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 Val Kilmer was born in Los Angeles, California, to Gladys Swanette (Ekstadt) and Eugene Dorris Kilmer, who was a real estate developer and aerospace equipment distributor. His mother, born in Indiana, was from a Swedish family, and his father was from Texas. Val studied at Hollywood's Professional's School and, in his teens, entered Juilliard's drama program. His professional acting career began on stage, and he still participates in theater; he played Hamlet at the 1988 Colorado Shakespeare Festival. His film debut was in the 1984 spoof Top Secret! (1984), wherein he starred as blond rock idol Nick Rivers. He was in a number of films throughout the 1980s, including the 1986 smash Top Gun (1986). Despite his obvious talent and range, it wasn't until his astonishingly believable performance as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's The Doors (1991) that the world sat up and took notice. Kilmer again put his good baritone to use in the movie, performing all of the concert pieces. Since then, he has played two more American legends, Elvis Presley in True Romance (1993) and Doc Holliday in Tombstone (1993). In July 1994, it was announced that Kilmer would be taking over the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne from Michael Keaton.
Bio:
Val Kilmer was born in Los Angeles, California, to Gladys Swanette (Ekstadt) and Eugene Dorris Kilmer, who was a real estate developer and aerospace equipment distributor. His mother, born in Indiana, was from a Swedish family, and his father was from Texas. Val studied at Hollywood's Professional's School and, in his teens, entered Juilliard's drama program. His professional acting career began on stage, and he still participates in theater; he played Hamlet at the 1988 Colorado Shakespeare Festival. His film debut was in the 1984 spoof Top Secret! (1984), wherein he starred as blond rock idol Nick Rivers. He was in a number of films throughout the 1980s, including the 1986 smash Top Gun (1986). Despite his obvious talent and range, it wasn't until his astonishingly believable performance as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's The Doors (1991) that the world sat up and took notice. Kilmer again put his good baritone to use in the movie, performing all of the concert pieces. Since then, he has played two more American legends, Elvis Presley in True Romance (1993) and Doc Holliday in Tombstone (1993). In July 1994, it was announced that Kilmer would be taking over the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne from Michael Keaton.
Tivia:
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.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).Did not want to appear in Top Gun (1986) but was forced to do so because of contractual obligations.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.During the filming of Streets of Blood (2009), 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.Is referenced frequently in Psych (2006). He made a surprise cameo in the series finale as the oft-referenced but never seen Detective Dobson.After his first film, Top Secret! (1984), he went off and backpacked around Europe.Turned down the role of Ponyboy 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.Due to surgery for throat cancer, he can no longer eat and must be fed intravenously.In 1995, Kilmer learned he was getting a divorce while watching CNN in a hotel room. "It was no fun," he has said.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.Got the role of Chris Shiherlis in Heat (1995) after Keanu Reeves, who was originally cast as Chris, backed out.Accepted into Juilliard's drama department at the age of 21 in 1981, making him their youngest ever student at the time. His record has since been supplanted by Seth Numrich, who was admitted at 15 in 2002.Turned down Patrick Swayze's role in Dirty Dancing (1987) because he didn't want to be perceived as a "hunk".Volunteered to work with AmeriCares in 1998, with which he visited Iraq in April 1998 to deliver food, medicine, and baby food.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).Met first wife, British actress Joanne Whalley, when they filmed the 1988 fantasy, Willow (1988). They had two children: daughter Mercedes Kilmer (born in 1991) and son Jack Kilmer (born in 1995).Wrote poetry for actress Michelle Pfeiffer.Loves buffalo (and owns several on his ranch in New Mexico).Made a personal appearance for the 2007 Orchard Beach Classic Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show in New York. This was a one-day, non-profit fundraising event to raise money for the families of police officers who were killed in the September 11th terrorist attack. (September 2007)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.Was originally set to play the lead role in The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) but asked to switch roles because of his divorce.While promoting Comanche Moon (2008) and awaiting production of his latest film to start, joined Rosario Dawson, Jessica Alba, Katie Holmes, Gina Gershon, and Kerry Washington in supporting V-Day and the global effort to end violence against women and girls. Ticket-sale proceeds from this event went to fund several non-profit non-violent humanitarian missions around the world. (January 2008)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.In the past, he used to send taped auditions to filmmakers, figuring they would be much better (and less pressure) than live auditions.Has lived in New Mexico since 1983.While the movie The Missing (2003) 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 that only took three days to film. Kilmer's scene is close to 13 minutes long, not counting the DVD's deleted scene.He has expressed a desire to play a villain in a Batman film to Ben Affleck's Bruce Wayne/Batman.He turned down Denzel Washington's role in Crimson Tide (1995). Years later, he noted it was one of the few films that he wished he had agreed to be in.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.He declined to return for Batman & Robin (1997) due to his commitment with The Saint (1997) and lack of interest.