Editing Val Kilmer

{{Short description|American actor (1959–2025)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox person
| name             = Val Kilmer
| image            = Val Kilmer Cannes.jpg
| alt              = Kilmer smiling
| caption          = Kilmer in 2005
| birth_name       = Val Edward Kilmer
| birth_date       = {{Birth date|1959|12|31}}
| birth_place      = [[Los Angeles]], California, U.S.
| death_date       = {{Death date and age|2025|04|01|1959|12|31}}
| death_place      = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| education        = [[Juilliard School]] ([[Bachelor of Fine Arts|BFA]])
| occupation       = Actor
| years_active     = 1980–2025
| spouse           = {{marriage|[[Joanne Whalley]]<br />|1988|1996|end=div}}
| children         = 2, including [[Jack Kilmer|Jack]]
| website          = {{URL|valkilmer.com}}
| signature        = File:Autogramm Val Kilmer US-amerikanischer Schauspieler.png
}}
'''Val Edward Kilmer''' (December 31, 1959 – April 1, 2025)<ref name="name">{{cite web |title=Val Kilmer Biography: Film Actor (1959–) |url= http://www.biography.com/people/val-kilmer-9542051 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160505061903/http://www.biography.com/people/val-kilmer-9542051 |archive-date=May 5, 2016 |access-date=October 31, 2016 |website= [[Biography (TV program)#Biography.com|Biography.com]] |publisher= [[FYI (American TV channel)|FYI]] / [[A+E Global Media|A&E Networks]]}}</ref><!--Cited source, biography.com, also verifies middle name Edward--> was an American actor. Initially a stage actor, he later found fame as a [[Leading actor|leading man]] in films in a wide variety of genres, including [[Comedy film|comedies]], [[drama]]s, [[action film|action adventures]], [[western film|westerns]], [[Historical drama|historical films]], [[crime film|crime dramas]], [[science fiction film]]s, and [[fantasy film]]s. Films in which Kilmer appeared grossed more than $3.85 billion worldwide.<ref>{{cite web |title=Top Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 501–600)|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-star-records/worldwide/lifetime-acting/top-grossing-stars/501 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20250114170058/https://www.the-numbers.com/box-office-star-records/worldwide/lifetime-acting/top-grossing-stars/501 |archive-date= January 14, 2025|publisher=[[The Numbers (website)|The Numbers]] |access-date=April 11, 2025}}</ref> In 1992, film critic [[Roger Ebert]] remarked, "if there is an award for the most unsung leading man of his generation, Kilmer should get it".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-10-12 |title=Thunderheart |url= http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19920403/REVIEWS/204030305 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121012031350/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F19920403%2FREVIEWS%2F204030305 |archive-date=October 12, 2012 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website= rogerebert.suntimes.com}}</ref>

Kilmer started his film career in the comedy films ''[[Top Secret!]]'' (1984) and ''[[Real Genius]]'' (1985), before transitioning to dramatic films. He rose to prominence for playing [[Top Gun#Cast|Iceman]] in ''[[Top Gun]]'' (1986), [[Jim Morrison]] in ''[[The Doors (film)|The Doors]]'' (1991), [[Doc Holliday]] in ''[[Tombstone (film)|Tombstone]]'' (1993), and [[Batman|Batman / Bruce Wayne]] in ''[[Batman Forever]]'' (1995). He also gained acclaim for his roles in [[Willow (1988 film)|''Willow'']] (1988), ''[[Thunderheart]]'' (1992), ''[[True Romance]]'' (1993) and [[Heat (1995 film)|''Heat'']] (1995). He later acted in films such as ''[[The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996 film)|The Island of Dr. Moreau]]'' (1996), [[The Saint (1997 film)|''The Saint'']] (1997), ''[[The Prince of Egypt]]'' (1998), ''[[The Salton Sea (2002 film)|The Salton Sea]]'' (2002), [[Alexander (2004 film)|''Alexander'']] (2004), ''[[Kiss Kiss Bang Bang]]'' (2005), ''[[Déjà Vu (2006 film)|Déjà Vu]]'' (2006), ''[[Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans]]'' (2009), ''[[MacGruber (film)|MacGruber]]'' (2010), [[The Snowman (2017 film)|''The Snowman'']] (2017), and ''[[Song to Song]]'' (2017). Kilmer made his final film appearance in ''[[Top Gun: Maverick]]'' (2022), reprising his role from the original film.

On stage, Kilmer made his [[Broadway theatre]] debut acting in the [[John Byrne (playwright)|John Byrne]] [[working class]] play ''[[The Slab Boys Trilogy|The Slab Boys]]'' (1983). He also acted in productions of [[William Shakespeare]]'s history play ''[[Henry IV, Part 1]]'' (1981) and in the [[John Ford (dramatist)|John Ford]] tragedy ''[['Tis Pity She's a Whore]]'' (1992) both at [[The Public Theater]]. He portrayed [[Mark Twain]] in a one-man show he had written titled ''Citizen Twain'' in a 2012 production in [[Los Angeles]].

In 2015, Kilmer was diagnosed with [[Laryngeal cancer|throat cancer]]. He subsequently underwent a [[trachea]]l procedure that damaged his vocal cords, leaving him with severe difficulty speaking. He also underwent [[chemotherapy]] and two [[tracheotomy|tracheotomies]], before he died of [[pneumonia]] on April 1, 2025. He released his memoir, ''I'm Your Huckleberry: A Memoir'' (2020), and the documentary [[Val (film)|''Val'']] (2021), both of which detail his career and health struggles.{{sfn|Kilmer|2020}}

==Early life, family and education==
Val Edward Kilmer was born on December 31, 1959 (New Year’s Eve), in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]],<ref name="name" /> the second of three sons to Gladys Swanette ({{nee|Ekstadt}}; 1928–2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wickenburgfuneralhome.com/obituary/gladys-leach|title=Obituary for Gladys Leach |website= wickenburgfuneralhome.com| publisher= Wickenburg Funeral Home & Crematory |access-date=February 2, 2022|archive-date=February 2, 2022|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220202220314/https://www.wickenburgfuneralhome.com/obituary/gladys-leach|url-status=dead}}</ref> and industrialist and developer Eugene Dorris Kilmer (1921–1993).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-04-30-me-29286-story.html?_amp=true|title=Eugene D. Kilmer; Industrialist, Developer| website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=April 30, 1993}}</ref> His mother was of Swedish descent,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.blackbookmag.com/movies/last-tango-in-pecos-1.28985 |title=Val Kilmer's Last Tango in Pecos |website= blackbookmag.com| publisher= |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110184255/http://www.blackbookmag.com/movies/last-tango-in-pecos-1.28985 |archive-date= January 10, 2012 |access-date=June 12, 2012}}</ref> and his father's ancestry included Irish, German, and [[Cherokee roots]].<ref name=pha>{{cite news |last= Leith| first= William |title= A solitary man|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=March 26, 2004| url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3614594/A-solitary-man.html |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3614594/A-solitary-man.html |archive-date=January 10, 2022 |url-access= subscription |url-status=live | location=London| access-date= October 26, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> His parents divorced in 1968 when he was 8 years old and in 1970, his mother married William Bernard Leach.

Kilmer was raised with [[Christian Science]] beliefs, which he maintained for most of his life. In 1977, Kilmer's younger brother Wesley (1961–1977), who had [[epilepsy]], drowned in a [[hot tub]] at age 16.<ref name="New York">{{cite news | title = A Long-Lingering Grief That Serves a New Role | work = [[The New York Times]] | date = April 21, 2002 | last1 = Kennedy | first1 = Dana | page = 54 | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/21/movies/film-a-long-lingering-grief-serves-a-new-role.html | access-date = October 24, 2009 |quote=...his younger brother Wesley, who drowned 25 years ago. Kilmer has another brother, Ian Robert Greenfield (Kilmer), born April 9th 1979. ... Despite the passage of time, Mr. Kilmer, 42, was still haunted by his brother's death... [He] was 15 and an aspiring filmmaker when he died.| archive-date=March 7, 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160307005009/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/04/21/movies/film-a-long-lingering-grief-serves-a-new-role.html| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last= Brodesser-Akner| first=Taffy |date=May 6, 2020 |title=What Happened to Val Kilmer? He's Just Starting to Figure It Out. |work= The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/06/magazine/val-kilmer.html |access-date=May 9, 2020|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Kilmer attended [[Chatsworth High School]] where he was friends with actors [[Kevin Spacey]]<ref name="name" /> and [[Mare Winningham]], whom Kilmer dated.<ref name= "new book">{{cite web |url= https://variety.com/2020/film/features/from-top-gun-to-10-commandments-val-kilmers-new-book-1234591950/| title= From 'Top Gun' to '10 Commandments,' Val Kilmer's New Book Details Highs and Lows |first= Jenelle| last= Riley| work= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date= April 30, 2020 | access-date = April 23, 2025}}</ref> He became the youngest person at the time to be accepted into the [[Juilliard School]]'s Drama Division, where he was a member of [[List of Juilliard School people|Group 10]].<ref name= "juilliard">{{cite web | title = Batman Returns to His Cave | work = The Juilliard Journal | publisher = [[Juilliard School]] | date = December 2005| volume= 21| issue=4| first= Geoffrey |last= Murphy| url = http://www.juilliard.edu/update/journal/j_articles733.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060902185358/http://www.juilliard.edu/update/journal/j_articles733.html | archive-date = September 2, 2006|quote=Kilmer was accepted to Juilliard, the youngest person to be admitted to the Drama Division. (This record survived until the arrival of current third-year student [[Seth Numrich]], who was accepted at age 15.) | access-date = May 11, 2006}}</ref> At Juilliard, Kilmer and Spacey's friendship ended over a financial matter.<ref name="biz" />

==Career==
===1980–1989: Early roles and comedy films===
Kilmer declined a role in [[Francis Ford Coppola]]'s 1983 film ''[[The Outsiders (film)|The Outsiders]]'', as he had prior theater commitments.<ref name="outsiders">{{cite news |newspaper=The Irish Times |title=Val finds his voice |url=http://www.planetkilmer.com/discus/messages/407/1055.html?921547260 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050311122221/http://www.planetkilmer.com/discus/messages/407/1055.html?921547260 |archive-date=March 11, 2005 |access-date=October 24, 2009 |date=December 19, 1998 |last1=Dening |first1=Penelope |quote=I turned down a role in The Outsiders, because I was doing Shakespeare at the time and I thought it was right to stay with the play. I don't think I would have made the same choice now. Because great careers came out of that. Tom Cruise and a whole bunch of actors.}}</ref> In 1983, he appeared off Broadway in ''[[The Slab Boys Trilogy|The Slab Boys]]'' with [[Kevin Bacon]], [[Sean Penn]], and [[Jackie Earle Haley]]. That same year, his first off-stage acting role (excluding television commercials) came in the form of an episode of ''[[ABC Afterschool Special]]'' called ''One Too Many'', although it did not air until 1985.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.nytimes.com/1985/05/20/arts/teen-age-drinking-examined.html|url-access=subscription|title= Teen-Age Drinking Examined|first= John J.|last= O'Connor|date= May 20, 1985|work= [[The New York Times]]}}</ref> It was an educational drama on drinking and driving,<ref name="onetoo">{{cite web |publisher=RetroJunk |title=Val Kilmer |url=http://www.retrojunk.com/details_person/4/ |access-date=May 11, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090212092335/http://www.retrojunk.com/details_person/4/ |archive-date=February 12, 2009 }}</ref> and co-starred a young [[Michelle Pfeiffer]]. Also in 1983, Kilmer self-published a collection of his own poetry entitled ''My Edens After Burns,'' that included poems inspired by his time with Pfeiffer. This book of poems is difficult to obtain and expensive; known second-hand copies cost $300 and up.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bookride.com/2007/02/my-edens-after-burns-val-kilmer.html|title=Bookride|author=Bookride|access-date=September 23, 2012|archive-date=October 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019091717/http://www.bookride.com/2007/02/my-edens-after-burns-val-kilmer.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thespiannet.com/actors/K/kilmer_val/index.shtml|title=VAL KILMER at THESPIAN NET|author=K. Kamarauskas}}</ref><ref name="movies.yahoo.com">{{cite web|url=https://movies.yahoo.com/person/val-kilmer/|title=Val Kilmer|work=Yahoo Movies}}</ref>

