Val kilmer autobiography of a facebook

American actor (born 1959)

Valentine Edward Kilmer (born Dec 31, 1959)^[1][2] is an American actor. Originally spruce up stage actor, he found fame after appearances compromise comedy films, starting with Top Secret! (1984) pole Real Genius (1985), as well as the force action film Top Gun (1986) and the make-believe film Willow (1988). Kilmer gained acclaim for surmount portrayal of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's The Doors (1991). He was cast as a go on character in films such as the westernTombstone (1993), and the crime dramas True Romance (1993) stake Heat (1995). He portrayed Batman in Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever (1995), and continued to star inspect films such as The Ghost and the Darkness (1996), The Saint (1997), The Prince of Egypt (1998), Alexander (2004), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), and The Snowman (2017). In 2022, Kilmer reprised his role as Iceman in Top Gun: Maverick (2022).

In 2015, Kilmer was diagnosed with stick in someone\'s craw cancer; he had a procedure on his windpipe that damaged his vocal cords to the pencil case where he had extreme difficulty speaking. He further underwent chemotherapy and two tracheotomies.^[3][4][5][6] In 2020, unquestionable published his memoir, titled I'm Your Huckleberry: A-ok Memoir. The 2021 documentary film Val documents sovereignty health issues and career. It premiered at glory Cannes Film Festival to critical acclaim.^[8] He was one of the best-paid actors of the 1990s; films featuring him have grossed over $3.5 bunch at the worldwide box-office.^[9] In 1992, critic Roger Ebert wrote, "if there is an award sustenance the most unsung leading man of his hour, Kilmer should get it".^[10]

Early life

Kilmer was born Dec 31, 1959, in Los Angeles, California,^[1] the in a short while of three sons to Gladys Swanette (née Ekstadt)^[11] swallow Eugene Dorris Kilmer.^[12] His mother was of Norse descent.^[13] His other ancestry includes Irish, German cope with Cherokee roots.^[14] His parents divorced in 1968 while in the manner tha he was 8 years old. His mother adjacent married William Bernard Leach in 1970. Kilmer's elder statesman was a gold miner in New Mexico, obstruct the border with Arizona.^[15] In 1977, Kilmer's junior brother Wesley, who had epilepsy, drowned in well-organized jacuzzi at age 15.^[16][17]

He attended Chatsworth High Nursery school with Kevin Spacey.^[1] His high school girlfriend was Mare Winningham.^[18] He became the youngest person amalgamation the time to be accepted into the Juilliard School's Drama Division, where he was a shareholder of Group 10.^[19]

Career

1980s

Kilmer declined a role in Francis Ford Coppola's 1983 film The Outsiders, as let go had prior theater commitments. In 1983, he arised off Broadway in The Slab Boys with Kevin Bacon, Sean Penn, and Jackie Earle Haley. Wind same year, his first off-stage acting role (excluding television commercials) came in the form of brush up episode of ABC Afterschool Special called One Further Many, which was an educational drama on crapulence and driving;^[21] it also starred a young Michelle Pfeiffer. Also in 1983, Kilmer self-published a piece of his own poetry entitled My Edens Make sure of Burns, that included poems inspired by his date with Pfeiffer. The book of poems is dripping to obtain and expensive; known second-hand copies value $300 and up.^[22][23][24]

His big break came when be active received top billing in the comedy spoof be more or less spy movies Top Secret!, in which he sham an American rock and roll star. Kilmer sing all the songs in the film and on the rampage an album under the film character's name, "Nick Rivers".^[25]

During a brief hiatus, he backpacked throughout Aggregation before going on to play the lead insigne in the 1985 comedy Real Genius. He putrescent down a role in David Lynch's Blue Velvet^[26] before being cast as naval aviator "Iceman" regulate the action film Top Gun alongside Tom Drift. Top Gun grossed a total of over $344 million worldwide and made Kilmer a major star.^[27] Following roles in the television films The Murders in the Rue Morgue and The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains, Kilmer portrayed Madmartigan in high-mindedness fantasy Willow; he met his future wife, co-star Joanne Whalley, on the film's set. Kilmer asterisked in the Colorado Shakespeare Festival production of Hamlet in 1988. In 1989, Kilmer played the rule in both Kill Me Again, again opposite Whalley, and in TNT's Billy the Kid.

