Val Kilmer, Actor Renowned for Receding Into His Roles, Dies at 65

BleedGopher · Tuesday at 11:46 PM

Val Kilmer, the charisma-oozing leading man who lost himself portraying such tormented, self-loathing characters as Jim Morrison, gunslinger Doc Holliday and Batman during his all-too-brief career, died Tuesday. He was 65.

Kilmer, who came to fame for playing the competitive naval aviator Tom “Iceman” Kazansky alongside Tom Cruise in Tony Scott’s 1986 mega box-office hit Top Gun, died of pneumonia in Los Angeles, his daughter, actress Mercedes Kilmer, told The New York Times.

He was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015, and Val, a stirring documentary about his life that premiered at Cannes in July 2021, showed him needing a breathing tube.

Val Kilmer, Actor Renowned for Receding Into His Roles, Dies at 65

He was memorable as Iceman in 'Top Gun,' Jim Morrison in 'The Doors,' Doc Holliday in 'Tombstone' and the Caped Crusader in 'Batman Forever.'

www.hollywoodreporter.com

Go Iceman!!

golf · Tuesday at 11:55 PM

He was something as Doc Holliday. His best role.

Slim Tubby · Wednesday at 12:04 AM

"I'll be your Huckleberry."

RIP

RememberMurray · Wednesday at 12:34 AM

His Doc Holliday was an amazingly creative and compelling characterization of a historical figure. His performance elevated what might have been a run-of-the-mill, shoot-em-up buddy/western/action flick into a classic.

Another performance of Kilmer's that was well worth watching is his wonderful turn as "Gay" Perry van Shrike in 2005's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

fan of Ray Williams · Wednesday at 7:17 AM

RIP
(65 is much too young)

Frink · Wednesday at 7:30 AM

RIP to an incredible talent.

If you've never read Chuck Klosterman's interview with him I would recommend it. Kilmer had calmed down from his Wilder days but he was still an unusual dude.

Xerxes_ · Wednesday at 8:44 AM

Top Gun, Heat, & Tombstone. Talk about 3 iconic films.

RIP

Ope3 · Wednesday at 9:18 AM

Funny, but the first Val Kilmer performance that popped into my head after hearing of his passing was the role of: Val Kilmer in Life's Too Short (HBO Series). It's an hysterical sendup of himself along with Willow co-star Warwick Davis.

No idea if it still holds up, but I thought Top Secret! was a comedic gem.

Ogee Ogilthorpe · Wednesday at 9:30 AM

golf said:
He was something as Doc Holliday. His best role.

Huge Val fan. So sad.

And yes, I always thought this Doc role was one of the best supporting actor roles I can ever remember. Just a great character and performance in that movie.

RIP Val

EDIT: For comedy, in a very early role, I always liked his character in Real Genius. Well done!

Slim Tubby · Wednesday at 9:38 AM

Creek Johnson: "Doc, you should be in bed. What the hell are you doing this for anyway?"

Doc Holliday: "Wyatt Earp is my friend."

Creek Johnson: "Hell...I've got lots of friends."

Doc Holliday: "I don't."

Gets me every time.

saintpauljeff · Wednesday at 11:22 AM

RIP Chris Knight, may you see that 6 megawatt laser in the sky

Unregistered User · Wednesday at 2:13 PM

Ope3 said:
No idea if it still holds up, but I thought Top Secret! was a comedic gem.

Watched it recently, and it is still hilarious.

Spaulding!No! · Wednesday at 2:24 PM

Never watched a single entire movie with that guy in it. Maybe tho something called young Einstein.

forever a gopher · Wednesday at 4:04 PM

Ope3 said:
No idea if it still holds up, but I thought Top Secret! was a comedic gem.

My sister's favorite movies growing up were Airplane and Top Secret, so I've seen both probably 20+ times as we had the VHS's. Haven't seen Top Secret in at least 25 years, however. I'll have to give it a re-watch.

Spaulding!No! · Wednesday at 4:52 PM

forever a gopher said:
My sister's favorite movies growing up were Airplane and Top Secret, so I've seen both probably 20+ times as we had the VHS's. Haven't seen Top Secret in at least 25 years, however. I'll have to give it a re-watch.

Hold on….top secret sounds familiar… might have been Johnny dangerously tho.

Ope3 · Wednesday at 4:54 PM

Unregistered User said:
Watched it recently, and it is still hilarious.

You know what you are in for after the Opening Credits. My old man as a Beach Boys fan, LOLd when we were at the theater.

I love the marquee at the end:

Nick Rivers - Headlining
with Stevie Wonder & Linda Ronstadt

and if time permitting...
Frank Sinatra

Frink · Wednesday at 4:55 PM

Ope3 said:
Funny, but the first Val Kilmer performance that popped into my head after hearing of his passing was the role of: Val Kilmer in Life's Too Short (HBO Series). It's an hysterical sendup of himself along with Dune co-star Warwick Davis.

No idea if it still holds up, but I thought Top Secret! was a comedic gem.

Top Secret definitely holds up. I rewatched it a couple years ago and I stand by my assertion that it's as good as the first Airplane if not better

Frink · Wednesday at 8:37 PM

Ope3 said:
You know what you are in for after the Opening Credits. My old man as a Beach Boys fan, LOLd when we were at the theater.

I love the marquee at the end:

Nick Rivers - Headlining
with Stevie Wonder & Linda Ronstadt

and if time permitting...
Frank Sinatra

Should also mention that the Lesbian Bars of North Carolina book being in the Swedish bookstore in East Berlin is the greatest nonsense joke ever.

Val Kilmer, Actor Renowned for Receding Into His Roles, Dies at 65

BleedGopher

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