As I delve into the tumultuous yet resilient journey of Val Kilmer, I find myself in awe of the sheer magnitude of challenges he has faced and overcome. From his personal struggles with loneliness to the physical toll his health battles have taken on him, it’s hard not to be moved by the strength and grace with which he carries himself.
In the course of their professional lives, numerous actors choose to step back from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, sometimes for troubling motives. For instance, Christina Applegate, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, or Roseanne Barr, who faced criticism in 2018 due to a racially insensitive tweet, often retreat because they wish to avoid public scandals.
However, it’s Val Kilmer who found fame in 1986, playing Tom “Iceman” Kazansky opposite Tom Cruise in the hit movie “Top Gun.” Despite battling throat cancer and facing allegations of being challenging to work with on set, he has continued to be a frequent presence in films, appearing nearly every year since his debut in 1984’s “Top Secret!” as Nick Rivers.
Despite consistently landing significant roles amidst unfavorable media attention, such as portraying Jim Morrison in “The Doors” (1991) and Batman in “Batman Forever” (1995), Val Kilmer’s life has never been a smooth sail. Even before he achieved fame, the actor faced numerous challenges, including loss, strained relationships, and hardships that marked him profoundly as he grew up and stepped into the spotlight. Delve deeper to uncover the heart-wrenching true story of Kilmer’s life.
He had strained relationships with family members
At age nine, Val Kilmer experienced a significant change in his household when his parents, Eugene and Gladys Kilmer, separated. Unlike most of his friends, he faced this challenge, which made him feel like an outsider among them. In his own words to The Telegraph, “I realized then that it was the biggest event I had encountered. It was considered unusual, a peculiar happening — something unfortunate had taken place.
Val lived with his brothers, Mark and Wesley, under the guardianship of their father, Eugene, following their parents’ divorce. However, Val never developed a strong relationship with his father, as he shared in an interview, “My father and I had a strained relationship for quite some time.
Apart from having a tense relationship with Mark following their disagreement over Eugene’s inheritance after his death in 1995, it was noted that Val lacked positive examples of relationships to emulate. For many years, the siblings remained distant due to their differences. However, upon Val’s throat cancer diagnosis in 2015, they started to reconcile, according to a source who spoke to Radar. The source also mentioned that Mark, being a respected psychologist, has historically disagreed with Val’s Christian Science beliefs, but this difference seems to have lessened now, allowing them to draw closer again.
His younger brother died
It appears that Val Kilmer might have experienced strained connections with his father and elder brother, however, this wasn’t the same for his younger brother. As such, when Wesley Kilmer met a tragic end in an accident in 1977, it deeply impacted him. According to records from the Los Angeles Coroner’s Office, Wesley, who suffered from epilepsy, had a seizure and drowned in a hot tub close to the swimming pool while the Kilmers’ housekeeper was briefly away to buy some items at the store.
Val shared with The Telegraph about her remarkable younger brother Wesley, a gifted artist and potential prodigy in filmmaking. At his funeral, everyone – adults and children alike – who knew him were united as friends of this extraordinary talent. Val herself was left in admiration of him. She expressed that if given the opportunity, Wesley could have been the next George Lucas or Steven Spielberg, even earning praise from the director of “Top Gun: Maverick.
Although deeply affected by this tragic loss, Val swiftly shifted focus towards attaining his personal aspirations. Immediately following Wesley’s funeral, the aspiring actor made his way straight to Juilliard, where he was admitted into their drama school, marking the start of his cinematic journey. However, Wesley remained a constant presence in Val’s thoughts, as he adopted his late brother’s name for checking into hotels once he started gaining public recognition.
He was forced to audition for Top Gun
In his memoir published in 2020, titled “I’m Your Huckleberry”, Val Kilmer shared that the role of Iceman in “Top Gun” and the movie itself initially held no appeal for him. He expressed, through NBC News, that he didn’t desire the part and found the story unengaging.
Regardless of his feelings, his agent pressured him into doing the audition, which Kilmer tried to purposely botch. “I read the lines indifferently and yet, amazingly, I was told I had the part,” he said. “I felt more deflated than inflated.”
Initially, he had no interest in “Top Gun”, earning over $8.2 million domestically during its debut weekend. However, things changed drastically after three decades, as Kilmer was disheartened when he wasn’t invited to reprise his role for the sequel, 2022’s “Top Gun: Maverick”. Instead of trying to avoid being cast, he took extraordinary steps to return as Iceman and work alongside Tom Cruise again. This required Kilmer to devise a complete storyline for “Top Gun: Maverick”. As he put it, “I didn’t just reach out to the producers, I also wrote emotional scenes featuring Iceman. The producers agreed, and so did Cruise. Cruise was nothing but gracious.