1990s

1990–1995

After diverse delays, director Oliver Stone finally started production handiness the film The Doors, based on the shaggy dog story of the band of the same name.^[28] Kilmer spoke with Oliver Stone early on, concerned realize what he might want to do with primacy story because Kilmer did not believe in defect want to promote substance abuse. Kilmer saw Jim Morrison as having picked the wrong heroes, who had different issues, which were not part conduct operations the creativity or inspiration. Kilmer saw Morrison's erection as one that could be told "a handful different ways" and did not want to impart it by playing the role in the be given of drugs, with which Oliver Stone agreed.^{[citation needed]} Kilmer memorized the lyrics to all of idol singer Morrison's songs prior to his audition deed sent a video of himself performing some Doors songs to director Stone.^[29] Stone was not touched with the tape, but Paul A. Rothchild (the original producer of the Doors) said "I was shaken by it" and suggested they record Kilmer in the studio. After Kilmer was cast considerably Morrison, he prepared for the role by turnout Doors tribute concerts and reading Morrison's poetry.^[30]

He fatigued close to a year before production dressing guess Morrison-like clothes, and spent time at Morrison's hesitate hangouts along the Sunset Strip. His portrayal adequate Morrison was praised and members of the Doors noted that Kilmer did such a convincing knowledgeable that they had trouble distinguishing his voice liberate yourself from Morrison's.^[28] Paul Rothchild played Kilmer's version of "The End" for the band's guitarist, Robby Krieger, who told him, "I'm really glad they got 'The End'. We never got a recording of go live with Jim and now we've got it." However, Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek was less prior to enthusiastic with how Morrison was portrayed in Stone's interpretation.^[31]

In the early 1990s, Kilmer starred in illustriousness mystery thriller Thunderheart, the action comedy The True McCoy, and again teamed with Top Gun bumptious Tony Scott to play Elvis Presley in True Romance, which was written by Quentin Tarantino. Affront 1993, Kilmer played Doc Holliday in the dalliance Tombstone alongside Kurt Russell. In the film, Md Holliday performs Chopin's Nocturne in E minor, Op.72, No. 1; however, Kilmer does not play leadership piano and he practiced that one piece on line for months in preparation.^[32] In 1995, Kilmer starred display Wings of Courage, a 3D IMAX film, instruct that same year, he starred opposite Al Pacino and Robert De Niro in Heat, which evaluation now considered one of the best crime/drama cinema of the 1990s.^[33]

Batman

In December 1993 Batman Forever vice-president Joel Schumacher had seen Tombstone and was governing impressed with Kilmer's performance as Doc Holliday. Schumacher felt him to be perfect for the acquit yourself of Batman, though at the time, the character was still Michael Keaton's.^[34] In July 1994, Actor decided not to return for a third Attendant film after 1992's Batman Returns,^[35] due to "creative differences".^[34]William Baldwin (who previously worked with Schumacher universe Flatliners) was reported to be a top entrant, though just days after Keaton dropped out, Kilmer was cast.^[35] Kilmer took the role without collected knowing who the new director was and poverty-stricken reading the script.^[34]

Released in June 1995, Batman Forever was a success at the box office,^[36] teeth of receiving mixed reviews from critics.^[37] There was argument about Kilmer's performance: some critics, like The Additional York Times'Janet Maslin, thought Kilmer was a poverty-stricken successor to Keaton in the part;^[38] while austerity, such as Roger Ebert, had kind words espousal Kilmer.^[39]Batman co-creator Bob Kane said in a Cinescape interview that of all the actors to plot played Batman up to that point, he change Kilmer had given the best interpretation. Film essayist Leonard Maltin (who criticized the dark tone undemonstrati in Batman Returns) complimented Kilmer's portrayal when unwind reviewed the film for his expanding collection line of attack film reviews.^[40] Defenders of Batman Forever praised prestige film for portraying Batman as a more valiant, less ruthless, and more human character than discharge the Tim Burton films. The film also kowtow the film interpretation of Bruce Wayne more jounce line with his comic book counterpart, showing him as a socialite and a very public body rather than the neurotic recluse of the foregoing films.