His big break came when he received top billing in the comedy spoof of spy movies ''[[Top Secret!]]'', in which he played an American rock and roll star. Kilmer sang all the songs in the film and released an album under the film character's name, "Nick Rivers".<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.moviestalk.com/legendary-actors-and-actresses-revisited-val-kilmer/|title=Legendary Actors And Actresses Revisited – Val Kilmer – Movies Talk|date=September 11, 2015|work=Movies Talk|access-date=July 19, 2017}}</ref>

During a brief hiatus, Kilmer backpacked throughout Europe before going on to play the lead character in the 1985 comedy ''[[Real Genius]]''. He turned down a role in [[David Lynch]]'s ''[[Blue Velvet (film)|Blue Velvet]]''<ref name="velvet">{{cite web |publisher=ContactMusic |title=Kilmer's Regret over Early Decisions |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/kilmers%20regret%20over%20early%20decisions |access-date=May 11, 2006| date= November 2, 2005 }}</ref> before being cast as naval aviator Tom "Iceman" Kazansky in the action film ''[[Top Gun]]'' alongside [[Tom Cruise]]. ''Top Gun'' grossed a total of over $344 million worldwide and made Kilmer a major star.<ref name="tgun">{{cite web |publisher=The Numbers.com |title=Top Gun |url= https://the-numbers.com/movies/1986/0TGUN.html |access-date=May 11, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051204002034/http://the-numbers.com/movies/1986/0TGUN.html<!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = December 4, 2005}}</ref> Following roles in the television films ''[[The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1986 film)|The Murders in the Rue Morgue]]'' and ''The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains,'' Kilmer portrayed Madmartigan in the fantasy ''[[Willow (1988 film)|Willow]];'' he met his future wife, co-star [[Joanne Whalley]], on the film's set.<ref>{{cite web |title=Val Kilmer: A brilliant, underrated and unpredictable film star |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4n7xy3ew8mo |website=BBC|date=April 2, 2025 }}</ref> Kilmer starred in the [[Colorado Shakespeare Festival]] production of ''[[Hamlet]]'' in 1988.<ref name="Weber-2025" /> In 1989, Kilmer played the lead in both ''[[Kill Me Again]]'', again opposite Whalley,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=Variety |date=1989-01-01 |title=Kill Me Again |url=https://variety.com/1988/film/reviews/kill-me-again-1200427937/# |access-date=2025-04-03 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> and a supporting role in Gore Vidal's ''[[Billy the Kid (1989 film)|Billy the Kid]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goodman |first=Walter |date=1989-05-10 |title=Review/Television; Vidal Draws a Bead on Good-Bad Old Billy the Kid |url= https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/10/arts/review-television-vidal-draws-a-bead-on-good-bad-old-billy-the-kid.html |access-date=2025-04-03 |work= The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

===1990–1995: Stardom with ''The Doors'' and ''Batman''===
After several delays, director [[Oliver Stone]] finally started production on the film ''[[The Doors (film)|The Doors]]'', based on the story of [[The Doors|the band of the same name]].<ref name="Riordan">{{cite book |last=Riordan |first=James |date=September 1996 |title=Stone: A Biography of Oliver Stone |publisher=New York: Aurum Pres. |pages=310–314 |isbn=1-85410-444-6}}</ref> Kilmer spoke with Oliver Stone early on, concerned about what he might want to do with the story because Kilmer did not believe in or want to promote [[substance abuse]]. Kilmer saw [[Jim Morrison]] as having picked the wrong heroes, who had different issues, which were not part of the creativity or inspiration. Kilmer saw Morrison's story as one that could be told "a thousand different ways" and did not want to tell it by playing the role in the style of drugs, with which Oliver Stone agreed.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}} Kilmer memorized the lyrics to all of lead singer Morrison's songs prior to his audition and sent a video of himself performing some Doors songs to director Stone.<ref>{{cite news | last = Hall | first = Carla | title = Val Kilmer, Lighting the Fire | newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] | pages =G1 | date = March 3, 1991 }}</ref> Stone was not impressed 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 as Morrison, he prepared for the role by attending Doors tribute concerts and reading Morrison's poetry.<ref name="doors">{{cite web |website=Alexander-the-great.co.uk |title=Val Kilmer |url=http://www.alexander-the-great.co.uk/val_kilmer.htm |archive-date=April 26, 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060426202719/http://www.alexander-the-great.co.uk/val_kilmer.htm |url-status=dead |access-date=May 12, 2006}}</ref>

He spent close to a year before production dressing in Morrison-like clothes and spent time at Morrison's old hangouts along the [[Sunset Strip]]. His portrayal of Morrison was praised and members of the Doors noted that Kilmer did such a convincing job that they had trouble distinguishing his voice from Morrison's.<ref name="Riordan"/> Paul Rothchild played Kilmer's version of "[[The End (The Doors song)|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 that live with Jim and now we've got it." However, Doors keyboardist [[Ray Manzarek]] was less than enthusiastic with how Morrison was portrayed in Stone's interpretation.<ref>{{cite book| last= Manzarek |first= Ray |title=Light My Fire: My Life With The Doors|year=1998|publisher=G.P. Putnam's Sons |location=New York |isbn=0-399-14399-8|pages=251–252}}</ref>

In the early 1990s, Kilmer starred in the mystery thriller ''[[Thunderheart]]'', the action comedy ''[[The Real McCoy (film)|The Real McCoy]]'', and again teamed with ''Top Gun'' director [[Tony Scott]] to play [[Elvis Presley]] in ''[[True Romance]]'', which was written by [[Quentin Tarantino]]. In 1993, Kilmer played [[Doc Holliday]] in the western ''[[Tombstone (film)|Tombstone]]'' alongside [[Kurt Russell]].<ref>{{Citation |last=Cosmatos |first=George P. |title=Tombstone |date=December 25, 1993 |type=Biography, Drama, History |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108358/ |access-date=April 2, 2025 |others=Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Sam Elliott |publisher=Hollywood Pictures, Cinergi Pictures Entertainment, Alphaville Films}}</ref> In the film, Doc Holliday performs [[Frédéric Chopin|Chopin]]'s [[Nocturne in E minor, Op. posth. 72 (Chopin)|Nocturne in E minor, Op.72, No. 1]]; however, Kilmer did not play the piano and he practiced that one piece for months in preparation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hedash |first=Kara |date=December 31, 2023 |title=Does Val Kilmer Really Play The Piano In Tombstone? Doc Holliday Scene Explained |url=https://screenrant.com/tombstone-val-kilmer-piano-scene-explained/ |access-date=April 2, 2025 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}</ref> In 1995, Kilmer starred in ''[[Wings of Courage]]'', a 3D [[IMAX]] film, and that same year, he starred opposite [[Al Pacino]] and [[Robert De Niro]] in ''[[Heat (1995 film)|Heat]]'', which is now considered one of the best crime/drama films of the 1990s.<ref name= "heatrot">{{cite web |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |title=Heat (1995) |url=https://rottentomatoes.com/m/1068182-heat/ |access-date=May 11, 2006}}</ref>

In December 1993 ''[[Batman Forever]]'' director [[Joel Schumacher]] had seen ''[[Tombstone (film)|Tombstone]]'' and was most impressed with Kilmer's performance as [[Doc Holliday]]. Schumacher felt him to be perfect for the role of [[Bruce Wayne (1989 film series character)|Batman]], though at the time, the role was still [[Michael Keaton]]'s.<ref name="hold">{{cite news |last=Nathan |first=Ian |title=Hold me, thrill me, kiss me, Kilmer |work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |pages=108–117 |date=August 1995}}</ref> In July 1994, Keaton decided not to return for a third Batman film after 1992's ''[[Batman Returns]]'',<ref name="next">{{cite magazine |first=Jeff |last=Gordinier |title=Next at Batman |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=July 15, 1994 |url=https://ew.com/article/1994/04/01/general-hospital-celebrates-31-years/ |access-date=October 14, 2007 }}</ref> due to "creative differences".<ref name="hold" /> [[William Baldwin]] (who previously worked with Schumacher on ''[[Flatliners]]'') was reported to be a top contender, though just days after Keaton dropped out, Kilmer was cast.<ref name="next" /> Kilmer took the role without even knowing who the new director was and without reading the script.<ref name="hold" />

Released in June 1995, ''Batman Forever'' was a success at the box office,<ref name="batman">{{cite web |publisher=The Numbers.com |title=Batman Forever |url=https://the-numbers.com/movies/1995/0BTM3.html |access-date=May 11, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060508133948/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/1995/0BTM3.html<!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = May 8, 2006}}</ref> despite receiving mixed reviews from critics.<ref name="batmant">{{cite web |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |title=Batman Forever (1995) |url=https://rottentomatoes.com/m/batman_forever/ |access-date=May 11, 2006}}</ref> There was debate about Kilmer's performance: some critics, such as ''[[The New York Times]]''{{'}} [[Janet Maslin]], thought Kilmer was a poor successor to Keaton in the part;<ref>{{cite news|first=Janet|last=Maslin|author-link=Janet Maslin|title=FILM REVIEW: BATMAN FOREVER; New Challenges for the Caped Crusader|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/16/movies/film-review-batman-forever-new-challenges-for-the-caped-crusader.html|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|location=New York City|date=June 16, 1995|access-date=November 2, 2018}}</ref> while others, such as [[Roger Ebert]], had kind words for Kilmer.<ref>{{cite news|first=Roger|last=Ebert|author-link=Roger Ebert|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/batman-forever-1995|title=Batman Forever|newspaper=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|location=Chicago, Illinois|date=June 16, 1995|access-date=November 2, 2018|via=rogerebert.com}}</ref> ''Batman'' co-creator [[Bob Kane]] said in a ''[[Cinescape]]'' interview that of all the actors to have played Batman up to that point, he felt Kilmer had given the best interpretation. Film critic [[Leonard Maltin]] (who criticized the dark tone contained in ''Batman Returns'') complimented Kilmer's portrayal when he reviewed the film in his 2009 movie guide.<ref>{{cite book|first=Leonard|last=Maltin|author-link=Leonard Maltin|title=Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6EgPDierNGUC&q=leonard+maltin+batman+forever&pg=PA92|publisher=[[Penguin Books]]|location=New York City|date=2008|isbn=9780452289789|page=92}}</ref>

In February 1996, Kilmer decided not to return for another Batman feature film, feeling that Batman was being marginalized in favor of the villains<ref name="Daly">{{cite magazine |title=A Tights Squeeze |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |date=March 8, 1996 |url=https://ew.com/article/1996/03/08/george-clooney-superhero/ |access-date=September 17, 2007 |first1=Steve |last1=Daly |first2=Anne |last2=Thompson |archive-date=October 13, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013064740/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,291605,00.html |url-status=live }}</ref> due to his scheduling problems with ''[[The Saint (1997 film)|The Saint]]'', and [[George Clooney]] replaced him as Batman in 1997's ''[[Batman & Robin (film)|Batman & Robin]]''. There were also reports that Kilmer had a bad working relationship with Schumacher, as another reason for not reprising the role.<ref>{{Cite news|first=Glenn|last=Hadley|url=http://www.inquisitr.com/3602549/val-kilmer-batman-forever-star-replaced-in-batman-and-robin/|title=Val Kilmer: Why Did The 'Batman Forever' Star Get Replaced In 'Batman And Robin?'|date=October 17, 2016|work=The [[Inquisitr]]|access-date=July 19, 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date= August 2019 |first= Andrew|last=Goldman |title= In Conversation: Joel Schumacher |url= https://www.vulture.com/2019/08/joel-schumacher-in-conversation.html |work= [[New York (magazine)|New York]] |quote=I said he was psychotic }}</ref>

