When Hollywood Turns Its Back on You - Val Kilmer 

Dude should have won an Oscar for Tombstone tbh

Val Kilmer was huge, if you are aged 40 - 55 he’ll always be one of the biggest movie stars. He also should have won an Oscar for either the doors or tombstone. He was on another level in both of those movies

I don't think anybody else could have played Jim Morrison the way Kilmer did. He truly embraced that role and morphed into him somehow!! Amazing work

Met Val K in London drinking a pint, bloody lovely person, very kind and considerate. Thanks Val!

I thought Vals depiction of Jim Morrison was stunning, but the biggest mystery to me, even to this day, is why Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was never a monster hit, It was such a great film

Even if he was an asshole sometimes I think we can all agree he didn’t deserve cancer and to lose his voice

Crazy that the final 'big' movie of his initial run, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, was actually very good. After a long series of awful movies that didn't end it.

His role in tombstone might be my favorite movie character of all time.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is criminally underrated..

The Ghost and the Darkness was always one of my favorite Val Kilmer films as a kid growing up. Really miss those days I always loved him in The Doors and Willow as well. Kilmer was one of my fav actors growing up. I think Val Kilmer played Jim Morrison very well

As a kid, I felt Val's voice lent a good combination of gravitas and humanity to Moses. Its surreal to me that The Prince of Egypt where the film was a decent hit and he put in solid work as the lead character. He shaped up his work ethic after his leading man status faded, but still it makes you wonder what could have been.

Val Killer is hugely talented his performance in The Doors, Tombstone and At First Sight is incredible

The Salton Sea is one of my favorite Val Kilmer films. Vincent D’Onofrio is also great in the movie.

I met Val on the set of Red Planet in Sydney. He was a nice guy. He was having a fight with Tom Siezmore at the time. Those two hated each other and all their scenes together where shot separately and composited.

I met Val after attending one of his Citizen Twain performances. He was so kind. I have no doubt he has behaved naughty at times, I cannot think of a person who hasn’t in their youth or when they feel they are on top of the world. Sometimes our money or popularity gets to our heads. Hopefully, he has grown out of that foolish behavior and can look back and teach other upcoming actors that everyone has a part to play in the movie industry and money or fame does not elevate anyone above another. But we still love you Val! ❤️💙💛💚🧡💜

Val's character in Real Genius was a whole way of life. Val turned the 80's into the 80's we know today, and brought it to life in that performance.

How did this man not get an Oscar nomination, for his Performances of Jim Morrison and Doc Holliday.

I don’t know what it is, but The Saint is definitely in my top 10👍🏻

Most people in Hollywood are divas and they get to keep their jobs. Val had a good career while he did and it’s sad to hear his voice slowly disappear.

He came to Australia for a Q&A about 12 years ago. He said he felt privileged to work with several great directors on his way up but then ended up on some chaotic sets with rotating doors of directors who didn’t know what they were doing.

Real Genius, Salton Sea, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang & Tombstone are three of my all-time favorite movies. Val Kilmer is Hollywood gold...always has been, always will be.

I've met Val many times through my live theater career, he is not difficult to work with, however he doesn't suffer fools ! He is dedicated to and passionate about his craft !

That Michael Douglas quote about Eric Roberts and Mickey Rourke makes me want to know more about what went on with them.

The feud with Sizemore was over Tom’s drug addiction. When they worked in Heat, Deniro went to Sizemores apartment and told him to get his ass in rehab or quit. He got better. The. In late 1998 he met Heidi Fleis and he became impossible even with Heidi showing up on sets and fighting Tom. Val was fed up with directors abuse and co stars ruining each shot

I dont know man. He was a regular customer at a restaurant I managed for years. He dressed so people couldn't recognize him and he was super humble. Easy to talk to and we would chat for a bit most times he came in. Also met his kids and Ex. All very nice people every time I interacted with them.

I loved Val Kilmer in Willow. Love that movie.

I worked at a theater where Cate Blanchett was performing. We were all told ahead of time that Val Kilmer wasn’t to be sold a ticket because she had a restraining order against him for stalking her. His issues go way beyond what everyday people know.

Wonderland is my favorite Kilmer picture. The ring he wears on the necklace was given to him by none other than Sharon Holmes.

Doc Holliday will always be one of my favorites of his many roles! Also The Saint and Top Gun! He really dove deep into his roles!!

I can't imagine anyone getting along with Marlon Brando and Tom Sizemore tbh

Val Kilmer is a fabulous actor blessed with a beautiful physique. Even if Hollywood has done him wrong he still shines, he is also a fantastic theater actor, great painter and more. He is beloved all over the world ❤

Val was charismatic, iconic and a naturally gifted actor. He was also a colossal and insufferable asshole. *The two are not mutually exclusive*

His Doc Holiday was amazing , the cup twirl was genius.

Val Kilmer should’ve received an Oscar for his portrayal of Doc Holliday

He was a extreme pain in the butt to all those powerful movie moguls. He pissed off someone.

Possibly the best actor of a generation… he was never afraid to do what he wanted… pure talent

There are a lot of actors that aren't good socially. I think its part of what makes them want to act. Add in their handlers, agents, etc where they dont even live in the same world we do. Its easy to judge.

I haven't seen a lot of the films mentioned here that flopped, but based on his performances in Top Gun, Heat and Tombstone alone, you have to say that Val at his best is a first class actor.