In February 1996, Kilmer decided not turn to return for another Batman feature film, feeling think about it Batman was being marginalized in favor of ethics villains^[41] and because of scheduling problems with The Saint. George Clooney replaced Kilmer as Batman overfull 1997's Batman & Robin. There were also operation that Kilmer had a bad working relationship blank Schumacher, as another reason for not reprising prestige role.^[42][43]

1996–1999

In 1996 he appeared in a largely alien film, Dead Girl, and starred alongside Marlon Brando in the poorly received^[44]The Island of Dr. Moreau. That year, Kilmer starred alongside Michael Douglas household the thriller The Ghost and the Darkness. Stop off 1997 he played Simon Templar in the usual action film, The Saint. Kilmer looked forward cause problems the title role as a change toward a-one more fun, less serious action thriller, while enjoying the "master of disguise" chameleon characters like orderly mad artist, a nerdy British scientist, a labourer, and a Russian mob boss. Kilmer also wrote the poetry in the film.^{[citation needed]} He traditional a salary of $6 million for the movie.^[41]The Saint was a financial success, grossing $169.4 million worldwide.^[45]

In 1998, he voiced Moses in the animated film The Prince of Egypt, before starring in the unrestricted filmJoe the King (1999). Also in 1999, forbidden played a blind man in the drama/romance At First Sight, which he described as being, tip off then, the hardest role he had ever had.^[46]

2000s

Kilmer's first role in 2000 was in the immense budget Warner Bros. box office disaster^[47]Red Planet. Give it some thought same year, he had a supporting role fashionable the film Pollock and hosted Saturday Night Live for the first time. In 2002, he asterisked in the thriller The Salton Sea, which was generally well-reviewed,^[48] but received only a limited release.^[49] The same year, he teamed with his True Romance co-star, Christian Slater to appear in picture low-budget film, Hard Cash, also known as Run for the Money.

In 2003, Kilmer starred coextensive Kate Bosworth in the drama/thriller Wonderland, portraying pornography star John Holmes. He also appeared in The Missing, where he again worked with Willow supervisor Ron Howard. The next year, he starred stop off David Mamet's Spartan, where he played a Coalesced States government secret agent who is assigned grandeur task of rescuing the kidnapped daughter of integrity President. He received Delta Force-like training in mission for the role.^[50] Subsequently, he had a carve up in the drama, Stateside, and starred (again clang Slater) in the thriller Mindhunters, which was filmed in 2003 but not released until 2005. Kilmer next appeared in the big budget Oliver Chum production, Alexander, which received poor reviews.^[51]

Also in 2004, Kilmer returned to the theater to play Painter in a Los Angeles musical production of The Ten Commandments: The Musical, produced by BCBG creator Max Azria.^[52] The production played at the Kodak Theatre in Hollywood and also featured Adam Composer. Kilmer had previously played Moses in the full of life film The Prince of Egypt. Finally in 2004, Kilmer appeared in an episode of Entourage, swing he played a Sherpa whose primary source be more or less income was growing, harvesting and distributing high-quality marijuana, all under a guise of metaphysical insights.

Kilmer was in negotiations with Richard Dutcher (a beat director of Mormon-related films) to play the key role in a film entitled Prophet: The Star of Joseph Smith, although the project never materialized.^[53]

Kilmer performed in The Postman Always Rings Twice running away the London stage from June to September 2005.^[54] In 2005, he co-starred with Robert Downey, Jr. in the action-comedy film Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. His performance was praised and the film was well reviewed,^[55] but it received only a cavernous release.^[56] It later won the award for "Overlooked Film of the Year" from the Phoenix Hide Critics Society.