===1996–2009: Further career===
In 1996 he appeared in a largely unknown film, ''[[Dead Girl (film)|Dead Girl]]'', and starred alongside [[Marlon Brando]] in the poorly received<ref name="moreaut">{{cite web |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |title=The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) |url=https://rottentomatoes.com/m/1072156-island_of_dr_moreau/ |access-date=May 11, 2006}}</ref> ''[[The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996 film)|The Island of Dr. Moreau]]''. That year, Kilmer starred alongside [[Michael Douglas]] in the thriller ''[[The Ghost and the Darkness]]''. In 1997 he played [[Simon Templar]] in the popular action film ''[[The Saint (1997 film)|The Saint]]''. Kilmer looked forward to the title role as a change toward a more fun, less serious action thriller, while enjoying the "master of disguise" chameleon characters including a mad artist, a nerdy British scientist, a cleaner, and a Russian mob boss. Kilmer also wrote the poetry in the film.{{citation needed|date=September 2015}} He received a salary of $6&nbsp;million for the movie.<ref name="Daly"/> ''The Saint'' was a financial success, grossing $169.4&nbsp;million worldwide.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Saint-The|title=The Saint (1997) – Financial Information|website=The Numbers}}</ref> In 1998, he voiced both [[Moses]] and [[God]] in the animated film ''[[The Prince of Egypt]]'',<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chapman |first1=Brenda |title=The Prince of Egypt |date=December 18, 1998 |type=Animation, Adventure, Drama |url= https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120794/ |access-date=April 2, 2025 |others=Val Kilmer, Ralph Fiennes, Michelle Pfeiffer |publisher=Dreamworks Pictures, DreamWorks Animation |last2=Hickner |first2=Steve |last3=Wells |first3=Simon}}</ref> before starring in the [[independent film]] ''[[Joe the King]]'' (1999). Also in 1999, he played a blind man in the drama/romance ''[[At First Sight (1999 film)|At First Sight]]'', which he described as being, as of then, the hardest role he had ever had.<ref name="biz">{{cite interview |via= planetkilmer.com| interviewer = Kevin Maynard, ''[[Mr. Showbiz]]'' |first= Val| last= Kilmer | title = Val Kilmer — At First Sight — Interview with Mr. Showbiz | url = http://www.planetkilmer.com/movies/afs/articles/mrshowbiz/showbiz.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051221113015/http://www.planetkilmer.com/movies/afs/articles/mrshowbiz/showbiz.html | archive-date = December 21, 2005 | access-date = October 24, 2009 | quote = It's probably the hardest role I've ever played.}}</ref>

[[File:Val-Kilmer.jpg|thumb|alt=Kilmer looking down at paper|Kilmer in 2005]]
Kilmer's first role in 2000 was in the big budget [[Warner Bros.]] box office disaster<ref name="rplanet">{{cite web |publisher= | work=The Numbers |title=Red Planet |url=https://the-numbers.com/movies/2000/RPLNT.html |access-date=May 11, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051208084938/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2000/RPLNT.html<!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = December 8, 2005}}</ref> ''[[Red Planet (film)|Red Planet]]''. That same year, he had a supporting role as the Dutch-born American [[abstract expressionist]] painter [[Willem DeKooning]] in the film ''[[Pollock (film)|Pollock]]'' and hosted ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' for the first time. In 2002, he starred in the thriller ''[[The Salton Sea (2002 film)|The Salton Sea]]'', which was generally well-reviewed,<ref name="sea">{{cite web |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |title=Salton Sea (2002) |url=https://rottentomatoes.com/m/salton_sea/ |access-date=May 11, 2006}}</ref> but received only a limited release.<ref name= "sea2">{{cite web |publisher= |work= The Numbers |title=The Salton Sea |url=https://the-numbers.com/movies/2002/SASEA.html |access-date=May 11, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060509023100/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2002/SASEA.html<!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = May 9, 2006}}</ref> The same year, he teamed with his ''True Romance'' co-star, [[Christian Slater]], to appear in the low-budget film ''[[Hard Cash (2002 film)|Hard Cash]]'', also known as ''Run for the Money''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Run For the Money |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/479708/run-for-the-money#overview |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614181311/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/479708/Run-For-the-Money/#overview |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 14, 2013 |access-date=April 2, 2025 |website= TCM.com| publisher= [[Turner Classic Movies]] |language=en}}</ref>

In 2003, Kilmer starred alongside [[Kate Bosworth]] in the drama/thriller ''[[Wonderland (2003 film)|Wonderland]]'', portraying porn star [[John Holmes (actor)|John Holmes]]. He also appeared in ''[[The Missing (2003 film)|The Missing]]'', where he again worked with ''Willow'' director [[Ron Howard]]. The next year, he starred in [[David Mamet]]'s ''[[Spartan (film)|Spartan]]'', where he played a United States government [[secret agent]] who is assigned the task of rescuing the kidnapped daughter of the president. He received [[Delta Force]]-like training in preparation for the role.<ref name="ign">{{cite web |publisher= IGN |title=An Interview with Val Kilmer |url=http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/497/497668p2.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20040321234601/http://filmforce.ign.com/articles/497/497668p2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 21, 2004 |access-date= May 11, 2006}}</ref> Subsequently, he had a role in the drama ''[[Stateside (film)|Stateside]]'', and starred (again with Slater) in the thriller ''[[Mindhunters]]'', which was filmed in 2003 but not released until 2005. Kilmer next appeared in the big budget [[Oliver Stone]] production ''[[Alexander (2004 film)|Alexander]]'', which received poor reviews.<ref name="alexander">{{cite web |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |title=Alexander (2004) |url= https://rottentomatoes.com/m/alexander/ |access-date=May 11, 2006}}</ref>

Also in 2004, Kilmer returned to the theater to play Moses in a Los Angeles musical production of ''[[The Ten Commandments: The Musical]]'', produced by [[BCBG (brand)|BCBG]] founder [[Max Azria]].<ref name="moses">{{cite web |work= jewish-theater.com |publisher=All About Jewish Theatre |title=Val Kilmer and the Parting of the Red Sea to Music |url=http://www.jewish-theater.com/visitor/article_display.aspx?articleID=877 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20130126202135/http://www.jewish-theater.com/visitor/article_display.aspx?articleID=877 |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 26, 2013 |access-date=May 11, 2006 }}</ref> The production played at the [[Kodak Theatre]] in Hollywood and also featured [[Adam Lambert]]. This same year, Kilmer appeared in an episode of ''[[Entourage (U.S. TV series)|Entourage]]'', where he played a [[Sherpa people|Sherpa]] whose primary source of income was growing, harvesting, and distributing high-quality [[cannabis (drug)|cannabis]], all under a guise of [[Metaphysics|metaphysical]] insights.

[[File:Val Kilmer and 50 Cent (cropped).jpg|left|thumb|alt=Kilmer standing next to 50 Cent who is being interviewed|Kilmer with [[50 Cent]] at the [[American Music Award|AMAs]] 2009]]
Kilmer was in negotiations with [[Richard Dutcher]] (a leading director of [[Mormon]]-related films) to play the lead role in a film entitled ''Prophet: The Story of [[Joseph Smith]]'', although the project never materialized.<ref name="dutcher">{{cite web |work=[[Deseret News]] |title=Son of God's Army |url= http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635158379,00.html |access-date=May 11, 2006 |archive-date=May 19, 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060519072254/http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,635158379,00.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Kilmer performed in ''The Postman Always Rings Twice'' on the London stage from June to September 2005.<ref name="postman">{{cite web |publisher= | website=ThisIsTheatre.com |title=The Postman Always Rings Twice |url=http://www.thisistheatre.com/londonshows/postmanalwaysringstwice.html |access-date=May 11, 2006}}</ref> 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,<ref name="kiss">{{cite web |website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |title=Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang (2005) |url=https://rottentomatoes.com/m/kiss_kiss_bang_bang/ |access-date=May 11, 2006}}</ref> but it received only a limited release.<ref name="kiss2">{{cite web |publisher= |work= The Numbers |title=Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang |url= https://the-numbers.com/movies/2005/KSBNG.php |access-date=May 11, 2006 |archive-date=May 8, 2006 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20060508175530/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2005/KSBNG.php |url-status=dead }}</ref> It later won the award for "Overlooked Film of the Year" from the Phoenix Film Critics Society.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 21, 2005 |title='Cinderella Man' is tops with Arizona film critics |url=https://tucson.com/entertainment/movies/cinderella-man-is-tops-with-arizona-film-critics/article_f57bcffb-a90a-5277-8021-89c24a747cc2.html |access-date=April 2, 2025 |website=Arizona Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>

''Filmink'' argued "we're really surprised Kilmer could not make more of a comeback in the 2000s. Was he too chubby? Had he burned too many bridges? Another '90s movie star who hit a cold streak and got jowly Alec Baldwin came back in a big way via ''30 Rock'', but for whatever reason, Kilmer could never come close to his old glory."<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Filmink|first=Stephen|last=Vagg|title=Ten Connections between Val Kilmer and Australia|url=https://www.filmink.com.au/ten-connections-between-val-kilmer-and-australia/|date=7 April 2025|access-date=7 April 2025}}</ref>

In 2006, Kilmer reunited with director [[Tony Scott]] for a third time for a supporting role opposite [[Denzel Washington]] in the box-office hit ''[[Déjà Vu (2006 film)|Déjà Vu]]''. The song "Val Kilmer" was named after him on [[Bowling for Soup]]'s 2006 album ''[[The Great Burrito Extortion Case]]''. The song was later used for a [[Ford Motors]] commercial on season 10 of ''[[American Idol]]'' in 2011. In 2007, he guest-starred on the hit TV series ''[[Numb3rs]]'' in the episode "[[Trust Metric]]", portraying torture expert Mason Lancer. That same year, he released a CD, proceeds of which went to his charity interests.{{citation needed|date=October 2012}} In 2008, Kilmer starred alongside [[Stephen Dorff]] in the [[Sony]] and [[Stage 6]] film ''[[Felon (film)|Felon]]''. The film was given only a limited theatrical release in New York and Los Angeles in 2008, but it developed into a success secondary to positive word of mouth.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}} Kilmer was the voice of the car [[KITT]] for the 2008 ''[[Knight Rider (2008 film)|Knight Rider]]'' TV pilot film and the following [[Knight Rider (2008 TV series)|television series]]. He replaced [[Will Arnett]], who had to step down from the role due to contractual conflict with [[General Motors]].<ref name=kilmervox>{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2008/scene/markets-festivals/val-kilmer-voices-knight-rider-1117980382/ |title=Val Kilmer voices 'Knight Rider' |date=February 6, 2008 |access-date=April 3, 2025 |last=Adalian |first=Josef |work=Variety |publisher=Reed Business Information}}</ref> In keeping with tradition established by the original ''[[Knight Rider (1982 TV series)|Knight Rider]]'' series and original KITT actor [[William Daniels]], Kilmer was [[Billing (film)#Unbilled appearances|uncredited]] for the role on-screen.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituaries/2025/04/02/val-kilmer-cancer-the-doors-top-gun-heat-film/|title= Val Kilmer, prolific but volatile actor whose films included The Doors, Top Gun, Heat and Batman Forever |date=April 2, 2025|work=The Telegraph}}</ref> He next starred alongside [[Nicolas Cage]] in the [[Werner Herzog]] film ''[[Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans]]'', and alongside [[50 Cent|Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson]] in ''[[Streets of Blood]]''. Both were released in 2009. He appeared as the main antagonist "Mongoose" in a live TV series adaptation of the comic/video game of ''[[XIII (TV Mini-series)|XIII]]'' on [[NBC]] in 2009.

