Introduction
A-list star, iconic character actor, Batman, Iceman, Morrison, cancer survivor. Val Kilmer has ridden the full length of the Hollywood roller-coaster in an almost 40 year career. Now, the actor is having a bit of a renaissance with the release of the fantastic A24 produced documentary Val. He’s also slated to appear in the long anticipated sequel Top Gun: Maverick. We thought this would be the perfect time to shine the Spotlight on this fantastic yet complicated actor.
Beginnings
Val Edward Kilmer was born on December 31, 1959. Much like Quentin Tarantino, he was very much a product of his environment. Kilmer grew up in Los Angeles, the son of Gladys and Eugene. Young Val had a comfortable childhood as his father worked in aeronautics and was also a real estate developer.
One of the defining moments of the teenaged Kilmer’s life was when his younger brother Wesley, who suffered from epilepsy, drowned in a jacuzzi at age 15. This, along with the divorce of his parents, would shape and define the complicated and intense man that he would soon become.
Kilmer, at one time, lived next door to Roy Rogers, as well as the Manson family ranch. He went to high school with Oscar winning actor Kevin Spacey (The Usual Suspects). While there, he dated Emmy winner Mare Winningham (St. Elmo’s Fire). In an email interview with Vanity Fair in 2020, Kilmer spoke about his somewhat unusual childhood:
“…My brothers and I were introduced to the hippie lifestyle by our nanny. Whom my father hired because he drove a red convertible Mustang…and was an art major at CSUN in the Valley. I don’t think my father knew he was a card-carrying radical. So no subjects were off-limits. I look back with appropriate parental conservatism…and my mouth hanging open as I recall some of the decoding of rock-and-roll lyrics. Or just straight sex education on the Ventura Freeway to one 10-year-old, one 9, and one 7. Lordy, our heads were exploding…”
Education
Kilmer started performing on the stage as early as grade school. It was something that he loved and was naturally gifted at. After attending the prestigious and private Hollywood Professional School, Kilmer enrolled at Juilliard School when he was just 17. He was the youngest student, at the time, to be accepted into the drama division.
The training that Kilmer received at Julliard would have a ripple effect throughout his life and career. In 2020, the actor stated to the New York Times that the vocal exercises he learned while studying at Julliard, would help him 40 years later, when his throat cancer began to affect his ability to speak.
Kilmer was attending Juilliard when he co-wrote and starred in the 1981 play How It All Began. The actor also declined a role in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1983 film The Outsiders. Instead, he chose to focus on his studies and his stage work. Juilliard’s influence on Kilmer is seen throughout his long career.
When cast in 1986’s Top Gun, Kilmer’s character of “Iceman” had no backstory. As such, the method actor created one. This was in order for Kilmer to find the “inner drive” and “motivation” needed. Doing this allowed him to properly flesh out the character’s personality and mannerisms. All of this was learned, and finely honed, at Julliard.
Stage and Screen
While Kilmer was studying at Juilliard, he co-wrote the play How It All Began. This was based on the true story of a West German radical. The play went on to be directed by Des McAnuff and produced by Joseph Papp’s Public Theatre. It would premiere in 1981 at the New York Shakespeare Festival, in New York City’s Central Park.
Kilmer made his debut on the Broadway stage in 1983. He appeared in a production of Slab Boys. The actor starred alongside Academy Award winner Sean Penn (Mystic River), as well Golden Globe winner Kevin Bacon (Footloose). Kilmer also appeared in a production of Henry IV at the Delacorte Theatre and in ‘Tis Pity She’s A Whore, at Papp’s Public Theatre. Kilmer would reflect fondly on his stage career in 2013:
“…The theater community has always been very kind to me, and I developed I think what I can properly call a gift. I think you can learn to act and do movie acting, but there’s something about the theater; it’s live and unfiltered and you could say raw or pure. It can’t be taught, but it’s a kind of communion without getting too fancy about it that’s a really rare experience…”
In 1984, Kilmer would make his screen debut, starring in the over-the-top comedy Top Secret! He portrayed crooner Nick Rivers, who becomes entangled in an espionage plot in East Germany. The film was directed and produced by the Zucker Brothers (Jerry, Jim and David), of Airplane! (1980) fame. Kilmer, to get into character, spent months learning to play the guitar. The first day on set, the Brothers told Kilmer to “pretend” to play it.
Sid and Ethel
Oscar winning actress Cher (Moonstruck) and Val Kilmer met in 1981 at a birthday party. Cher’s close friend Meryl Streep had organized the event. The two became fast friends. That friendship would develop into a love affair the following year. Cher was more than 13 years older than Kilmer. They would go on to date publicly from 1982 to 1984.
Despite Cher having a significant amount of experience in the entertainment industry, she stated that it was Kilmer that helped the actress “build her confidence” with regards to her career. This included auditioning for her breakout role in Mask (1985). In a 2021 interview with People, Cher reflected on her love affair and lasting friendship with Kilmer:
“…We called ourselves Sid and Ethel. Val didn’t want to yell “Cher” and I didn’t want to yell “Val.” We also called ourselves Valus Maximus and Cherus Reprimandus. It was just kind of who I was in the household. Of course he was Maximus, come on…He is so creative like nobody I’ve ever known…He’s an artist. He can be a brat too but you forgive him. You forgive him everything. Even when I was angry, it was still a joy. If he called, it wouldn’t matter where I was, I would go…”
While the sometimes volatile relationship between the two eventually ended, the pair would remain close for more than 40 years. After watching the documentary Val, Cher wrote to Kilmer. She stated in part:
“…Valus Maximus, I’m sorry if I did anything to piss you off or hurt your feelings. I love you and your documentary was all things…I love the things that pissed me off, the things that made me hysterical, amazed, hurt, astonished, etc. You are brave and beyond brilliant. Ethel…”
A Hot Commodity
After starring in the commercially successful Top Secret!, Kilmer was suddenly a hot commodity in Hollywood. The actor met legendary producer Brian Grazer at his audition for Real Genius (1985). Kilmer, in what was becoming part of his reputation as an actor, decided to go full method on the man who would decide whether or not he got his next big role. Kilmer recalled to Entertainment Weekly in 1995:
“…The character wasn’t polite…So when I shook Grazer’s hand and he said, ‘Hi, I’m the producer,’ I said, ‘I’m sorry. You look like you’re 12 years old. I like to work with men…”
Real Genius, a high school comedy, received mostly positive reviews from the critics. It also was another moderately successful film starring a rapidly rising star in Kilmer. The 26 year old theater trained actor had the talent, and he certainly had the looks to be an A-list star. Kilmer only needed the right script and character to punch his ticket. Soon, everything would change.
