After news of Val Kilmer's death, Variety looks back at his career in photos, from "Top Gun" to "Batman Forever" and more.
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Val Kilmer’s Career in Photos: From ‘Top Gun’ to ‘Batman Forever’ and More
By
Ellise Shafer
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Billboard Women in Music 2025
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Val Kilmer, who
died on Tuesday at the age of 65 after battling throat cancer, became one of the biggest stars of the ’80s and ’90s with a diverse array of films, ranging from action thrillers to biopics and comedies.
After scoring his first movie role in the 1984 action comedy “Top Secret,” Kilmer broke through with his performance in the sci-fi comedy “Real Genius” (1985) before soaring into the mainstream alongside Tom Cruise in 1986 blockbuster “Top Gun.” He then starred in Ron Howard’s fantasy “Willow” (1988) before receiving critical acclaim for his portrayal of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s 1991 “The Doors” biopic.
The ’90s brought a steady stream of hits for Kilmer, who became one of the best-paid actors of the decade. He took on the Western genre alongside Kurt Russell in “Tombstone” (1993), starred in crime dramas including Michael Mann’s classic “Heat” (1995) and became a superhero the same year with Joel Schumacher’s “Batman Forever.” In 1998, he voiced Moses in the animated musical “The Prince of Egypt,” and reunited with Oliver Stone for 2004’s “Alexander.” His career slowed down after he was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015, and eventually lost most of his ability to speak, but in 2022 he returned to the big screen in “Top Gun: Maverick” for an emotional scene with Cruise.
Take a look at Kilmer’s career in photos below.
Photo : ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
‘Top Secret’ (1984)
Kilmer’s first film role was in the 1984 action comedy “Top Secret,” where he played a rock star who travels to East Germany and finds himself entangled with a member of the local resistance movement.
Photo : ©TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
‘Real Genius’ (1985)
In the sci-fi comedy, Kilmer played college genius Chris Knight, who is tasked to help develop a chemical laser that he learns will be used for nefarious purposes.
Photo : ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
‘Top Gun’ (1985)
Kilmer played Iceman in the military action blockbuster, the rival turned wingman of Tom Cruise’s Maverick.
Photo : ©MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection
‘Willow’ (1988)
In Ron Howard’s fantasy “Willow,” Kilmer played Madmartigan, a mercenary swordsman who helps Warwick Davis’ title character on his quest and falls in love with Sorsha (Joanne Whalley) in the process.
Photo : ©TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
‘The Doors’ (1991)
Kilmer portrayed rock ‘n’ roll legend Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s biopic “The Doors,” which earned him critical acclaim.
Photo : ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
‘Tombstone’ (1993)
Kilmer starred in the cult classic Western alongside Kurt Russell and Sam Elliott as famed gunfighter and alcoholic Doc Holliday.
Photo : ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
‘True Romance’ (1993)
Kilmer played Elvis in the romantic crime film, directed by Tony Scott and written by Quentin Tarantino.
Photo : ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
‘Heat’ (1995)
Kilmer played Chris Shiherlis, the right-hand man of Robert De Niro’s career thief, in Michael Mann’s classic crime drama.
Photo : © Warner Bros./courtesy Everett Collection
‘Batman Forever’ (1995)
Kilmer took on the Dark Knight in Joel Schumacher’s “Batman Forever.” Replacing Michael Keaton, Kilmer’s take on Batman earned mixed reviews from critics but was a commercial success. George Clooney took over from Kilmer for the next installment, “Batman & Robin.”
Photo : ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
‘The Ghost and the Darkness’ (1996)
Alongside Michael Douglas, Kilmer played an engineer on a railway project in Kenya whose work is upended by a series of lion attacks.
Photo : ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
‘The Saint’ (1997)
Kilmer played a master of disguise in the action thriller (pictured left in this photo).
Photo : ©DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett Collection
‘The Prince of Egypt’ (1998)
Val Kilmer voiced Moses in classic animated musical “The Prince of Egypt.”
Photo : ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
‘Alexander’ (2004)
Kilmer reunited with Oliver Stone on “Alexander,” in which he played King Philip II alongside Colin Farrell’s Alexander the Great.
Photo : ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ (2005)
Kilmer teamed up with Robert Downey Jr. in the neo-noir black comedy, playing a private investigator.
Photo : ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection
‘MacGruber’ (2010)
Kilmer played villain Dieter von Cunth in Will Forte’s action comedy based on the “Saturday Night Live” skit of the same name.
Photo : ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection
‘Twixt’ (2011)
Kilmer led Francis Ford Coppola’s horror film as Hall Baltimore, a struggling novelist who stumbles upon a murder mystery in a small town and enters a dream world.
Photo : Screenshot courtesy MovieClips/YouTube/Paramount
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (2022)
Kilmer’s final screen appearance saw him reuniting with Tom Cruise for an emotional scene in sequel “Top Gun: Maverick.”
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