===2010–2025: Later work and final projects===
In 2010, Kilmer starred in [[Michael Oblowitz]]'s horror film ''[[The Traveler (2010 film)|The Traveler]]'', in which he played the [[vengeful spirit]] of a man who had been tortured and murdered while in police custody. In November 2010, Kilmer was filming in [[Kelseyville, California]]. He was finally able to work with his lifelong friend [[Francis Ford Coppola]] and star in the film ''[[Twixt (film)|Twixt]]''. The film was filmed mostly on Coppola's estate in [[Napa County]]. The filming was expected to take five weeks and was being independently funded by Coppola. In 2010, Kilmer appeared as the villain Dieter Von Cunth in ''[[MacGruber (film)|MacGruber]]'' and had a small cameo role in the music video for [[Tenacious D]]'s "To Be the Best". Kilmer spoke at the May 5, 2010, commencement ceremonies of [[William Woods University]] in [[Fulton, Missouri]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.williamwoods.edu/media_relations/docs/clippings/2012/5_1_12_clippings.pdf | title = Kilmer speaks at WWU | newspaper = Louisiana Press-Journal | location = Pike County, Louisiana, Missouri | date = May 30, 2012 | access-date = January 31, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121113074834/http://williamwoods.edu/media_relations/docs/clippings/2012/5_1_12_clippings.pdf | archive-date = November 13, 2012 | url-status=dead | df = mdy-all }}</ref> During his week-long visit on campus, he also performed his one-man play, ''Citizen Twain''.<ref>{{cite press release | url = http://news.williamwoods.edu/index.php/val-kilmer-brings-one-man-show-citizen-twain-to-wwu/ | title = Val Kilmer brings one-man show, 'Citizen Twain,' to WWU | date = April 16, 2010 | publisher = William Woods University | access-date = February 8, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140222064345/http://news.williamwoods.edu/index.php/val-kilmer-brings-one-man-show-citizen-twain-to-wwu/ | archive-date = February 22, 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=DrKilmer>{{cite press release | url = http://news.williamwoods.edu/index.php/actor-val-kilmer-now-dr-kilmer-thanks-to-william-woods-university/ | title = Actor Val Kilmer now 'Dr. Kilmer,' thanks to William Woods University | date = May 14, 2012 | publisher = William Woods University | access-date = February 8, 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140222064343/http://news.williamwoods.edu/index.php/actor-val-kilmer-now-dr-kilmer-thanks-to-william-woods-university/ | archive-date = February 22, 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref> He received an [[honorary degree|honorary]] doctorate "in recognition of his creative abilities and his contributions to art and theater."<ref name=DrKilmer/>

In 2012, Kilmer received a [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]] nomination for Best Spoken Word. He also starred in [[Harmony Korine]]'s short film ''The Lotus Community Workshop'', part of the collaborative film ''[[The Fourth Dimension (film)|The Fourth Dimension]]''. He plays a version of himself from an alternate reality: a former actor turned self-help guru. ''The Fourth Dimension'' is a collection of three standalone short films about parallel universes produced by Vice Films in collaboration with [[Grolsch]] Film Works, a new division of the namesake beer company. Kilmer noted that his addition to the list of actors, including [[John Malkovich]] (''[[Being John Malkovich]]'') and [[Al Pacino]] ([[Jack and Jill (2011 film)|''Jack and Jill'']]), that mock their real-life persona in fictional movies was an accident and said that, "I still love saying the premise because it makes me laugh every time."<ref name=independent.co.uk>{{cite news|last=Aftab|first=Kaleem|title=Val Kilmer – The Hollywood bad boy done good|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/val-kilmer-the-hollywood-bad-boy-done-good-7766422.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=May 19, 2012|location=London|access-date=September 17, 2017|archive-date=September 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907134200/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/val-kilmer--the-hollywood-bad-boy-done-good-7766422.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2002, Kilmer worked on a film about the life of [[Mary Baker Eddy]], the founder of the [[Christian Science]] church,<ref name="Klosterman"/> and [[Mark Twain]], one of her most famous critics. The film is about the lives and relationship of Eddy and Twain as "a quirky, tender, tragicomic portrait of two contrasting lives, set against the backdrop of the United States during the [[Gilded Age]]."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://twaineddyfilm.com/story.html|title=Mark Twain & Mary Baker Eddy – A film by Val Kilmer|website=twaineddyfilm.com}}</ref> ''Citizen Twain'' was initially performed as a one-man show Hollywood workshop in April 2012; it then became the basis of Kilmer's film project, his directorial debut.<ref name="independent.co.uk"/> The 90-minute film version of his one-man stage show was released as ''Cinema Twain''.<ref name="Cinema Twain">{{cite web|url=https://www.sacurrent.com/ArtSlut/archives/2017/05/31/actor-val-kilmer-explains-why-playing-mark-twain-is-such-a-bitch|title=Actor Val Kilmer Explains Why Playing Mark Twain is Such 'a Bitch'|last=Martinez|first=Kiko|date=May 31, 2017|website=[[San Antonio Current]]|access-date=May 22, 2021|archive-date=May 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210522135729/https://www.sacurrent.com/ArtSlut/archives/2017/05/31/actor-val-kilmer-explains-why-playing-mark-twain-is-such-a-bitch|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2013, he reunited with his ''[[Top Gun]]'' co-star [[Anthony Edwards (actor)|Anthony Edwards]] in the [[Disney]] animated movie ''[[Planes (film)|''Planes'']]''. Kilmer voiced the character Bravo, while Edwards supplied Echo. Kilmer also played the role of Detective Dobson in the series finale of the television show ''[[Psych]]''.

In 2017, Kilmer appeared in ''[[Song to Song]]'' opposite [[Rooney Mara]] and [[Ryan Gosling]] and directed by [[Terrence Malick]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/news/val-kilmer-black-lips-terrence-malick-386399|title= Val Kilmer Goes Wild On-Stage in Austin for Terrence Malick's Rock Film|date= November 5, 2012|access-date=March 6, 2017|first=Jordan|last=Zakarin|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/see-first-trailer-for-terrence-malicks-song-to-song-w467692|title=See Wistful First Trailer for Terrence Malick's 'Song to Song'|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|first=Daniel|last=Kreps|date=February 17, 2017|access-date=March 6, 2017|archive-date=March 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170306135532/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/news/see-first-trailer-for-terrence-malicks-song-to-song-w467692|url-status=dead}}</ref> Kilmer also appeared in the 2017 film ''[[The Snowman (2017 film)|The Snowman]]'', opposite [[Michael Fassbender]] and [[Rebecca Ferguson]] and directed by [[Tomas Alfredson]]. In August 2020, Kilmer shared the screen with his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, for the first time in ''Paydirt''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Leydon|first=Joe|date=August 7, 2020|title='Paydirt' Review: Val Kilmer Lays Down the Law in Derivative Crime Thriller|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/reviews/paydirt-review-val-kilmer-lays-down-the-law-in-derivative-crime-thriller-1234728112/|access-date=February 27, 2021|website=Variety}}</ref> Kilmer reprised his role as Tom "Iceman" Kazansky for the ''Top Gun'' sequel ''[[Top Gun: Maverick]]'' (2022).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-44395851|title=Val Kilmer set to make return in Top Gun: Maverick|website=[[BBC News]]|publisher=[[BBC]]|location=London, England|date=June 7, 2018|access-date=November 2, 2018}}</ref> The 2021 documentary film [[Val (film)|''Val'']], which chronicles his health struggles and career, premiered at the [[Cannes Film Festival]] to critical acclaim and later earned two [[Critics' Choice Documentary Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=May 27, 2021 |title=Amazon Studios Takes U.S. & Latin America On 'Val', A24 Documentary About Actor Val Kilmer |url=https://deadline.com/2021/05/val-kilmer-documentary-amazon-a24-1234765283/ |access-date=May 27, 2021 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>

As Kilmer's throat problems affected his vocal abilities, technology solutions were sought. In 2021, he collaborated with Sonantic, a London-based software company, to [[Audio deepfake|digitally recreate his voice]] using [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] and archived recordings.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Etienne |first= Vanessa |date=August 19, 2021 |title=Val Kilmer Gets His Voice Back for Top Gun:Maverick after Throat Cancer Battle Using AI Technology: Hear the Results |url= https://people.com/movies/val-kilmer-gets-his-voice-back-after-throat-cancer-battle-using-ai-technology-hear-the-results/ |magazine=People |access-date= August 19, 2021}}</ref> More than 40 vocal models were created to find the closest match for future projects.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mello-Klein |first= Cody |date=June 7, 2022 |title=How A.I. Helped Val Kilmer Get His Voice Back For 'Top Gun: Maverick' |website= northeastern.edu |url= https://news.northeastern.edu/2022/06/07/a-i-clones-val-kilmers-voice-in-top-gun/ |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220805064053/https://news.northeastern.edu/2022/06/07/a-i-clones-val-kilmers-voice-in-top-gun/ |archive-date=August 5, 2022 |publisher= Northeastern University |access-date=August 5, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Krstic |first=Zee |date=June 12, 2022 |title='Top Gun' Star Val Kilmer on His Health, Cancer Recovery and Losing His Speaking Voice |url= https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a40246231/val-kilmer-cancer-health-in-his-own-words/ |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220701065148/https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/entertainment/a40246231/val-kilmer-cancer-health-in-his-own-words/ |archive-date= July 1, 2022 |website=Good Housekeeping |access-date=August 5, 2022}}</ref> For the 2022 film ''[[Top Gun: Maverick]]'', director [[Joseph Kosinski]] stated that, despite reports to the contrary, they did not use Sonantic's AI technology in the film. Instead, Kilmer's actual voice was digitally altered for clarity.<ref name="KilmerVoiceAltered">{{Cite news |last=Alexander |first=Bryan |date=August 22, 2022 |title='Top Gun' secrets: Why Tom Cruise's love scene isn't steamy and Val Kilmer's voice didn't need A.I. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2022/08/22/top-gun-maverick-tom-cruise-bedroom-scene-val-kilmer-voice/7838688001/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220823025425/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/movies/2022/08/22/top-gun-maverick-tom-cruise-bedroom-scene-val-kilmer-voice/7838688001/ |archive-date=August 23, 2022 |work=[[USA Today]] |access-date=August 23, 2022}}</ref>

Kilmer had been set to make an appearance at the [[Beverly Hills Film Festival]] in [[Beverly Hills, California]] on April 1, 2025, hours before his death.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Val Kilmer Died Just Before His Planned Appearance at a Film Festival, Says Founder: 'It Was a Shock'|url=https://people.com/val-kilmer-film-festival-appearance-beverly-hills-same-day-death-announced-11707530|access-date=2025-05-15|website=[[People (magazine)|People]]|language=en-US|archive-date=April 2, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250402181016/https://people.com/val-kilmer-film-festival-appearance-beverly-hills-same-day-death-announced-11707530|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Val Kilmer Died Before Planned Beverly Hills Film Fest Red Carpet Appearance|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/val-kilmer-dead-beverly-hills-film-fest-appearance-1236179279/|date=April 2, 2025|access-date=May 15, 2025|first=Etan|last=Vlessing|work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Evans|first=Greg|title=Val Kilmer Was Scheduled To Attend Last Night’s Beverly Hills Film Festival Screening Of Documentary On Friend Michael Madsen|url=https://deadline.com/2025/04/val-kilmer-michael-madsen-1236357176/|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=April 2, 2025|access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>

==Personal life==
===Relationships and family===
Over the years, Kilmer dated [[Cher]], [[Lesley Ann Warren]], [[Cindy Crawford]], [[Angelina Jolie]], [[Daryl Hannah]] and [[Ellen Barkin]].<ref>{{Cite web| last=McNiece|first=Mia|date=April 2, 2020|title=Val Kilmer Reveals His Breakup from Daryl Hannah Was 'By Far the Most Painful'| url= https://people.com/movies/val-kilmer-reveals-his-breakup-from-daryl-hannah-was-by-far-the-most-painful/|access-date=February 6, 2022|website=[[People (magazine)|People.com]]}}</ref>

