Kilmer’s death announced the end of a long career with an immense impact on Hollywood. Kilmer, born in 1959 in Los Angeles, was the youngest student ever to attend Juilliard’s drama school. His first film was the 1984 comedy “Top Secret!,” and he became popular almost immediately with films such as “Top Gun,” “The Doors,” “Tombstone,” and “Batman Forever.”
Kilmer did perform the singing himself, and his work as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s “The Doors” (1991) was appreciated. Kilmer’s exuberant portrayal of Doc Holliday in “Tombstone” (1993) demonstrated a definite range and depth.
In spite of his success, Kilmer continued to be a problematic character within the Hollywood film industry. On-set behavior secured him a bad reputation, generating tension with directors, such as Joel Schumacher, working on “Batman Forever.”
Schumacher has described him as “childish and impossible to deal with,” which resulted in Kilmer being unable to reprise the role for the sequel. In 2015 also found that Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer, which resulted in two tracheotomies that changed his vocal sound beyond recognition. In both his 2020 memoir “I’m Your Huckleberry” and the 2021 documentary “Val,” he chronicled his health issues, as well as giving an unvarnished view of his life and career.
Cher, who previously dated Kilmer, said he was a “brilliant,” “funny,” and “fearless” friend during the 1980s; she said year after year, the two have remained friends and were there for each other’s best and worst days.
Kurt Russell, Kilmer’s co-star in “Tombstone,” recounted their friendship, thus attitudes once shot upon wrapping the film together, they in some way built the spirit of whatever friendship they had. Russell pointed out how they gave each other gifts that would probably seem odd to most people. Russell, after Kilmer gave him a place to rest in Boothill Graveyard, Kilmer gave him a property above that graveyard.
Kilmer left behind his two children, Mercedes and Jack, and his wife and actress Joanne Whalley. Kilmer’s legacy of craftsmanship will continue to inspire fans and contemporaries.