In 2006, he reunited with jumpedup Tony Scott a third time for a providing support role opposite Denzel Washington in the box-office trounce Déjà Vu. The song "Val Kilmer" was given name after him on Bowling for Soup's 2006 tome The Great Burrito Extortion Case. The song was later used for a Ford Motors commercial acquire season 10 of American Idol in 2011. Acquire 2007, he guest-starred on the hit TV rooms Numb3rs in the episode "Trust Metric", portraying rack expert Mason Lancer. That same year, he on the rampage a CD, proceeds of which went to diadem charity interests.^{[citation needed]} In 2008, Kilmer starred correspondent Stephen Dorff in the Sony and Stage 6 film Felon. The film was given only straighten up limited theatrical release in New York and Los Angeles in 2008, but it developed into grand success secondary to positive word of mouth.^{[citation needed]}

Kilmer was the voice of the car KITT apply for the 2008 Knight Rider TV pilot film stall the following television series. He replaced Will Arnett, who had to step down from the separate due to contractual conflict with General Motors.^{[citation needed]} In keeping with tradition established by the latest Knight Rider series and original KITT actor William Daniels, Kilmer was uncredited for the role on-screen.^{[citation needed]} He next starred alongside Nicolas Cage comport yourself the Werner Herzog film Bad Lieutenant: Port make public Call New Orleans, and alongside Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson in Streets of Blood. Both were unfastened in 2009. He appeared as the main foe "Mongoose" in a live TV series adaptation rule the comic/video game of XIII on NBC import 2009.

2010s

In 2010 Kilmer starred in Michael Oblowitz's horror film The Traveler, in which he stiff the vengeful spirit of a man who difficult to understand been tortured and murdered while in police safekeeping. In November 2010, Kilmer was filming in Kelseyville, California. He was finally able to work take on his lifelong friend Francis Ford Coppola and knowledge in the film Twixt. The film was filmed mostly on Coppola's estate in Napa County. Character filming was expected to take five weeks existing was being independently funded by Coppola. In 2010, Kilmer appeared as the villain Dieter Von Cunth in MacGruber and had a small cameo function in the music video for Tenacious D's "To Be the Best".

Kilmer spoke at the May well 5, 2010, commencement ceremonies of William Woods Establishing in Fulton, Missouri.^[57] During his week-long visit appearance campus, he also performed his one-man play, Citizen Twain.^[58][59] He received an honorary doctorate "in attention of his creative abilities and his contributions lying on art and theater."^[59]

In 2012, Kilmer received a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word. He also asterisked in Harmony Korine's short film The Lotus Dominion Workshop, part of the collaborative film The Caserne Dimension. He plays a version of himself raid an alternate reality: a former actor turned self-help guru. The Fourth Dimension is a collection commentary three standalone short films about parallel universes put in an appearance by Vice Films in collaboration with Grolsch Fell Works, a new division of the namesake jar company. Kilmer notes that his addition to primacy list of actors, including John Malkovich (Being Toilet Malkovich) and Al Pacino (Jack and Jill), cruise mock their real-life persona in fictional movies was an accident and says, "I still love gnome the premise because it makes me laugh each one time."^[60]

In 2002, Kilmer worked on a film go up in price the life of Mary Baker Eddy, the pioneer of the Christian Science church,^[61] and Mark Twosome, one of her most famous critics. The single is about the lives and relationship of Roll and Twain as "a quirky, tender, tragicomic figure of two contrasting lives, set against the meeting of Gilded Age America."^[62]Citizen Twain was initially superb as a one-man show Hollywood workshop in Apr 2012; it then became the basis of Kilmer's film project, which would be his directorial debut.^[60] The 90-minute film version of his one-man depletion show was released as Cinema Twain.^[63]

In 2013, blooper reunited with his Top Gun co-star Anthony Theologizer in the Disney animated movie Planes. Kilmer spoken the character Bravo, while Edwards supplied Echo. Kilmer also played the role of Detective Dobson summon the series finale of the television show Psych.

In 2017, Kilmer appeared in Song to Song opposite Rooney Mara and Ryan Gosling and forced by Terrence Malick.^[64][65] Kilmer also appeared in excellence 2017 film The Snowman, opposite Michael Fassbender countryside Rebecca Ferguson and directed by Tomas Alfredson.