Kilmer was married to actress [[Joanne Whalley]] from March 1988 to February 1996.<ref name="The Buffalo News-1955">{{Cite news |date=July 22, 1955 |title=Val Kilmer's Wife Files for Divorce |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-buffalo-news-val-kilmers-wife-files/171735139/ |work=The Buffalo News |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> The two met while working together on the 1988 film ''[[Willow (1988 film)|Willow]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sanwari |first1=Ahad |title=Meet Val Kilmer's famous ex-wife and his two kids you'll definitely recognize |url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/healthandbeauty/mother-and-baby/824040/val-kilmer-famous-ex-wife-two-kids-photos/ |website=[[Hello! (magazine)|Hello!]] |access-date=3 April 2025 |language=en |date=2 April 2025}}</ref> They had two children: a daughter, Mercedes, born in 1991, and a son, actor [[Jack Kilmer]], born in 1995.<ref name="The Buffalo News-1955" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hurtado |first1=Alexandra |title=Val Kilmer's 2 Kids: All About Mercedes and Jack |url=https://people.com/all-about-val-kilmer-kids-7502673 |website=[[People (magazine)|People.com]] |access-date=3 April 2025 |language=en}}</ref>

===Residences and activities===
Kilmer owned a {{convert|6000|acre|ha|adj=on}} ranch in [[New Mexico]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-11-25 |title=A star-backed Thanksgiving |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-a-star-backed-t/171735196/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=The Santa Fe New Mexican |pages=A001}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 3, 2025 |title=Warm Memories of Iceman |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-santa-fe-new-mexican-warm-memories-o/171735452/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=[[The Santa Fe New Mexican]] |pages=A1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> where he would trek, hike, fish, and raise [[American Bison|bison]]. He sold it in 2011.<ref name="Klosterman">{{cite interview| first= Val| last= Kilmer| interviewer= [[Chuck Klosterman]] |chapter= Crazy things seem normal, normal things seem crazy| title= New Kings of Nonfiction| editor= [[Ira Glass]]| place= | publisher= }}</ref> [[File:Hail-Bacchus Val Kilmer.jpg|alt=Kilmer wearing an elaborate king outfit, covered in foil|thumb|Kilmer reigning as [[Krewe of Bacchus|Bacchus]] at a 2009 [[Mardi Gras]] parade in New Orleans]]

Kilmer was an avid musician; he released a [[demo album]], ''[[Sessions with Mick]]'' in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morgan |first=Spencer |date=December 11, 2007 |title=The Iceman Crooneth: Tub-Bucket Val Kilmer, Late-80's Heartthrob and Morrison Manque, Sings |url=https://observer.com/2007/12/the-iceman-crooneth-tubbucket-val-kilmer-late80s-heartthrob-and-morrison-manque-sings/ |access-date=May 20, 2022 |website=Observer}}</ref> He was also an avid painter and photographer.<ref>{{Cite web| url= https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/02/entertainment/val-kilmer-batman-art/index.html |title='Batman Forever': How Val Kilmer turned to other art after throat cancer |first=Lisa Respers|last=France|date=April 2, 2025|website=CNN.com | accessdate= April 28, 2025}}</ref>

===Reputation===
Kilmer had a reputation for being difficult to work with and having feuds with some of the actors with whom he worked, notably ''[[The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996 film)|The Island of Dr. Moreau]]'' co-star [[Marlon Brando]] and ''[[Red Planet (film)|Red Planet]]'' and ''[[Heat (1995 film)|Heat]]'' co-star [[Tom Sizemore]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Brew|first=Simon|title=14 Co-stars Who Really Didn't Get Along|date=September 27, 2013|publisher=[[Dennis Publishing]] |url= http://www.denofgeek.us/movies/co-stars/198892/14-co-stars-who-really-didnt-get-along|access-date=June 6, 2015|archive-date=June 7, 2015|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150607040119/http://www.denofgeek.us/movies/co-stars/198892/14-co-stars-who-really-didnt-get-along|url-status=dead}}</ref> Kilmer's ''[[Tombstone (film)|Tombstone]]'' co-star, [[Michael Biehn]], said: "People ask me 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 I don't know [Kilmer]."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Crouch |first1=Aaron |title= 'Everything Had to Go Right': What Happened to 'Terminator' Star Michael Biehn |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/terminator-what-happened-star-michael-biehn-1228634 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=August 2, 2019 |publisher=THR |access-date=January 1, 2020}}</ref>

[[Richard Stanley (director)|Richard Stanley]], who directed Kilmer for three days in ''The Island of Dr. Moreau'' before being fired, recalled, "Val would arrive, and an argument would happen."<ref name="Ascher-Walsh-1996">{{Cite magazine |last=Ascher-Walsh |first=Rebecca |date=May 31, 1996 |title=Why Val Kilmer is the man Hollywood loves to hate |url=https://ew.com/article/1996/05/31/val-kilmer-makes-enemies-hollywood/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250201043838/https://ew.com/article/1996/05/31/val-kilmer-makes-enemies-hollywood/ |archive-date=February 1, 2025 |access-date=February 6, 2022 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]}}</ref> [[John Frankenheimer]], who replaced Stanley, said "I don't like Val Kilmer, I don't like his work ethic, and I don't want to be associated with him ever again." ''[[Batman Forever]]'' director [[Joel Schumacher]] called Kilmer "childish and impossible".<ref name="Ascher-Walsh-1996" />

When Kilmer's ''At First Sight'' co-star [[Mira Sorvino]] was asked about his reputation as "difficult to work with", she responded: "You know what, he was real easy to work with. I just hate furthering rumours about people being difficult, because it can do such enormous damage to their careers. My experience with him was nothing but positive. He was really professional and gentlemanly, and a terrific actor."<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Neal |first=Sean |date= November 23, 2011 |title=Mira Sorvino |url=https://www.avclub.com/mira-sorvino-1798228602 |website=[[The A.V. Club]]}}</ref> [[Kurt Russell]], Kilmer's co-star in ''Tombstone'' said of working with him: "If you're asking me if it was great working with Val Kilmer, who played Doc Holliday on ''Tombstone'', the answer is absolutely."<ref>{{cite web |last=Rockson |first=Gabrielle |date=April 2, 2025 |title=Kurt Russell Reveals He and Val Kilmer Exchanged These Dark Gifts After Filming 'Tombstone' in 2024 Interview |url=https://people.com/kurt-russell-reveals-dark-gifts-he-val-kilmer-exchanged-after-filming-tombstone-11707435 |website=[[People (magazine)|People]]}}</ref> [[Drew Barrymore]], who costarred with Kilmer in ''Batman Forever'', said of her experience with the actor: "...Val Kilmer was so nice to me. He was so nurturing and kind and safe, which was a very important thing for me."<ref name="Barrymore">{{cite web |last=Oganesyan |first=Natalie |date=2025-04-07 |title=Drew Barrymore Fondly Remembers Val Kilmer: "So Nurturing And Kind And Safe" |url=https://deadline.com/2025/04/drew-barrymore-val-kilmer-batman-forever-1236362857/ |accessdate=April 7, 2025 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]}}</ref>

[[Hilarie Burton]], Kilmer's co-star in ''[[Bloodworth]]'', called him "the sweetest man" and said he cut a gratuitous sex scene between them in the film because "it didn't service the story or the character", instead changing it to a scene in which their characters are enjoying barbecued ribs. "I felt so safe and cared for by that man... He made the scene about us instead of using me as a prop. That one day at work rewired my brain. Val was kind to me. A thoughtful artist. I bought some of his paintings a few years back. I hope every young actor has a Val in their life. That movie was a magical experience," she said.<ref name="usmagazine">{{Cite web |date=April 8, 2025 |title=Stars React to Val Kilmer's Death at 65: Josh Brolin, Michael Mann, Jennifer Tilly and More |url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/stars-react-to-val-kilmers-death-at-65/ |website=[[Us Weekly]]}}</ref> [[David Thewlis]], Kilmer's co-star in ''The Island of Dr. Moreau'' said of working with him; "I spent the most bizarre 5 months of my entire life with Val Kilmer, out in the Australian rainforest, on the ill fated Island of Dr Moreau. It was so spectacularly bleak and awful it was almost wonderful. Look it up sometime. As Val wrote in his final mail to me: 'What an incredible story we lived, you and I. One of the greatest.'"<ref name="Thewlis">{{Cite web |date=April 3, 2025 |title=David Thewlis remembers "awful" five months working with Val Kilmer on ill-fated 'The Island of Dr Moreau' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/film/david-thewlis-remembers-awful-five-months-working-with-val-kilmer-on-ill-fated-the-island-of-dr-moreau-3851709 |website=[[NME]]}}</ref>

===Political views and charity work===
In 1998, Kilmer traveled to Iraq with [[AmeriCares]] to deliver humanitarian aid, the first US humanitarian airlift to Iraq since 1990.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Abdallah |first=Sana |date=April 28, 1998 |title=US relief and movie star go to Iraq |url=https://www.upi.com/Archives/1998/04/28/US-relief-and-movie-star-go-to-Iraq/9543893736000/ |website=[[United Press International]]}}</ref> Kilmer made several trips to [[New Orleans]] to help in the 2005 [[Hurricane Katrina]] disaster relief.<ref>{{cite web|date=July 10, 2008|title=Val Kilmer on Bad Lieutenant and Voicing KITT!| url= https://comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=46730|publisher=ComingSoon|access-date=December 11, 2019|archive-date=September 6, 2008|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080906213051/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=46730|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was a supporter of Native American affairs and an advocate of [[environmental protection]].<ref>{{cite web|title=World Indigenous Business Forum to Feature Val Kilmer, Opportunities to Build Networks|url=http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/article/world-indigenous-business-forum-to-feature-val-kilmer%2C-opportunities-to-build-networks-49379|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126013141/http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/article/world-indigenous-business-forum-to-feature-val-kilmer,-opportunities-to-build-networks-49379|archive-date=January 26, 2013|work=IndianCountryTodayMediaNetwork.com}}</ref> Kilmer briefly considered running for [[2010 New Mexico gubernatorial election|Governor of New Mexico]] in 2010 but decided against it.<ref>{{cite web| author=Matt|title= Val Kilmer: 'I'm not running' for governor|url=http://www.nmfbihop.com/diary/3223/val-kilmer-im-not-running-for-governor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314034728/http://www.nmfbihop.com/diary/3223/val-kilmer-im-not-running-for-governor|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 14, 2022 |publisher= | website= nmfbihop.com |access-date= October 6, 2010}}</ref>

In May 2013, Kilmer lobbied Congress on behalf of the [[Equitable Access to Care and Health Act]], or EACH Act (H.R. 1814), a bill "to provide an additional religious exemption from the individual health coverage mandate" of [[Affordable Care Act|Obamacare]].<ref>{{cite news| last= Wrigley |first= Will| date=May 9, 2013|title=Val Kilmer on Capitol Hill: Actor Turns Lobbyist For A Day, Takes Many Pictures| work= HuffPost |url= https://huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/09/val-kilmer-on-capitol-hill_n_3247206.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title= 113th Congress 1st Session: H. R. 1814| publisher= US House of Representatives| date= April 26, 2013 |url= https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-113hr1814ih/pdf/BILLS-113hr1814ih.pdf |website= govinfo.gov}}</ref>