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.Oliver Stone once considered him for the role of Alexander the Great in his long-delayed Alexander (2004) project. By the time the film was actually made, Kilmer played King Philip opposite Colin Farrell as his son Alexander.His paternal grandfather was a gold miner in New Mexico.Is a long-time board member of the New Mexico State Film Commission, which tries to persuade Los Angeles-based filmmakers and studios to film on location in New Mexico.He turned down Kyle MacLachlan's roles of Dune (1984) and Blue Velvet (1986). In the latter case, he dismissed the script as "pure pornography". It turned out to be a different version to the final film. He regretted turning it down.Charles Durning told William Bolander, during a conversation on the set of Forget About It (2006), that Val Kilmer was one of the most talented actors he had ever worked with. They worked together on The Man Who Broke 1, 000 Chains (1987) .He starred in "Slab Boys" with Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon on stage.He's a big fan of Michael Fassbender. The two became friends after working together on Song to Song (2017) and The Snowman (2017) and he invited Fassbender to the set of Life's Too Short (2011) when he made an appearance on the show.Made a personal appearance at the Big Apple Comic Book & Sci-Fi Expo in New York City. This was a two-day fundraising event for several non-profit organizations as Kilmer donated all proceeds. (November 2007)Attended Chatsworth High School with Kevin Spacey and Mare Winningham.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.His first auditions were for commercials at 13 years old.While on break from the set of Streets of Blood (2009) with 50 Cent, he joined Cuba Gooding Jr. in supporting the First Star Celebration for Children's Rights. (June 2008)Ranked #62 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. (October 1997)Val Kilmer auditioned for the lead role in Full Metal Jacket (1987) that eventually went to Matthew Modine.He turned down the role of Jack Swigert in Apollo 13 (1995) order to film The Ghost and the Darkness (1996).He auditioned for the role of Sergeant Elias Grodin in Platoon (1986). According to Oliver Stone, he gave a bizarre audition, where he portrayed the character as an Indian shaman.He is 1/8th Cherokee: his father's grandmother was Cherokee. In Thunderheart (1992) he portrays a character who is 1/4th Sioux.He worked with Sonantic, a software company based in London, to digitally recreate his voice with archive material and AI technology. The voice models are intended to be used in possible future projects. |
| Name: |
Val Kilmer |
Type: |
Actor,Producer,Director (IMDB) |
| Area: |
All World |
Platform: |
IMDB |
| Category: |
|
Business scope: |
Actor,Producer,Director |
| Products for sale: |
Actor,Producer,Director |
| Model rank: |
57 |
| Last update: |
2024-07-01 02:49:24 |
| Height: |
5' 11?' (1.82 m) |
| Biography: |
Val Kilmer was born in Los Angeles, California, to Gladys Swanette (Ekstadt) and Eugene Dorris Kilmer, who was a real estate developer and aerospace equipment distributor. His mother, born in Indiana, was from a Swedish family, and his father was fro |
| Trivia: |
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.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).Did not want to appear in Top Gun (1986) but was forced to do so because of contractual obligations.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.During the filming of Streets of Blood (2009), 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.Is referenced frequently in Psych (2006). He made a surprise cameo in the series finale as the oft-referenced but never seen Detective Dobson.After his first film, Top Secret! (1984), he went off and backpacked around Europe.Turned down the role of Ponyboy 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.Due to surgery for throat cancer, he can no longer eat and must be fed intravenously.In 1995, Kilmer learned he was getting a divorce while watching CNN in a hotel room. "It was no fun," he has said.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.Got the role of Chris Shiherlis in Heat (1995) after Keanu Reeves, who was originally cast as Chris, backed out.Accepted into Juilliard's drama department at the age of 21 in 1981, making him their youngest ever student at the time. His record has since been supplanted by Seth Numrich, who was admitted at 15 in 2002.Turned down Patrick Swayze's role in Dirty Dancing (1987) because he didn't want to be perceived as a "hunk".Volunteered to work with AmeriCares in 1998, with which he visited Iraq in April 1998 to deliver food, medicine, and baby food.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).Met first wife, British actress Joanne Whalley, when they filmed the 1988 fantasy, Willow (1988). They had two children: daughter Mercedes Kilmer (born in 1991) and son Jack Kilmer (born in 1995).Wrote poetry for actress Michelle Pfeiffer.Loves buffalo (and owns several on his ranch in New Mexico).Made a personal appearance for the 2007 Orchard Beach Classic Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show in New York. This was a one-day, non-profit fundraising event to raise money for the families of police officers who were killed in the September 11th terrorist attack. (September 2007)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.Was originally set to play the lead role in The Island of Dr. Moreau (1996) but asked to switch roles because of his divorce.While promoting Comanche Moon (2008) and awaiting production of his latest film to start, joined Rosario Dawson, Jessica Alba, Katie Holmes, Gina Gershon, and Kerry Washington in supporting V-Day and the global effort to end violence against women and girls. Ticket-sale proceeds from this event went to fund several non-profit non-violent humanitarian missions around the world. (January 2008)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.In the past, he used to send taped auditions to filmmakers, figuring they would be much better (and less pressure) than live auditions.Has lived in New Mexico since 1983.While the movie The Missing (2003) 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 that only took three days to film. Kilmer's scene is close to 13 minutes long, not counting the DVD's deleted scene.He has expressed a desire to play a villain in a Batman film to Ben Affleck's Bruce Wayne/Batman.He turned down Denzel Washington's role in Crimson Tide (1995). Years later, he noted it was one of the few films that he wished he had agreed to be in.