputes: he was a star for the generation that grew up watching movies in the 1990s. The actor, who died Tuesday at the age of 65 from pneumonia, may not have ever been considered the greatest of actors, despite his best efforts. In fact, his career was often shadowed by frustration, as he struggled to reach the heights he had envisioned after studying at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York. He certainly wasn’t the easiest person to work with either, as his ego issues are well-documented.

Nonetheless, Kilmer built an impressive collection of iconic roles and films that make him inseparable from an entire cinematic era. His diverse career culminated with two memorable performances that only added to his legendary status. These are the 11 films that made Val Kilmer a complicated star.

‘Top Secret!’ by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker (1984)

Kilmer was fresh out of college and eager to pursue a career as a theater actor, envisioning himself as the next Brando. But when he arrived in Hollywood, he was offered a tongue-in-cheek spy parody directed by the team behind Airplane! “I still don’t know what it’s about,” he admitted years later. In the film, he played the unflappable protagonist in some of its most surreal sequences, a brilliant classic of the genre. However, Kilmer was so committed to his rockstar persona that it took him four months to learn the guitar, only to be told once he arrived on set that the humor came from his bad guitar playing. He felt he was making “garbage,” a frustration that would go on to shape much of his career.

‘Top Gun’ by Tony Scott (1986)

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Trailer for 'Top Gun'

His third role was the one that would define his entire career. First a rival to Tom Cruise, then a partner, the arrogant Iceman became inseparable from his legacy. However, Kilmer admitted that, at first, he found the script “stupid” and wasn’t a fan of war movies. He only took the role because of a deal he had with Paramount. Twenty-five years later, in Top Gun: Maverick, by then recovering from throat cancer, Kilmer starred in one of the most emotional sequences in recent cinema. It was the last movie he appeared in.

‘Willow’ by Ron Howard (1988)

Kilmer was on top of the world. Then came this fantasy epic, where once again he stepped aside to make room for another lead: Warwick Davis. Cast as the handsome, yet again arrogant, romantic anti-hero, Kilmer’s character eventually won everyone over despite his attitude. Not only did this film cement his star power, but it also firmly established his image in Hollywood — it was a quintessential Val Kilmer role. What’s more, while filming the movie he fell in love with his future wife, Joanne Whalley. Decades later, however, his illness prevented him from returning to the TV series sequel.

‘The Doors’ by Oliver Stone (1991)

Long before biopics about musicians became a Hollywood trend, Kilmer immersed himself in the role of Jim Morrison. Rock music was already embedded in his life, and in his pursuit of working with top-tier directors, he submitted a test in which he sang. The film sparked controversy due to its freewheeling portrayal of the singer’s story, and it certainly isn’t one of Oliver Stone’s finest works, but Kilmer gave it his all — in fact, he nearly destroyed his marriage because he took the role so seriously. He spent a year wearing leather pants as part of his transformation.

‘Tombstone’ by George Pan Cosmatos (1993)

This western was Kurt Russell’s, but it was supporting actor Kilmer, portraying the tubercular Doc Holliday, who stole the show. His charisma was undeniable, especially in the emotional center of the film, the friendship between his character and Russell’s. The camera was drawn to him, despite his personal frustrations. He possessed what filmmakers call “presence” — an intangible quality that’s difficult to define.

‘Batman Forever’ by Joel Schumacher (1995)

In Batman Forever, Kilmer faced the tough challenge of replacing Michael Keaton as Gotham’s iconic superhero. However, donning the spandex suit wasn’t exactly the fulfillment of his dreams.

“It’s very isolating. It was a struggle for me to get a performance past the suit, and it was frustrating until I realized that my role in the film was just to show up and stand where I was told to,” he said.

Warner Bros. aimed to tone down the hero’s dark side to market more action figures. To make matters worse, the villains — played by Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones — ended up stealing the spotlight, and Kilmer’s relationship with director Joel Schumacher soured. Schumacher described him as “childish, unbearable, and psychotic.” For many, Kilmer was the worst Batman in history.

‘Heat’ by Michael Mann (1995)

There was Al Pacino (a cop) and Robert De Niro (a robber). And in the middle, Val Kilmer, sporting an impressive blonde ponytail as one of the robbers in the unforgettable bank heist scene from Heat, one of the most memorable sequences in the thriller genre. After a string of films that left him feeling dissatisfied, and with Batman Forever being his biggest box office hit, this film was a breath of fresh air for Kilmer. It marked the beginning of a series of action-packed roles, including his next project, The Saint. Despite featuring countless faces and a star-studded cast, The Saint turned out to be a box office flop.

‘The Island of Dr. Moreau’ by John Frankenheimer (1996)

Marlon Brando had been Kilmer’s role model throughout his life, just as he was for many other actors. In 1996, Kilmer finally had the chance to reunite with his idol, but it resulted in one of the biggest disasters in cinematic history. Kilmer had stepped in as a replacement for Bruce Willis, but with a significantly smaller role. He came prepared to employ a method acting approach, which ended up infuriating everyone on set. The adaptation of H.G. Wells’s story was plagued by clashing egos (Brando used a body double and barely made an appearance), a change of director, constant rain... and an attitude that marked the end of Kilmer’s stardom.

‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ by Shane Black (2005)

Since that fateful shoot, Kilmer went on to work on projects like Red Planet, Pollock, and Wonderland, but it was the screenwriter of Lethal Weapon who brought him back into the spotlight with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. In this fun, action-packed epic set during Christmas, Kilmer starred alongside Robert Downey Jr. (who was also struggling at the time), playing two highly charismatic investigators. The film quickly became a cult classic, capitalizing on the undeniable chemistry between its lead actors.

‘MacGruber’ by Jorma Taccone (2010)

Although Kilmer’s career was no longer defined by starring roles, his iconic films continued to inspire a new generation of directors who saw him as both a figure to be revered and a source of comedic material. This was evident in an action comedy, originating from a Saturday Night Live sketch, where Kilmer portrayed an exaggerated Russian villain. By this point in his life, he had transitioned into the role of a faded star, with a less polished physique, yet able to laugh at himself and his past choices.

‘Val’ by Ting Poo and Leo Scott (2021)

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Trailer for 'Val'

Kilmer spent much of his life documenting his experiences on a personal video camera, even as his throat cancer reached an advanced stage. This extensive footage became the foundation for an essential documentary that explores his frustrations and complex mental state. It delves into his rejection of stardom and the issues his ego, intensity, and perfectionism caused him. His career comes to a near-perfect close with this documentary.

Other notable movies

In addition, Kilmer played Elvis in True Romance (Tony Scott, with a screenplay by Tarantino); portrayed King Philip in Alexander the Great (Oliver Stone), and reunited with Scott for Déjà Vu. He starred in numerous thrillers, such as Thunderheart; immersed himself in the madness of Terrence Malick’s Song to Song; and even lent his voice to the original version of The Prince of Egypt. His life was complicated, but he left behind a legacy of iconic films.

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