===Health===
In 2014, Kilmer was forced to cancel a ''Citizen Twain'' show after losing his voice. He noticed a lump in his throat but did not seek medical care until he started vomiting blood.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://people.com/val-kilmer-ignored-these-symptoms-before-cancer-diagnosis-11707925|title=Val Kilmer Ignored These Symptoms Before a Harrowing 2015 Hospitalization Led to Throat Cancer Diagnosis|website=People.com}}</ref> In January 2015, he was hospitalized for what his representative said were tests for a possible tumor. Kilmer stated on social media, "I have not had a tumor, or tumor operations{{sic}}, or any operation. I had a complication where the best way to receive care was to stay under the watchful eye of the [[UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica|UCLA]] [[intensive care|ICU]]."<ref name="health">{{Cite web |date=January 30, 2015 |title=Val Kilmer Hospitalized For Throat Tumor |url=https://tmz.com/2015/01/30/val-kilmer-hospitalized-tumor-throat-bleeding/ |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160916185530/http://www.tmz.com/2015/01/30/val-kilmer-hospitalized-tumor-throat-bleeding/ |archive-date=September 16, 2016 |access-date=October 31, 2016 |website=[[TMZ.com]]}}</ref> Kilmer was a lifelong [[Christian Science|Christian Scientist]], and upon his throat cancer diagnosis referred to it in the press as "the suggestion of throat cancer", opting not to explicitly associate himself with such a diagnosis. He underwent recommended chemotherapy following his children's request despite it being conventionally against his religion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Val Kilmer Explains Why He Got Chemo Despite His Religious Beliefs |url=https://www.etonline.com/val-kilmer-explains-why-he-got-chemo-for-his-cancer-despite-it-being-against-his-religious-beliefs |access-date=July 11, 2024 |website=Entertainment Tonight |language=en-US}}</ref>

After previously denying persistent rumors that he had been diagnosed with cancer, Kilmer said in April 2017 that he had experienced a "[[Remission (medicine)|healing of cancer]]".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knapp |first=JD |date=April 30, 2017 |title=Val Kilmer Confirms Cancer Rumors, Says He's in 'Healing' Stages |url=https://variety.com/2017/film/news/val-kilmer-confirms-cancer-rumors-says-healing-reddit-michael-douglas-1202404289/ |access-date=May 1, 2017 |website= Variety}}</ref><ref name="NYT_What_Happened">{{cite magazine |author1=Taffy Brodesser-Akner |date=May 6, 2020 |title= What Happened to Val Kilmer? He's Just Starting to Figure It Out |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/06/magazine/val-kilmer.html |magazine=The New York Times Magazine |access-date= August 14, 2020}}</ref> In December 2017, ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' revealed that Kilmer had endured a "two-year battle with [[Laryngeal cancer|throat cancer]]" and that "a procedure on his [[trachea]] has reduced his voice to a rasp and rendered him short of breath." To speak, Kilmer plugged an electric voice box into his trachea.<ref name="Abramovitch-2017">{{Cite web |last=Abramovitch |first=Seth |date=December 20, 2017 |title=Val Kilmer Opens Up About Battling Cancer and His Kids' Showbiz Ambitions |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/val-kilmer-opens-up-battling-cancer-his-kids-showbiz-ambitions-1068733 |website= The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=December 21, 2017}}</ref>

He ultimately underwent [[chemotherapy]] and two [[tracheotomy|tracheotomies]].<ref name="Abramovitch-2017" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Pappademas |first1=Alex |date=April 21, 2020 |title=Val Kilmer Doesn't Believe in Death |url=https://www.menshealth.com/trending-news/a32162764/val-kilmer-career-cancer-interview/ |access-date=April 23, 2020 |publisher=Men's Health}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Day |first=Nate |date=August 3, 2020 |title=Val Kilmer says he's doing great after tracheotomy: 'I feel a lot better than I sound' |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/val-kilmer-doing-a-lot-better-after-tracheotomy |access-date=August 5, 2020 |website=Fox News}}</ref><ref name="NYT_What_Happened"/><ref>{{cite web |date=May 6, 2020 |title=Val Kilmer Explains Why He Got Chemo for His Cancer Despite It Being Against His Religious Beliefs |url=https://www.etonline.com/val-kilmer-explains-why-he-got-chemo-for-his-cancer-despite-it-being-against-his-religious-beliefs |access-date=January 15, 2025 |work=ET Online}}</ref> Kilmer reported in 2020 that he had been cancer-free for four years but continued to struggle with medical treatments, including the use of a [[feeding tube]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Watts |first=Marina |date=August 4, 2020 |title=Here's what Val Kilmer has said about his cancer struggles so far |url=https://www.newsweek.com/heres-what-val-kilmer-has-said-about-his-cancer-struggles-so-far-1522687 |website= Newsweek}}</ref>

==Death and tributes==
Kilmer died of [[pneumonia]] in Los Angeles on April 1, 2025, at the age of 65.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://apnews.com/article/val-kilmer-actor-dead-pneumonia-7e8f27b1ec80f2940f7a7776f5f92804|title = Val Kilmer, 'Top Gun' and Batman star with an intense approach, dies at 65|last1 = Kennedy|first1 = Mark|last2 = Dalton|first2 = Andrew|date = April 2, 2025|accessdate = April 2, 2025|work = [[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref name="Weber-2025">{{Cite web |last=Weber |first=Bruce |date=April 1, 2025 |title=Val Kilmer, Film Star Who Played Batman and Jim Morrison, Dies at 65 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/movies/val-kilmer-dead.html |url-access=limited |accessdate=April 2, 2025 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Dunn |first1=Jack |last2=Tangcay |first2=Jazz |date=April 2, 2025 |title=Michael Mann, Francis Ford Coppola, Josh Brolin and More Remember Val Kilmer: 'A Brilliant Actor and a Good Man' |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/news/val-kilmer-dead-hollywood-reaction-1236354616/ |website=Variety| access-date= }}</ref> Other contributing underlying factors towards his death included acute [[Hypoxemia|hypoxemic]] respiratory failure, [[chronic respiratory failure]], [[squamous cell carcinoma]] on the base of his tongue, [[malnutrition]] and tracheocutaneous fistula. Kilmer was cremated on April 7.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dicker |first=Ron |date=2025-04-11 |title=Val Kilmer's Death Certificate Reveals Critical Details Behind Actor's Passing |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/val-kilmer-death-certificate_n_67f8e716e4b089014393c5c8/amp |website=[[HuffPost]] |language= en |access-date=2025-04-12}}</ref>

Upon his death, filmmaker [[Michael Mann]] wrote, "While working with Val on ''[[Heat (1995 film)|Heat]],'' I always marvelled at the range, the brilliant variability within the powerful current of Val's possessing and expressing character. After so many years of Val battling disease and maintaining his spirit, this is tremendously sad news.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rahman |first=Abid |date=2025-04-01 |title=Val Kilmer Death: Michael Mann, Francis Ford Coppola, Nicolas Cage Pay Tribute to Actor |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/val-kilmer-death-reaction-tributes-1236178981/ |website= The Hollywood Reporter |accessdate=April 2, 2025}}</ref> Director [[Francis Ford Coppola]] wrote, "He was a wonderful person to work with and a joy to know&nbsp;— I will always remember him."<ref>{{cite web |last=Kumar |first=Akshay |date=2025-04-02 |title=Francis Ford Coppola: Val Kilmer's talent only grew throughout his life |url=https://www.cinemaexpress.com/english/news/2025/Apr/02/francis-ford-coppola-val-kilmers-talent-only-grew-throughout-his-life |accessdate=April 2, 2025 |website=Cinema Express}}</ref> [[Tom Cruise]] honored his ''[[Top Gun]]'' co-star at [[CinemaCon]] asking for a moment of silence saying, "I think it would be really nice if we could have a moment together because he loved movies and he gave a lot to all of us."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rubin |first1=Rebecca |last2=Shafer |first2=Ellise |date=2025-04-03 |title= Tom Cruise Honors 'Top Gun' Co-Star Val Kilmer With Moment of Silence at CinemaCon: 'I Wish You Well on the Next Journey' |url= https://variety.com/2025/film/news/tom-cruise-honors-val-kilmer-cinemacon-1236354766/  |website= Variety |accessdate=April 3, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Fauria |first=Krysta |date=April 3, 2025 |title=Tom Cruise opens CinemaCon speech with moment of silence for Val Kilmer |url=https://apnews.com/article/tom-cruise-val-kilmer-mission-impossible-2b17086d6c3a61566e93d1ab3f3cb3d7 |access-date= April 4, 2025 |website=[[Associated Press]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Director [[Oliver Stone]] wrote: "Val Kilmer was brilliant, both as Jim Morrison in ''[[The Doors (film)|The Doors]]'' and in ''[[Alexander (2004 film)|Alexander]]'' as King Philip of Macedon. His approach and attitude significantly changed between 1990 and ''Alexander'' in 2004. The results satisfied me on both occasions. To call Val turbulent, contradictory, and tortured is an understatement. But the result was he was exciting on film, always exciting, and fresh. We need more Vals. He was an iconoclast and rebel in his acting, and always kept it exciting in either supporting or main roles. The movies will miss him."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stone |first= Oliver |date=April 5, 2025 |title=#ValKilmer was brilliant, both as #JimMorrison in #TheDoors and in #Alexander as King Philip of Macedon. His approach and attitude significantly changed between 1990 and Alexander in 2004. The results satisfied me on both occasions. |url= https://www.instagram.com/officialoliverstone/p/DIFHc-rvY-0/ |url-status=live |archive-url= https://archive.today/20250421064047/https://www.instagram.com/officialoliverstone/p/DIFHc-rvY-0/?img_index=1 |archive-date=April 21, 2025 |access-date= April 21, 2025 |website=[[Instagram]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> [[The Doors]]' drummer [[John Densmore]] wrote: "As an actor, Val's channeling of Jim (Morrison) was so close, he gave me the creeps on the set of Oliver Stone's biopic. He should have been nominated for an Oscar as Best Actor."<ref>{{Cite web |last= Densmore |first=John |date= April 5, 2025 |title=As an actor, Val's channeling of Jim (Morrison) was so close, he gave me the creeps on the set of Oliver Stone's biopic. He should have been nominated for an Oscar as Best Actor. |url=https://www.instagram.com/johndensmore/p/DIFcZnvszxD/ |website=[[Instagram]]}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{More citations needed section|date=April 2025}}

