Val Kilmer
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Interesting characters are troubled characters. The only problem I`ve had in my business is very few people - unfortunately, very vocal - confusing the difficult role that I play with me. I play these guys, but I`m not like them. I`ve been accused of being difficult to work with. But that`s like saying the football player`s out of breath `cause when he comes off the field having caught a hundred-yard pass he shouldn`t be out of breath. He`s not out of shape; he just went and did his job.
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Birthdate :December 31, 1959
Location :Los Angeles , California
Country :United States
Sign : Capricorn
Eyes color :
Hair color :
Etnhnicity:
Job :actors
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Val Kilmer Timeline
1981
Co-authored play "How It All Began," performed at the New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, in 1981.1983
Turned down a role in The Outsiders (1983) because he was working with a theater company at the time, and if he had pulled out, the show would have been cancelled and his fellow actors out of a job.1983
Has lived in New Mexico since 1983.1984
After his first film, Top Secret! (1984), he went off and backpacked around Europe.1984
Turned down roles in movies such as: Dune (1984), Blue Velvet (1986), Flatliners (1990), Captain America (1990), Backdraft (1991), Sliver (1993), Point Break (1991), In the Line of Fire (1993), Indecent Proposal (1993), Crimson Tide (1995), Batman & Robin (1997), The Insider (1999), Bandits (2001), a cameo in Austin Powers in Goldmember (2002), Collateral (2004) and Dark Matter (2007/I).1986
Did not want to appear in Top Gun (1986) but was forced to do so because of contractual obligations.1987
Turned down Patrick Swayze's role in Dirty Dancing (1987) because he didn't want to be perceived as a "hunk."1988
Met first wife, British actress Joanne Whalley, when they filmed the 1988 fantasy Willow (1988).They had two children: Mercedes (born 1991) and Jack (born 1995).1988
During the sled riding scene in Willow (1988), he can be seen wearing a black glove on his left hand.1988
Does a variation on his trademark of twirling objects in Willow (1988): he twirls a sword during the fight in the snow camp.1988
While being let out of the metal cage during the filming of the crossroads scene in Willow (1988), the rope holding the cage up broke and the cage landed on Kilmer's foot, nearly breaking it. Later on in the film, Kilmer (who played swordsman Madmartigan) can be spotted having difficulty walking.1988
Warwick Davis, Kilmer's co-star in Willow (1988), says in his audio commentary that the question he is most frequently asked is: "What was is it like to work with Val Kilmer?" Davis says he has very fond memories of working with Kilmer, stating that Kilmer had a great sense of humor and was very dedicated to the job.1990
Was considered for the role of Captain America/Steve Rogers in the failed 1990 film adaptation of the character. Captain America later fought Batman, whom Kilmer played, in the 1996 DC vs. Marvel storyline.1991
Did his own singing while playing Jim Morrison in The Doors (1991). The real members of the band said they had difficulty distinguishing Kilmer's voice from that of Morrison's.1991
Broke his arm while filming The Doors (1991) when he performed a jump from the stage into the crowd and the stuntman failed to catch him. The injury has left Kilmer with an abnormal growth on his left elbow that can clearly be seen many times in Heat (1995).1991
Father, with Joanne Whalley, of daughter Mercedes Kilmer (born October 29, 1991) and son Jack Kilmer (born June 6, 1995).1991
Told Interview magazine during a 1991 conversation to promote The Doors (1991) that as a child, his family had employed a veteran of the Vietnam War, ongoing at the time, as a full-time babysitter. When the man found work elsewhere, the Kilmer family lost touch with him. Through Interview magazine they made an appeal for the Vietnam vet to reconnect with them.1993
Appeared in Tombstone (1993) opposite Charlton Heston. Five years later, he succeeded Heston in the roles of both Moses and God in The Prince of Egypt (1998).1993
Filmed his part as Elvis Presley in True Romance (1993) in 1 day.1993