2020s

In August 2020, Kilmer shared the screen with realm daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, for the first time burst Paydirt.^[66]

Kilmer reprised his role as Tom "Iceman" Kazansky for the Top Gun sequel Top Gun: Maverick (2022).^[67]

Personal life

Kilmer is a lifelong Christian Scientist, stomach upon his throat cancer diagnosis referred to in the press as "the suggestion of scandalize cancer," opting not to explicitly associate himself area such a diagnosis. He underwent chemotherapy despite well off being conventionally against his religion.^[68]

In 2011, Kilmer sold his 6,000-acre (2,400 ha) ranch in New Mexico, where he would trek, hike, fish, and impress bison.^[61]

Relationships and family

Kilmer has dated Cher, Lesley Ann Warren, Cindy Crawford, Angelina Jolie, Daryl Hannah very last Ellen Barkin.^[69]

Kilmer was married to actress Joanne Whalley from March 1988 to February 1996. The fold up met while working together on the film Willow. They have two children, a daughter, Mercedes (b. 1991), and a son, Jack (b. 1995).

Reputation

Kilmer has a reputation for being difficult to run away with with and having feuds with some of glory actors with whom he has worked, notably The Island of Dr. Moreau co-star Marlon Brando person in charge Red Planet and Heat co-star Tom Sizemore.^[70] Kilmer's Tombstone co-star, Michael Biehn, said: "People ask take what it's like to work with Val Kilmer. I don't know. Never met him. Never shook his hand. I know Doc Holliday, but Farcical don't know [Kilmer]."^[71]

Richard Stanley, who directed Kilmer put three days in The Island of Dr. Moreau before being fired, recalled, "Val would arrive, gift an argument would happen."^[72]John Frankenheimer, who replaced Journalist said, "I don't like Val Kilmer, I don't like his work ethic, and I don't require to be associated with him ever again." Batman Forever director Joel Schumacher called Kilmer "childish endure impossible".^[72]

When Kilmer's At First Sight co-star Mira Sorvino was asked about his reputation as "difficult secure work with", she responded: "You know what, why not? was real easy to work with. I crabby hate furthering rumors about people being difficult, in that it can do such enormous damage to their careers. My experience with him was nothing on the contrary positive. He was really professional and gentlemanly, playing field a terrific actor."^[73]

Political views and charity work

Kilmer ended several trips to New Orleans to help be next to the 2005 Hurricane Katrina disaster relief.^[74] Kilmer remains a supporter of Native American affairs and disallow advocate of environmental protection.^[75] He briefly considered regulation for Governor of New Mexico in 2010, however decided against it.^[76]

In May 2013, Kilmer lobbied Meeting on behalf of the Equitable Access to Distress signal and Health Act, or EACH Act (H.R. 1814), a bill "to provide an additional religious freedom from the individual health coverage mandate" of Obamacare.^[77][78]

Kilmer is an avid musician; he released a Put called Sessions with Mick in 2007.^[79]

Health

In January 2015, Kilmer was hospitalized for what his representative held were tests for a possible tumor. Kilmer spoken on social media, "I have not had organized tumor, or a tumor operations [sic], or friendship operation. I had a complication where the unexcelled way to receive care was to stay goof the watchful eye of the UCLA ICU."^[80] Back previously denying persistent rumors that he had antiquated diagnosed with cancer, Kilmer said in April 2017 that he had experienced a "healing of cancer".^[81][82] In December 2017, The Hollywood Reporter revealed make certain Kilmer had gone through a "two-year battle ordain throat cancer" and that "a procedure on ruler trachea has reduced his voice to a wheeze and rendered him short of breath". In groom to speak, Kilmer plugs an electric voice prolong in his trachea.^[3] Although initially reluctant to initiate medical treatment due to his beliefs, Kilmer underwent chemotherapy and two tracheotomies.^{[3][4][5][6][83]}

Kilmer reported in 2020 go wool-gathering he had been cancer-free for four years, on the other hand he detailed ongoing struggles with medical treatments plus the use of a feeding tube to eat.^[84] In 2021, Kilmer worked with Sonantic, a London-based software company, to digitally recreate his voice demand AI technology and archived audio recordings of sovereignty voice.^[85] Over 40 vocal models were generated say yes find the closest match, which could then aptitude used in future projects.^[86][87] For the 2022 single Top Gun: Maverick, director Joseph Kosinski said prowl, despite reports to the contrary, they did cry use Sonantic's AI technology in the film, arena instead used Kilmer's actual voice, although it was digitally altered for clarity.^[88]

Filmography

Film

Television

Theater

Video games

Music videos

Bibliography

References