He’s been labeled in Hollywood as difficult to work with
In 1995, “Batman Forever” was a blockbuster success, earning over $52.7 million in its opening weekend at the domestic box office. However, leading man Val Kilmer did not reprise his role in the sequel, “Batman & Robin,” released in 1997. Instead, George Clooney took on the superhero. The reason for Kilmer’s absence was a significant disagreement with director Joel Schumacher. Schumacher reportedly found Kilmer difficult to work with, describing him as “childish and impossible” and “the most psychologically disturbed human being I have ever worked with.” (This assessment comes from an interview with The Telegraph.) Whether or not Kilmer is a better Batman than Robert Pattinson is a matter of personal opinion.
Many people, including Schumacher, have had a less-than-favorable opinion of Kilmer due to his meticulous nature in his work. Right from the start of his career, Kilmer has earned a rather poor reputation in Hollywood, as multiple directors have spoken out over the years about their negative experiences with him. John Frankenheimer, who directed “The Island of Dr. Moreau” in 1996, expressed his dislike for Kilmer to Entertainment Weekly, stating that he dislikes Kilmer’s work ethic and doesn’t want any future association with him.
It is reported that Kilmer exhibited some unusual behaviors on film sets. For instance, during the production of “The Saint” in 1997, he allegedly burned a cameraman with a cigarette and asked all crew members to avoid eye contact with him. Similarly, while working on “The Real McCoy” in 1993, he discharged a prop gun due to a disagreement with director Russell Mulcahy over a particular scene. Regarding his actions, Kilmer stated through The Telegraph, “If I seem demanding, which I don’t believe I am, it’s for the benefit of the film.
He was blindsided by his divorce
In 1988, during the filming of “Willow”, Val Kilmer and Joanne Whalley quickly developed a strong relationship while working together. They got married shortly after their first encounter. However, their rapid romance didn’t endure forever. Eight years later, while shooting “The Island of Dr. Moreau” in the Virgin Islands, Kilmer received devastating news on TV: Whalley had filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.
Kilmer shared with The Telegraph that he found it peculiar, this contemporary concept of divorce. He discovered about his own divorce on television, an experience he found strange. Despite this unusual start, Kilmer has made efforts to ensure that his children with Whalley – Mercedes born in 1991 and Jack born in 1995 – who were only a few weeks old when the divorce papers were filed, are not as affected as he was during his youth. He believes that divorce is more accepted nowadays. It’s no longer considered something negative, but rather a situation where parents ‘feel love differently’ and learn to express themselves in ways counselors advise them to when they’re unsure of what to tell their kids.
Kilmer shares a strong connection with Mercedes and Jack, who are continuing his legacy in Hollywood. In 2020, he and his daughter starred together in the film “Paydirt,” while Jack took on the role of associate producer and narrator for the 2021 documentary titled “Val.
He was criticized in the media for his weight fluctuation
Although body positivity is widely acknowledged today, it was scarcely recognized back in the early 2000s when tabloids frequently wrote entire articles about celebrities either gaining or losing weight. For instance, Val Kilmer was a frequent target of such articles, with the Daily Mail publishing an article titled “Val Kilmer goes from Batman to fatman” in 2007, following his beach appearance without a visible six-pack.
In 2012, media criticized the actor for being too thin. Reportedly, Kilmer himself became dissatisfied with his health, leading him to make changes such as adopting a clean diet and increasing his physical activity to regain balance. Tired of the body-shaming comments, Kilmer announced on Facebook that he was also striving for a leaner physique to accurately portray Mark Twain in a movie he was working on as both writer and director.
“This town is tough to succeed in, but after years of carrying heavy burdens, I’ve managed to lose weight. Now, the chatter has it that I’m too thin, yet I’m enjoying great health. My kids and I are celebrating the holidays together, creating art as I revise my work, meeting actors, preparing to direct my movie, and of course, shopping.
He experienced financial difficulties
For quite some time now, Val Kilmer has faced several tough financial situations. One significant issue surfaced in 2011 when his former wife, Joanne Whalley, placed a claim on Kilmer’s 5,328-acre ranch situated along the Pecos River in New Mexico due to unpaid child support amounting to $27,500. Previously, in 2007, Whalley had also filed a claim on their former shared residence, but this matter was resolved in the subsequent year.
In 2013, Executive Consulting filed a $500,000 claim against Kilmer, alleging that they were hired in 2011 to help with his financial problems but were not paid the agreed-upon fee of $128,000. Additionally, Kilmer faced tax troubles, as the IRS filed a $500,000 lien against him in 2010 due to unpaid federal taxes.
Despite numerous attempts, Kilmer struggled over several years to find a buyer for his New Mexico ranch, initially priced at $33 million back in 2009. By 2011, with no progress made, he had to lower the asking price to $18.5 million due to lack of interest.