===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Title
!scope="col"| Role
!scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
| 1984
!scope="row"|''[[Top Secret!]]''
| Nick Rivers||<ref name="CBC News-2025">{{Cite news |date=2025-04-02 |title=Val Kilmer, star of Top Gun and Batman Forever, dead at 65 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/val-kilmer-obituary-1.7499709 |access-date=2025-04-03 |work=CBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Tom |date=1984-07-01 |title='Top Secret!' Scores Laughs |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-recorder-top-secret-scores/171735761/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=The Times Recorder |pages=17 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
|-
| 1985
!scope="row"|''[[Real Genius]]''
| Chris Knight ||<ref name="CBC News-2025" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=1989-06-03 |title=Real Genius |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-advertiser-real-genius/171735729/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |pages=22 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
|-
| 1986
!scope="row"|''[[Top Gun]]''
| Lt. Tom "Iceman" Kazansky||<ref name="CBC News-2025" />
|-
| 1988
!scope="row"|''[[Willow (1988 film)|Willow]]''
| Madmartigan||<ref>{{Cite news |last=Bradshaw |first=Peter |date=2025-04-02 |title=Val Kilmer: an ethereally handsome actor who evolved into droll self-awareness |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2025/apr/02/val-kilmer-ethereally-handsome-actor-top-gun-the-doors-peter-bradshaw |access-date=2025-04-10 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Armstrong |first=David |date=1988-05-20 |title=Willow |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/poughkeepsie-journal-willow/171735535/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=Poughkeepsie Journal |pages=1D |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
|-
| 1989
!scope="row"|''[[Kill Me Again]]''
| Jack Andrews ||
|-
| 1991
!scope="row"|''[[The Doors (film)|The Doors]]''
| [[Jim Morrison]]||<ref name="CBC News-2025" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mullinax |first=Gary |date=1991-03-06 |title=Opening closed Doors |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/florida-today-opening-closed-doors/171735824/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=Florida Today |pages=49 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
|-
| 1992
!scope="row"|''[[Thunderheart]]''
| FBI Agent Ray Levoi||<ref name="foxnews">{{Cite web |last=Elizabeth Pritchett |first=Tracy Wright |date=2025-04-02 |title=Val Kilmer, 'Top Gun' and 'Batman Forever' star, dead at 65 |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/val-kilmer-top-gun-batman-forever-star-dead-65 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Grauvogl |first=Ann |date=1991-04-25 |title=South Dakota in spotlight of Kilmer-Greene movie |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/argus-leader-south-dakota-in-spotlight-o/171735876/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=Argus-Leader |pages=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1993
!scope="row"|''[[The Real McCoy (film)|The Real McCoy]]''
| J.T. Barker||<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Real Mccoy movie review & film summary (1993) {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-real-mccoy-1993 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=www.rogerebert.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Tombstone (film)|Tombstone]]''
| [[Doc Holliday]]||<ref name="CBC News-2025" />
|-
!scope="row"|''[[True Romance]]''
| [[Elvis Presley]]||<ref name="CBC News-2025" />
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1995
!scope="row"|''[[Batman Forever]]''
| [[Bruce Wayne (1989 film series character)|Bruce Wayne / Batman]]||<ref name="CBC News-2025" />
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Heat (1995 film)|Heat]]''
| Chris Shiherlis||<ref name="CBC News-2025" />
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Wings of Courage]]''
| [[Jean Mermoz]] || Short film
|-
| rowspan=3 | 1996
!scope="row"|''[[The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996 film)|The Island of Dr. Moreau]]''
| Dr. Montgomery ||<ref name="CBC News-2025" />
|-
!scope="row"|''[[The Ghost and the Darkness]]''
| Col. [[John Henry Patterson (author)|John Henry Patterson]]||<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Ghost And The Darkness movie review (1996) {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-ghost-and-the-darkness-1996 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=www.rogerebert.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Dead Girl (film)|Dead Girl]]''
| Dr. Dark ||
|-
| 1997
!scope="row"|''[[The Saint (1997 film)|The Saint]]''
| [[The Saint (Simon Templar)|Simon Templar]] ||<ref name="CBC News-2025" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=April 3, 1997 |title='Saint' goes high-tech |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-record-saint-goes-high-tech/171735482/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=Daily Record |pages=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
|-
| 1998
!scope="row"|''[[The Prince of Egypt]]''
| [[Moses]] / [[Names of God in Judaism|God]]|| [[Voice acting|Voice]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Prince Of Egypt movie review (1998) {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-prince-of-egypt-1998 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=www.rogerebert.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2 | 1999
!scope="row"|''[[At First Sight (1999 film)|At First Sight]]''
| Virgil "Virg" Adamson||<ref>{{Cite web |title=At First Sight movie review & film summary (1999) {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/at-first-sight-1999 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=www.rogerebert.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Joe the King]]''
| Bob Henry ||<ref name="CBC News-2025" />
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2000
!scope="row"|''[[Pollock (film)|Pollock]]''
| [[Willem de Kooning]]||<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pollock movie review & film summary (2001) {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/pollock-2001 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=www.rogerebert.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Red Planet (film)|Red Planet]]''
| Robby Gallagher, Engineer||<ref name="CBC News-2025" />
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2002
!scope="row"|''[[The Salton Sea (2002 film)|The Salton Sea]]''
| Danny Parker / Tom Van Allen ||<ref name="CBC News-2025" />
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Hard Cash (2002 film)|Hard Cash]]''
| FBI Agent Mark C. Cornell || [[Direct-to-video]]
|-
| rowspan=4 | 2003
!scope="row"|''[[Wonderland (2003 film)|Wonderland]]''
| [[John Holmes (actor)|John Holmes]]||<ref name="CBC News-2025" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Sragow |first=Michael |date=2003-10-24 |title=A hazy view of porn star's drug world |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-a-hazy-view-of-porn-st/171735242/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |pages=E1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|''[[The Missing (2003 film)|The Missing]]''
| Lieutenant Jim Ducharme||<ref>{{Cite web |title='Willow' director Ron Howard bids Val Kilmer goodbye in moving tribute: 'Bon voyage, Val' |url=https://ew.com/val-kilmer-willow-director-ron-howard-tribute-11707472 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=EW.com |language=en}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Blind Horizon]]''
| Frank Kavanaugh ||
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Masked and Anonymous]]''
| Animal Wrangler ||
|-
| rowspan=4 | 2004
!scope="row"|''[[Spartan (film)|Spartan]]''
| Sergeant John / Bobby Scott ||<ref name="CBC News-2025" />
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Stateside (film)|Stateside]]''
| Staff Sergeant Skeer||<ref>{{Cite web |title='Stateside': Plenty Of Corps Values (washingtonpost.com) |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A44062-2004May20.html |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=www.washingtonpost.com}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Alexander (2004 film)|Alexander]]''
| [[Philip II of Macedon]]||<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Madarang |first=Charisma |date=2025-04-05 |title=Oliver Stone Mourns 'Iconoclast and Rebel' Val Kilmer |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/oliver-stone-val-kilmer-the-doors-alexander-tribute-1235311180/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Ringel Gillespie |first=Eleanor |date=November 24, 2004 |title=Christmas with the Cranks |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-atlanta-constitution-christmas-with/171735329/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=The Atlanta Constitution |pages=E1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|''George and the Dragon''
| "El Cabillo" || [[Cameo appearance|Uncredited cameo]]
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2005
!scope="row"|''[[Mindhunters]]''
| FBI Agent Jake Harris||<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knapp |first=J. D. |date=2025-04-02 |title=Val Kilmer Honored by Michael Mann, Ron Howard, Cher for Leaving an 'Indelible Cinematic Mark' |url=https://www.thewrap.com/val-kilmer-dead-celebrity-tributes-reactions/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Kiss Kiss Bang Bang]]''
| Perry Van Shrike ||<ref name="CBC News-2025" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2005-11-11 |title=Downey, Kilmer lace movie with sly, sly fun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-baltimore-sun-downey-kilmer-lace-mo/171735269/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |pages=C1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=5 | 2006
!scope="row"|''[[Summer Love (2006 film)|Summer Love]]''
| "The Wanted Man"
| rowspan=2|Direct-to-video
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Moscow Zero]]''
| Andrey
|-
!scope="row"|''[[10th & Wolf]]''
| Murtha
|
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Played (film)|Played]]''
| Dillon
| Direct-to-video
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Déjà Vu (2006 film)|Déjà Vu]]''
| Agent Paul Pryzwarra||<ref name="wrap">{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Drew |date=2025-04-02 |title=Val Kilmer, Remembered Through His Very Best Performances |url=https://www.thewrap.com/val-kilmer-best-performances-movies/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
| 2007
!scope="row"|''Have Dreams, Will Travel''
| Henderson ||
|-
| rowspan=6 | 2008
!scope="row"|''[[Conspiracy (2008 film)|Conspiracy]]''
| William "Spooky" MacPherson || rowspan=2|Direct-to-video
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Felon (film)|Felon]]''
| John Smith
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Delgo]]''
| General Bogardus || Voice
|-
!scope="row"|''[[2:22 (2008 film)|2:22]]''
| Maz || Direct-to-video
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Columbus Day (film)|Columbus Day]]''
| John || Direct-to-video; also producer
|-
!scope="row"|''[[The Love Guru]]''
| Val Kilmer|| Uncredited cameo<ref name="wrap" />
|-
| rowspan=7 | 2009
!scope="row"|''[[The Chaos Experiment]]''
| James Pettis || rowspan=2|Direct-to-video<ref>{{Cite news |last=Serba |first=John |date=September 10, 2008 |title=Gathering Steam; Press' Film Role Offers Taste of GR's Star Power |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-gathering-steam/171735043/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=[[The Grand Rapids Press]] |pages=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Serba |first=John |date=May 12, 2009 |title=Turnout meager for 'The Chaos Experiment,' a Hollywood film shot in Grand Rapids |url=https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/2009/05/turnout_meager_for_the_chaos_e.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210920062127/https://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/2009/05/turnout_meager_for_the_chaos_e.html |archive-date=September 20, 2021 |access-date= |website=mlive |language=en}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Streets of Blood]]''
| Detective Andy Devereaux
|-
!scope="row"|''[[American Cowslip]]''
| Todd Inglebrink ||
|-
!scope="row"|''[[The Thaw (2009 film)|The Thaw]]''
| Dr. David Kruipen || Direct-to-video
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans]]''
| Detective Stevie Pruit||<ref name="wrap" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-07-21 |title=Val Kilmer |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-saginaw-news-val-kilmer/171736269/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=The Saginaw News |pages=W1}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Hardwired (film)|Hardwired]]''
| Virgil Kirkhill || rowspan=3|Direct-to-video
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Double Identity (film)|Double Identity]]''
| Dr. Nicholas Pinter / John Charter
|-
| rowspan=4 | 2010
!scope="row"|''[[The Traveler (2010 film)|The Traveler]]''
| The Stranger / Mr. Nobody / Stanley Happerton
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Bloodworth]]''
| Warren Bloodworth ||
|-
!scope="row"|''[[MacGruber (film)|MacGruber]]''
| Dieter Von Cunth ||<ref name="CBC News-2025" />
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Gun (2010 film)|Gun]]''
| Angel || Direct-to-video<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-12-23 |title=Val Kilmer, 50 Cent return for film shoot |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-grand-rapids-press-val-kilmer-50-ce/171734961/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=[[The Grand Rapids Press]] |pages=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=4 | 2011
!scope="row"|''[[Kill the Irishman]]''
| Detective Joe Manditski / Narrator ||
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Blood Out]]''
| Arturo || Direct-to-video
|-
!scope="row"|''[[5 Days of War]]''
| Dutch Journalist ||
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Twixt (film)|Twixt]]''
| Hall Baltimore ||<ref name="CBC News-2025" />
|-
| rowspan=4 | 2012
!scope="row"|''[[Seven Below]]''
| Bill McCormick || rowspan=2|Direct-to-video
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Wyatt Earp's Revenge]]''
| Older [[Wyatt Earp]]
|-
!scope="row"|''[[The Fourth Dimension (film)|The Fourth Dimension]]''
| Val Kilmer || Segment: "Lotus Community Workshop"
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Breathless (2012 film)|Breathless]]''
| Dale || rowspan=2|Direct-to-video
|-
| rowspan=4 | 2013
!scope="row"|''[[Riddle (film)|Riddle]]''
| Sheriff Richards
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Planes (film)|Planes]]''
| Bravo || Voice
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Standing Up]]''
| Hofstadder ||
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Palo Alto (2013 film)|Palo Alto]]''
| Stewart ||
|-
| 2014
!scope="row"|''[[Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn]]''
| [[Mark Twain]] ||
|-
| rowspan=3 | 2017
!scope="row"|''[[Song to Song]]''
| Duane||<ref name="wrap" />
|-
!scope="row"|''[[The Snowman (2017 film)|The Snowman]]''
| Gert Rafto ||
|-
!scope="row"|''[[The Super (2017 film)|The Super]]''
| Walter ||
|-
| rowspan=3 | 2019
!scope="row"|''[[Jay and Silent Bob Reboot]]''
| Val Kilmer / Reboot Bluntman|| Cameo<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burwick |first=Kevin |date=2019-07-26 |title=How Kevin Smith Convinced Val Kilmer to Play Bluntman in Jay & Silent Bob Reboot |url=https://movieweb.com/jay-and-silent-bob-reboot-bluntman-val-kilmer-kevin-smith/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=MovieWeb |language=en}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|''[[1st Born]]''
| Biden ||
|-
!scope="row"|''Cinema Twain''
| Mark Twain || Filmed version of ''Citizen Twain''.<ref name="Cinema Twain" />
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2020
!scope="row"|''[[A Soldier's Revenge]]''
| C.J. Connor ||
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Paydirt (film)|Paydirt]]''
| Sheriff Tucker ||
|-
| rowspan=2 | 2021
!scope="row"|''[[The Birthday Cake]]''
| Uncle Angelo ||
|-
!scope="row"|''[[Val (film)|Val]]''
| Himself || Documentary; also cinematographer, producer, and writer
|-
| 2022
!scope="row"|''[[Top Gun: Maverick]]''
| Admiral Tom "Iceman" Kazansky ||Voice generated with technology<ref name="CBC News-2025" /><!--DO NOT ADD "FINAL FILM ROLE" AS A NOTE. WITH THIS BEING THE LAST NOTED CREDIT IN THE TABLE, IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THIS WAS HIS LAST FILM ROLE.-->
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Title
!scope="col"| Role
!scope="col"| Notes
|-
| 1985
!scope="row"| ''[[ABC Afterschool Special]]''
|
| Episode: "One Too Many"; filmed in 1983
|-
| 1986
!scope="row"| ''[[The Murders in the Rue Morgue (1986 film)|The Murders in the Rue Morgue]]''
| Phillipe Huron
| rowspan="3"| Television film<ref>{{Cite news |last=Chapaty |first=Cathy |date=March 12, 1987 |title='Everyday' guys get their chance at limelight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-marshall-news-messenger-everyday-g/171735564/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=The Marshall News Messenger |pages=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1987-10-15 |title=Movie debut tonight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-marshall-news-messenger-movie-debut/171735617/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=[[The Marshall News Messenger]] |pages=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Sharon |date=1989-05-10 |title='Billy' proves Westerns can be good |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-evening-news-billy-proves-westerns/171735691/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=The Evening News |pages=34 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>
|-
| 1987
!scope="row"| ''[[The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains]]''
| Robert Eliot Burns / Eliot Roberts
|-
| 1989
!scope="row"| ''[[Billy the Kid (1989 film)|Billy the Kid]]''
| [[Billy the Kid|William H. Bonney / Billy the Kid]]
|-
| 2000
!scope="row"| ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "Val Kilmer/U2"
|-
| 2004
!scope="row"| ''[[Entourage (American TV series)|Entourage]]''
| The Sherpa
| Episode: "The Script and the Sherpa"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Melendez |first=Miguel A. |date=2025-04-03 |title=Remembering Val Kilmer's Iconic 'Entourage' Cameo |url=https://www.mensjournal.com/entertainment/val-kilmer-dead-remembering-entourage-cameo |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Men's Journal |language=en}}</ref>
|-
| 2007
!scope="row"| ''[[Numb3rs]]''
| Mason Lancer
| Episode: "[[Trust Metric]]"
|-
| rowspan="2"|2008
!scope="row"| ''[[Comanche Moon (miniseries)|Comanche Moon]]''
| Inish Scull
| [[Miniseries]]; also associate producer<ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-01-10 |title=Casting a shadow over new "moon" |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-ledger-casting-a-shadow-over-ne/171736339/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=The Star-Ledger |pages=1}}</ref><ref>"Waning 'Moon'". ''[[The Star-Ledger]]''. January 10, 2008. p.&nbsp;[https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-ledger-waning-moon/171736351/ 33], [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-star-ledger-continued/171736372/ 43] Retrieved May 5, 2025 &#x2013; via [[Newspapers.com]].</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| ''[[XIII: The Conspiracy]]''
| Mongoose
| Television film
|-
| 2008–2009
!scope="row"| ''[[Knight Rider (2008 TV series)|Knight Rider]]''
| [[KITT]]
| Voice; uncredited<ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-09-21 |title=Bee scores another celeb 'prez' fundraiser |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star-bee-scores-another-ce/171736233/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=Arizona Daily Star |pages=B001 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan="2"|2013
!scope="row"| ''[[Life's Too Short (TV series)|Life's Too Short]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "Special"
|-
!scope="row"| ''[[Ghost Ghirls]]''
| Sweetriver Jackson
| 2 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2"|2014
!scope="row"| ''[[The Spoils of Babylon]]''
| General Cauliffe
| 3 episodes
|-
!scope="row"| ''[[Psych]]''
| Detective Dobson
| Episode: "The Break-Up"
|-
| 2021
!scope="row"| ''The Choe Show''
| Himself
|
|-
| 2022
!scope="row"| ''[[Willow (TV series)|Willow]]''
| Madmartigan
| Archive footage
|}

