In Memory of… Val Kilmer (1959 - 2025)
A real action hero who knew how to deliver a line.
Val Kilmer is what Hollywood refers to as an action movie star. From a young age, he had star quality. The minute the camera turned on, so did his charisma. He was handsome and adept at using every inch of those cheekbones and his wit in every role he played. My man couldn’t do an Irish accent to save his life, but he was dedicated to every character he played. He was one of the few actors who donned the black cape as Batman, and while he may not have been the best Batman, he was by far the best-looking one—especially when he wore those slutty glasses. I digress.
I remember feeling really heartbroken when I found out he had throat cancer a few years back. For someone like Kilmer, whose voice was such a big part of his charm, it felt like it really curtailed his career. I had the chance to see him at Wizard World a while ago, and he looked so different—much more fragile than the movie star I had admired growing up. It was devastating to see. When Top Gun: Maverick came out in 2022, I was thrilled to see Kilmer get another shot at the spotlight. I really hoped this would mark the start of his comeback! Hearing about his passing was an incredible shock, especially knowing how young age he was. Over the past few days, I’ve been revisiting some of Kilmer’s films and enjoying some of his past performances. I’ve put together my top five favorites below!
Top Gun (1986) dir. Tony Scott
When people think of Val Kilmer, most likely they'll remember his role as Ice Man from Top Gun. It was a role that you can tell he enjoyed. I personally think it was this movie that made him a household name in Hollywood. Kilmer had great chemistry with Tom Cruise, which is a big part of what makes this film so enjoyable. Whether you’re there for the handsome guys in uniform or the thrilling action scenes, it’s a movie that everyone can get into.
Available on: Paramount Plus, PlutoTV, and Prime Video
Tombstone (1993) dir. George P. Cosmatos
As someone who loves westerns, I’ve come across so many storylines featuring Doc Holliday, and I have to say, nobody brought that character to life quite like Val Kilmer did! It’s definitely one of his top three performances, if not his absolute best. With such amazing talents like Kurt Russell, Bill Paxton, and Sam Elliott in the mix, it really blows my mind that this film didn’t receive any Academy nominations. A travesty really.
Available on: Hulu, FuboTV, and Prime Video
Real Genius (1985) dir. Martha Coolidge
Val Kilmer was just 25 years old when he starred in this film, but he brought a remarkable presence that belied his age! He plays a teenage genius who’s been working on an advanced laser project. Unfortunately, his professor steals the idea and attempts to sell it to the military, who want to turn it into a weapon. Rather than getting angry, Kilmer's character finds a clever way to stop their plans. He’s a bit cocky at times, which can be annoying, but it really adds to his character development. Can you believe this was only his third movie? What an impressive start to an incredible career!
Available to rent: Apple TV & Amazon Prime
The Saint (1997) dir. Phillip Noyce
Unpopular opinion: I really love this movie. Some people drag The Saint for being a bad movie but this is actually one of my favorite Kilmer films. He plays a skilled thief who’s tasked with stealing a secret cold fusion process, but falls in love with the scientist who is keeping it a secret. Honestly, the plot isn’t even doesn't even matter—it's just so much fun watching Kilmer switch between so many different disguises and personas for 116 minutes! The movie has a delightful vibe that totally reminds me of the 80s, even though it was released in the late 90s. It’s just silly and entertaining, and I can’t help but adore it!
Available on: Paramount Plus & Hoopla
Heat (1995) dir. Michael Mann
As heist movies go, Heat is one of my favorite. Kilmer starred alongside Robert De Niro, Tom Sizemore, and Danny Trejo as part of a crew of thieves who pull off bank and armored truck heists, while the police is hot on their tail. This is an intense thriller, where it is hard to know who to root for. Kilmer's character is unpredictable and really embraces the “get rich or die trying” mindset, which makes him the most dangerous member of the crew. And let’s be honest—the only thing more tragic than his arc was the bad wig he put on him!
Available on: Netflix
Top Secret! (1984) dir Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker
It is honestly hard to believe that this was Kilmer’s first movie because he is so damn good! He plays an American singer named Nick Rivers who heads to East Germany for a performance but unexpectedly gets involved with an underground resistance movement. Since this movie is from the warped minds of the team behind classics like Airplane! and Naked Gun, you know it’s going to be hilarious! Kilmer can sing, dance, and act, plus his comedic timing is on point—it's no wonder he became such a successful actor!
Available on: PlutoTV
I’d love to hear from y’all if you’ve seen any of his movies and which ones are your favorite. Comment below!