He had throat cancer
2015 marked a significant turning point in Val Kilmer’s life as he was diagnosed with throat cancer. At first, influenced by his Christian Scientist faith, he didn’t consider traditional medical treatments, favoring healing through prayer and collaboration with a spiritual practitioner. However, his children’s worries prompted him to reconsider, leading him to agree to surgeries, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Currently, Kilmer has been in remission from cancer since 2016. However, he continues to deal with certain residual effects such as a tracheotomy, a voice box used for speech, and a feeding tube. Despite the ongoing care from his medical professionals, Kilmer attributes his recovery primarily to his own prayers. Speaking to The New York Times, he stated that the tracheotomy was not due to cancer but rather the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy, which he believes were responsible for his hardships.
Despite these recent obstacles not being entirely favorable, they haven’t been entirely negative either. On X, previously known as Twitter, Kilmer expressed, “When something is lost, something else is gained. Though my voice was restrained, my creative energy bubbled and overflowed. I began creating anew, painting, writing whatever I could get my hands on. It was the art that aided in my healing.
He was accused of physical assault
In 2017, as more and more women spoke out about sexual abuse allegations against Harvey Weinstein, actress Caitlin O’Heaney mustered the courage to disclose an alleged instance of physical assault by Val Kilmer. This incident is said to have taken place in 1989 while they were filming “The Doors.
During a tryout for the character of Pamela Courson, Jim Morrison’s girlfriend (later portrayed by Meg Ryan), O’Heaney was requested to perform an intense scene involving Pamela and Jim. According to her account given to BuzzFeed, while enacting the scene, she alleged that the actor struck her in the face. “Upon entering the room and Val Kilmer lifting me up and shaking me violently before tossing me onto the floor, director Oliver Stone just stood there chuckling,” said O’Heaney, who further mentioned, “I went to my car and wept for approximately 20 minutes.
As a gamer, I’d like to share an incident from behind the scenes of one of my favorite movies. Contrary to some rumors, Val Kilmer, in my experience during the audition for “Top Gun”, never struck Anthony Edwards in anger. While it’s true that he did, on occasion, physically restrain me against a wall, this was all part of the intense acting scene we were portraying. The director, Risa Bramon Garcia, made it clear to us beforehand about what was expected, and I believe Anthony was fully aware of the context.
His voice is permanently damaged
Because of a tracheostomy, Val Kilmer’s voice was irreversibly changed, significantly impacting his daily routine and professional life. In the 2021 documentary movie “Val”, he explains, “I can’t talk without covering this windpipe opening [in my throat]. You have to decide whether to breathe or eat.” He further adds, “This challenge is always there for anyone who sees me.
Nevertheless, Kilmer continues to innovate his communication methods, significantly due to Sonantic. After the AI-powered platform processed countless hours of Kilmer’s past speeches, this innovative British company employed advanced artificial intelligence to replicate his unique voice. This technology allows him to use his voice in both personal and professional situations. In a statement through Variety, the actor expressed his gratitude, saying, “The ability for human beings to communicate effectively is fundamental to our existence. The complications from throat cancer have made it challenging for others to comprehend me. To have the opportunity to share my story with a voice that feels genuine and familiar is an incredibly precious gift.
As a dedicated fan, I must say that, despite his challenges in communication, Kilmer continues to make significant contributions to the film industry, supported by Sonantic. An exceptional milestone for him occurred in 2022 when he once again breathed life into the character of Iceman in “Top Gun: Maverick,” a role that moved Tom Cruise to tears. Interestingly, Kilmer’s personal journey with his diagnosis and its impact were incorporated into the script itself, where Iceman succumbed to cancer on screen.
He struggles with loneliness
As a devoted fan, I can’t help but reflect on Val Kilmer’s illustrious past romances, ranging from Cindy Crawford and Angelina Jolie to Cher and Ellen Barkin. Yet, despite his once bustling love life, he confessed in his memoir “I’m Your Huckleberry” that it’s been two decades since he’s been in a relationship. In his own words (via People), “Each day, I carry a piece of loneliness within me.
Among all his breakups, the one with Daryl Hannah in 2001 stood out as the most painful for him. He confessed to crying almost every day for more than a year following their separation. As he put it, “I’ve experienced heartache, but none compared to Daryl.” He further expressed, “My love for her remains profound and unchanged. I still adore Daryl deeply.” (paraphrased from NBC News)
Regrettably, since 2018, Hannah has been married to Neil Young, the singer-songwriter. Despite this, Kilmer has managed to keep a close bond with Cher, his former partner from the early ’80s who stood by him during his throat cancer battle. In his memoir, he expressed that once Cher gains entry into your thoughts and feelings, she never departs. For those fortunate enough to be her friends, her unwavering love and loyalty endure forever.
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2024-11-17 00:31