===Theatre===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Title
!scope="col"| Role
!scope="col"| Venue
!Notes
|-
|1981
!scope="row"| ''[[Henry IV, Part 1]]''
| Hotspur/Ensemble
| [[Delacorte Theater|Delacorte Theatre]], [[Off-Broadway]]
|{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}
|-
|1982
!scope="row"| ''[[As You Like It]]''
|[[Orlando (As You Like It)|Orlando]]
|[[The Guthrie Theatre]]
|
|-
| 1983
! scope="row" | ''[[The Slab Boys Trilogy|The Slab Boys]]''
| Alan Downie
| [[Playhouse Theatre (New York City)|Playhouse Theatre]], Broadway
|
|-
|1988
! scope="row" | ''[[Hamlet]]''
|[[Prince Hamlet|Hamlet]]
|[[Colorado Shakespeare Festival]]
|
|-
| 1992
! scope="row" | ''[['Tis Pity She's a Whore]]''
| Giovanni
| [[The Public Theater|The Public Theatre]], Off-Broadway
|
|-
| 2004
! scope="row" | ''[[The Ten Commandments: The Musical]]''
| Moses
| [[Kodak Theatre]], Los Angeles
|
|-
|2005
! scope="row" | ''[[The Postman Always Rings Twice (novel)|The Postman Always Rings Twice]]''
| Frank
| [[Playhouse Theatre]], London
|
|-
|2012
!scope="row"| ''Citizen Twain''
| [[Mark Twain]]
| The Masonic Lodge, Los Angeles
|One-man theatre performance, which was filmed<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-07-09 |title=Val Kilmer to present Twain film at Palm Beach Improv |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-palm-beach-post-val-kilmer-to-presen/171734920/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=The Palm Beach Post |pages=F1}}</ref>
|}

===Video games===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Title
!scope="col"| Voice role
|-
| 2011
!scope="row"| ''[[Spider-Man: Edge of Time]]''
| Walker Sloan
|}

===Music videos===
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Title
!scope="col"| Role
!scope="col"| Notes
|-
| 2012
!scope="row"| "To Be the Best"
| rowspan="2"| Himself
| [[Tenacious D]]
|-
| 2016
!scope="row"| "Animals"
| [[Oneohtrix Point Never]]
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
!scope="col"| Year
!scope="col"| Association
!scope="col"| Category
!scope="col"| Project
!scope="col"| Result
!class=unsortable| Ref.
|-
| 1991
! scope="row"| [[Chicago Film Critics Association]]
| [[Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]]
| ''[[The Doors (film)|The Doors]]''
| {{Nominated}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0000163/1992/1/?ref_=ev_tl_yr_8|title= Chicago Film Critics Association Awards (1992)|website= Internet Movie Database|accessdate= April 2, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2|2021
!scope="row", rowspan=2|[[Critics' Choice Documentary Awards]]
| Most Compelling Documentary Subject
| rowspan=2|''[[Val (film)|Val]]''
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/critics-choice-documentary-awards-nominations-2021-1235032814/|title= Critics Choice Documentary Awards: ''Summer of Soul'' and ''Ascension'' Lead with 6 Nominations Each |website= The Hollywood Reporter|date= October 18, 2021| accessdate= April 2, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| Best Narration
| {{Won}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/critics-choice-documentary-awards-2021-winners-list-1235047605/|title= 'Summer of Soul' Sweeps Critics Choice Documentary Awards|website= The Hollywood Reporter|date= November 14, 2021|accessdate= April 2, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| 2012
! scope="row"| [[Grammy Award]]
| [[Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album|Best Spoken Word Album]]
| ''[[Zorro|The Mark of Zorro]]''
| {{Nominated}}
| <ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.grammy.com/artists/val-kilmer/4710|title= Val Kilmer|website= [[Grammy Awards|Recording Academy]]|accessdate= April 2, 2025}}</ref>
|-
| 1991
! scope="row", rowspan=5|[[MTV Movie Award]]
| [[MTV Movie Award for Best Actor in a Movie|Best Male Performance]]
| ''[[The Doors (film)|The Doors]]''
| {{Nominated}}
|<ref>{{cite web|url= http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/1991/1991mtv.htm |title= 1991 1st MTV Movie Awards |work= [[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date= November 22, 2023 |archive-date= January 6, 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070106031939/http://theenvelope.latimes.com/extras/lostmind/year/1991/1991mtv.htm |url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| rowspan=2|1993
| [[MTV Movie Award for Most Desirable Male|Most Desirable Male]]
| rowspan=2|''[[Tombstone (film)|Tombstone]]''
| {{Nominated}}
| rowspan=2|
|-
| Best Male Performance
| {{Nominated}}
|-
| 1995
| Most Desirable Male
| ''[[Batman Forever]]'' / ''[[Heat (1995 film)|Heat]]''
| {{Nominated}}
|
|-
| 2011
| [[MTV Movie Award for Best Villain|Best Villain]]
| ''[[MacGruber (film)|MacGruber]]''
| {{Nominated}}
|
|-
| 2005
! scope="row", rowspan=2| [[Satellite Award]]
| [[Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role|Best Actor in a Supporting Role]]
| ''[[Kiss Kiss Bang Bang]]''
| {{Won}}
|<ref>{{cite web | url=https://variety.com/2006/film/awards/movie-critics-everywhere-weigh-in-with-their-picks-for-the-best-in-2005-1117935631/ | title= Movie critics everywhere weigh in with their picks for the best in 2005 | work= Variety | date=January 8, 2006 |access-date= }}</ref>
|-
| 2022
| colspan=2| [[Humanitarian Satellite Award|Humanitarian Award]]
| {{Won}}
|
|-
| 1995
! scope="row", rowspan=2|[[Saturn Award]]
| rowspan=2| [[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]]
| ''[[Heat (1995 film)|Heat]]''
| {{Nominated}}
|
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Kiss Kiss Bang Bang]]''
| {{Nominated}}
|
|}

==Bibliography==
===Memoir===
*{{Cite book |last=Kilmer |first=Val |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PK_MygEACAAJ |title=I'm Your Huckleberry: A Memoir |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=2020|isbn=978-1-9821-4489-0 }}<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 7, 2020 |title=Val Kilmer's scatterbrained journey into his idiosyncratic head space |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-day-val-kilmers-scatterbrained-jour/171734996/ |access-date=2025-05-05 |work=The Day |pages=D1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

===Poetry===
*{{Cite book |last=Kilmer |first=Val |title=My Edens After Burns |publisher=Blue Feather |year=1987|isbn=978-0-9324-8220-4 }}
*{{Cite book |last=Kilmer |first=Val |title=Cowboy Poet Madman Outlaw: Selected Poems 1987-2020 |publisher=A24 |year=2021|isbn=978-1-7339-9206-0 }}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links |c=Val Kilmer |wikt=no |n=no |s=no |b=no |v=no |voy=no |f=no |species=no |m=no |mw=no |d=Q191084}}
*{{Official website}}
*{{IBDB name}}
*{{IMDb name}}
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*{{TCMDb name}}
*{{Discogs artist|Val Kilmer}}

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Val Kilmer
|list =
{{Humanitarian Satellite Award}}
{{Satellite Award Best Supporting Actor Motion Picture}}
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[[Category:1959 births]]
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[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
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[[Category:Deaths from pneumonia in California]]
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