His father, Eugene, died in 1993.1993
He and Elvis Presley, whom Kilmer portrayed in True Romance (1993), both have Cherokee ancestry.1993
Shares two roles with Peter Dobson. In True Romance (1993), Kilmer plays Elvis Presley, a role Dobson played in Forrest Gump (1994). Kilmer also plays Chris Shiherlis in Heat (1995), which was a remake of L.A. Takedown (1989) (TV), in which Dobson played the role.1993
He was 4' 11" when he entered high school. He acknowledged this on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" (1993).1995
Got the role of Chris Shiherlis in Heat (1995) after Keanu Reeves, who was originally cast as Chris, backed out.1995
Contrary to popular belief, he enjoyed playing "Batman" despite his poor working relationship with Joel Schumacher during the production of Batman Forever (1995).1995
In 1995, Kilmer learned he was getting a divorce while watching CNN in a hotel room. "It was no fun," he has said.1995
He was in the Kalahari Desert in Africa researching a story he was writing about witch doctors when he was offered the Batman Forever (1995) Batman role.1995
Was originally cast as Johnny Mnemonic in Johnny Mnemonic (1995) but left the project when he was offered the role of Batman in Batman Forever (1995). He was replaced by Keanu Reeves, whom Kilmer later replaced as Chris Shiherlis in Heat (1995).1995
He and his old friend Kevin Spacey have both played iconic characters from DC Comics. Kilmer played Batman in Batman Forever (1995), and Spacey played Lex Luthor in Superman Returns (2006).1996
Val Kilmer and Marlon Brando infuriated director John Frankenheimer on the set of The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996). Frankenheimer later vowed to never work with Kilmer again.1996
Was originally set to play the lead role in The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) but asked to switch roles because of his divorce.1997
Ranked #62 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]1998
Visited Iraq briefly in April 1998 with AmeriCares, delivering supplies such as food, medicine and baby food.1998
Kilmer was eventually succeeded in the role of "Batman" by Christian Bale after George Clooney vacated the role. In The Prince of Egypt (1998), Kilmer provides the voice of "God", while Bale played "Jesus" in Mary, Mother of Jesus (1999) (TV).1998
Volunteered to work with AmeriCares in 1998.1998
While promoting The Prince of Egypt (1998), he visited 6 countries in 5 days, stopping in Amsterdam, Rome, Madrid, Berlin, Paris and Zurich.1999
Stated in 1999 that At First Sight (1999) was his most challenging role to date.2002
Was at the time the youngest student ever accepted into Juilliard's drama department. His record has been supplanted by Juilliard student Seth Numrich, who was admitted at 15 in 2002.2002
Grew up in the San Fernando Valley the middle son of three boys (Mark the eldest; Wesley the youngest). During his high school years, Wesley drowned in the family's swimming pool, an incident Val claims inspired his subsequent performance in The Salton Sea (2002).2002
His work with the New Mexico Film Investment Program fueled a nearly 40-fold growth in the state's annual production revenue, from $3 million in 2002 to $117 million in 2006.2003
While the movie The Missing (2003/I) was being shot about one hour from his New Mexico ranch, he called up his old friend Ron Howard [writer/director] and asked for a part. Ron gladly accepted and gave him a part which only took 3 days to film. Kilmer's scene is close to 13 minutes long, not counting the DVD's deleted scene.2004
Oliver Stone once considered him for the role of Alexander the Great in his long-delayed Alexander (2004) project. Kilmer plays the father of Alexander, King Philip, opposite Colin Farrell in the Alexander role instead.2007
To date (2007), he has appeared in one Tony Scott film per decade, for three decades. First was Top Gun (1986) in 1986, then True Romance (1993) in 1993, and then Deja Vu (2006) in 2006.2009
During the filming of Streets of Blood (2009) (V), 50 Cent became good friends with Val Kilmer. The two actors bonded over their love of vintage cars and 50 Cent stunned Kilmer by giving him the keys of a 1965 Chevy Impala which the singer-turned-actor purchased for $100,000.