The Iceman
The inspiration for Top Gun (1986) came from a 1983 magazine, which featured and photographed the life of fighter pilots at the Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego. The station was nicknamed as “Fightertown USA.” Mega-producers Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson quickly optioned the story and set the wheels in motion.
Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket) regretfully turned down the lead role of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. The reason was that the films pro-military themes were against Modine’s political philosophies. That role would eventually to Tom Cruise, and it would change his life forever.
Kilmer, who was under contract to Paramount, didn’t want the supporting role of Tom “Iceman” Kazansky. He thought it wasn’t big enough, and had no back story that he could develop. Ultimately, Kilmer created a backstory in which his character had been raised by an unloving father, which drove Iceman to be cold and perfect in every way. Kilmer, in his memoir, “I’m Your Huckleberry,” stated:
“…I didn’t want the part. I didn’t care about the film. The story didn’t interest me…I felt the script was silly and disliked warmongering films…My agent, who also represented Tom Cruise, basically tortured me into at least meeting Tony Scott saying he was one of the hottest directors in town…I read the lines indifferently and yet, amazingly, I was told I had the part. I felt more deflated than inflated…”
Top Gun wet on to be a worldwide box office mega-hit. The film made stars of Tom Cruise, Anthony Edwards, Meg Ryan, Tim Robbins, and especially the magnetic Iceman, Val Kilmer. For over 35 years, Kilmer has been associated with the role of Iceman, and his iconic look, frosted hair, and perfect teeth. Cher would accompany the actor to the worldwide premiere of the film.
Marriage
Kilmer’s 4th feature film was the 1988 dark fantasy adventure Willow. Directed by Ron Howard, the film was conceived from a story written by George Lucas in the early 1970’s. This was another star turn for Kilmer, and another successful project. Willow grossed over $137 million on a $35 million budget. More important than the success of the film, Kilmer would co-star with, and become introduced to actress Joanne Whalley.
Acting since she was a teenager in her native England, Whalley’s big break came when she was cast in the role of “Sorsha” In Willow. Kilmer and Whalley developed an almost immediate attraction to each other, and after a short period of dating, decided to get married. The two wed in New Mexico. Their Honeymoon was spent on Marlon Brando’s island in Tahiti.
Whalley legally changed her name to Whalley-Kilmer and decided to take a break from acting in order to raise their two children. Mercedes was born in 1991 in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where they had settled down. Jack was born in 1995. Shortly after that, the pair separated, with Whalley-Kilmer filing for divorce in July, 1995.
Kilmer was visiting with Marlon Brando in Ireland when he turned on CNN and saw that he was being served with divorce papers. A very public and messy court battle between the pair ensued. Regardless the outcome, the couple would ultimately make peace with each other as Whalley is featured in the documentary Val. Her scenes are brief and somewhat mundane, yet the time they spend on screen together is moving. Kilmer recalled in 2011:
“…I was visiting Marlon Brando in Ireland, and I turned on CNN and found out my wife had filed for divorce…She took the kids and moved to a different state. I guess that counts as being dumped. You just don’t understand humility until you have children and get divorced. I was very hurt and very angry and so was she. But when kids are involved, you either become friends with respect or you become mortal enemies…”
The Lizard King
A film about the iconic rise and fall of Jim Morrison and The Doors had long been in the pipeline. Directors such as De Palma, Friedkin and Scorsese had all wanted to bring the story to life. However, it languished in development hell. Carolco got the rights in 1989 and brought in Oliver Stone to take over the project. He was red hot off of Platoon (1986).
A who’s who of actors and musicians had all been been considered for the iconic role. This included Tom Cruise, Bono, John Travolta, Richard Gere, and others. However, Stone had seen Kilmer in Willow, and thought he would be perfect for the part.
Kilmer spent his own money preparing and making audition videos. On the videos, he would sing and speak, looking and sounding identical to Morrison at various stages of his life. Kilmer also lost weight, and spent months practicing and learning Doors songs. The actor learned approximately fifty songs, many of which are used in the finished film.
Actress Caitlin O’Heaney broke an NDA to publicly state that Kilmer allegedly punched her during an audition for The Doors. Auditioning for the role of Pamela, that eventually went to Meg Ryan, the scene included a verbal argument, which suddenly got physical. The actress filed a police report, and eventually settled with the film’s production company. She later stated:
“…When I got to the room and Val Kilmer picked me up and [shook] me, throwing me down to the floor, Stone just stood there the whole time laughing…”
The Doors barely broke even at the box-office and the reviews for the film were mixed. Stone was criticized for making a cliched film with too much exposition. Still, Kilmer’s performance as Morrison was undeniable. The 33 year old actor was at a crossroads in his career. The Doors, Thunderheart and The Real McCoy had all failed to live up at the box-office. It seemed that, once again, this electric actor needed the right vehicle for his talents. John Henry Holliday would soon come knocking.