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.He declined to return for Batman & Robin (1997) due to his commitment with The Saint (1997) and lack of interest.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.Oliver Stone once considered him for the role of Alexander the Great in his long-delayed Alexander (2004) project. By the time the film was actually made, Kilmer played King Philip opposite Colin Farrell as his son Alexander.His paternal grandfather was a gold miner in New Mexico.Is a long-time board member of the New Mexico State Film Commission, which tries to persuade Los Angeles-based filmmakers and studios to film on location in New Mexico.He turned down Kyle MacLachlan's roles of Dune (1984) and Blue Velvet (1986). In the latter case, he dismissed the script as "pure pornography". It turned out to be a different version to the final film. He regretted turning it down.Charles Durning told William Bolander, during a conversation on the set of Forget About It (2006), that Val Kilmer was one of the most talented actors he had ever worked with. They worked together on The Man Who Broke 1, 000 Chains (1987) .He starred in "Slab Boys" with Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon on stage.He's a big fan of Michael Fassbender. The two became friends after working together on Song to Song (2017) and The Snowman (2017) and he invited Fassbender to the set of Life's Too Short (2011) when he made an appearance on the show.Made a personal appearance at the Big Apple Comic Book & Sci-Fi Expo in New York City. This was a two-day fundraising event for several non-profit organizations as Kilmer donated all proceeds. (November 2007)Attended Chatsworth High School with Kevin Spacey and Mare Winningham.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.His first auditions were for commercials at 13 years old.While on break from the set of Streets of Blood (2009) with 50 Cent, he joined Cuba Gooding Jr. in supporting the First Star Celebration for Children's Rights. (June 2008)Ranked #62 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. (October 1997)Val Kilmer auditioned for the lead role in Full Metal Jacket (1987) that eventually went to Matthew Modine.He turned down the role of Jack Swigert in Apollo 13 (1995) order to film The Ghost and the Darkness (1996).He auditioned for the role of Sergeant Elias Grodin in Platoon (1986). According to Oliver Stone, he gave a bizarre audition, where he portrayed the character as an Indian shaman.He is 1/8th Cherokee: his father's grandmother was Cherokee. In Thunderheart (1992) he portrays a character who is 1/4th Sioux.He worked with Sonantic, a software company based in London, to digitally recreate his voice with archive material and AI technology. The voice models are intended to be used in possible future projects. |
| Trademarks: |
In many of his movies, he twirls small objects (coins, pencils, etc.) with his fingers.
He rubs the first two fingers of his right hand together. Particularly in tense scenes, but also where he is not speaking. |
| Quotes: |
Upon playing Batman: "I've done an absurdly commercial cartoon and now I'm more likely to get hired for a job I couldn't get hired for before, because I hadn't done enough movies. It's so rare when an actor gets hired because he's right for the role - it just doesn't figure into it."
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<hr>
The only time it's ever like work is when you don't like what you've done.
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"I was going to movies and watching TV, going to the theater a little bit. It was, like, 'Wow, you could make a living doing this? Great! What could be better?' There isn't anything I could choose better." - On why he initially choose acting as a career while still a young man.
<br />
<hr>
Being successful doesn't change things. There's a painful, lonely part of acting because you're always waiting. The thing about being a performer is doing, and when you have to wait, it's the same pain as when you're starting out and have no job. You think that thing will go away, but it doesn't. It just shifts. I remember Robert Duvall saying that being a successful actor is all about finding interesting hobbies, because if you don't have the right hobby, you die. It's very hard to maintain interest. Most actors don't. They become a little clich��d. You learn how to do tricks and stuff.
<br />
<hr>
It's always been the same for me. I've always enjoyed acting, and I really love good actors; they're such unique characters. I wish I could tell stories well, or tell a joke. Any time someone can do that it's so satisfying. Sean Penn, for instance, is a really good actor, and he can tell a good joke or story. But it's hard to do. Most actors have special talents that make them attractive, but they're often odd characters. |
| Salaries: |
Blind Horizon (2004) - $1,000,000
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Red Planet (2000) - $10,000,000
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<hr>
At First Sight (1999) - $9,000,000
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<hr>
The Saint (1997) - $6,000,000
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<hr>
The Island of Dr. Moreau (19 |
| Job title: |
Actor,Producer,Director |
| Others works: |
Poetry Book: My Eden After Burns
Appeared in 1993's public Production of "Tis Pity She's A Whore" with co-star Jeannce Tripplehorn. Inbetween shoots for The Real McCoy and Tombstone.
Radio commercials for Northrop Grumman Corporation |
| Spouse: |
Joanne Whalley (February 28, 1988 - February 1, 1996) (divorced, 2 children) |
| Children: |
Mercedes KilmerJack Kilmer |
| Parents: |
Gladys Swanette Kilmer (Ekstadt)
Eugene Dorris Kilmer |
| Relatives: |
Wesley Kilmer (Sibling)
Mark Kilmer (Sibling) |
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