I just saw an interview where he says that he realized that he was impossible to work with (in his words), that he was blacklisted and wished he could go back. He really seemed so honest, vulnerable and to have lots of regrets. I don’t know I feel like his good side was always there and maybe the tragedies helped him to take a step back. I just don’t think he was a complete A H, because I don’t think someone can go from one extreme to the other. He probably just needed to be humbled as bit , but my oh my did he not deserve this cruel “Karma”. I was shedding tears when I saw him on Top Gun 2. It must be incredibly hard to go from being a one of the most crushed over movie star, who could also sign to a guy who looks completely different, black listed and without a voice. Seriously, poor guy.

Him having a memo saying he would like to be left alone on set seems completely reasonable, but I've heard of so many actors being labeled as "hard to work with" because of stuff like that. In any other line of work, "could you leave me alone and let me do my job" isnt just acceptable, it's encouraged, but not in acting apparently. It really seems like you're damned if you do, damned if you dont. "You have to take it serious, but not *too* serious, because then you're a pompous ass. You have to have fun, but not *too* much fun, because then you're lazy and entitled."

There’s a documentary about the making of the Island of Dr. Moreau that I highly recommend. It’s a great snapshot of how crazy Hollywood had gotten at that time

I loved him in the movie "The Ghost and the Darkness" and in "The Doors" also as Doc Holiday. He is a great actor.

I ran into Kilmer over 25 years ago at a Mexican restaurant in Los Angeles. He was nice and cordial. Then I hear these stories. I guess everyone has good days and bad days.

Val is a superb actor. The great ones are always eccentric. He earned it.

I don't care how difficult he was. The man is a great actor. I love his movies. One of my favorite actor's.

I loved Val Kilmer in "Willow". He was great as the Barbarian Swordsman, Madmartigan, if I got that right.😉

His performance as Doc Holiday tells me everything I want to know. He is by far one of the best actors I have ever had the pleasure of watching.

I think Kilmer was a perfectionist. It is good as it drives the best out of them. Problem is, those types of people also expect others to meet the same level of perfection he expects from himself. Val needed to learn how to strive others to be better, rather than just expecting it.

I will always love Val Kilmer. I met him once, only briefly, after one of his Mark Twain shows. Tombstone, The Ghost and the Darkness, and Spartan are some of my all time favorites… he’s excellent in Willow.

ok ok ok, I have to admit, he might have been hard to work with ... buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuut ... his performances were mostly spot on, after all he's a very good actor PLUS, and that is very unfortunate to losing his voice, he was a terrific singer. I always liked watching Val Kilmer films.

He was and is huge. Few get bigger, than what he was in prime.

He was robbed of Oscar as doc holiday in Tombstone 🥴🥴

Oliver Stone not liking Val Kilmer's portrayal of Jim Morrison , considering how perfect he was and how uncanny it was for the rest of the actual band is just so unsurprising. Oliver Stone is one of the biggest hacks in Hollywood...

I do know quite a lot about Val and some of the set issues; he became a total prick with an ego in the stratosphere on many instances. It's unfortunate. I would say though he wasn't as bad as Klaus Kinski; at times, however, he came close. We were friends once when we worked together in 1988 at The Colorado Shakespeare Festival in Boulder, CO. I played the ghost to his Hamlet. Don't take my word for that. Look it up if you don't believe me. So, all in all, I think he got what he bargained for, and I think it's very sad. When I knew him he was not only generous to a fault with his friends, he was just a great guy to hang around with. That persona faded, and something else took its place.

My boys, aged 32 & 30 and myself, love Val. Every movie we've seen with him, has left an indelible impression on us. After watching this video, I'm surprised he never followed the directing route. Maybe because the brother that passed was the filmmaker, and Val was the "actor". Regardless, Val is a man who takes his craft to heart. I'm sure that's been to the extreme, but looking at the BIG picture, how can he be faulted?? I believe that Doc, is a character, that will go down in history. God Bless you Val.

The rise and fall of a Hollywood star can happen in the blink of an eye. One moment, you're the hottest name in town, starring in blockbuster films and walking the red carpet at premieres. But then, just as quickly, things can change. For Val Kilmer, once considered one of the most promising talents in Hollywood, this was exactly the case. With a string of successful films under his belt, including iconic roles in Top Gun, Batman Forever, and The Doors, Kilmer seemed destined for superstardom. However, after a series of personal and professional setbacks, Hollywood began to turn its back on him. Some say Kilmer's reputation for being difficult to work with on set played a role in his dwindling opportunities. Reports of clashes with directors and costars began to surface, painting him as a prima donna in an industry that values collaboration and professionalism. Additionally, Kilmer's health struggles, including a battle with throat cancer that left him unable to speak for a period of time, further hindered his career. The physical toll of his illness was evident, leading to a noticeable change in his appearance and casting directors becoming hesitant to take a chance on him for leading roles. As the offers for major projects dried up, Kilmer found himself taking smaller, less high-profile roles in independent films and theater productions. While his talent and dedication to his craft never wavered, the opportunities to showcase them on a larger stage became increasingly scarce. Despite the setbacks and rejection, Kilmer remained resilient and continued to pursue his passion for acting. He embraced his new reality, finding fulfillment in his work, whether it was performing in a small theater or filming a low-budget indie project. While Hollywood may have turned its back on him, Val Kilmer's story serves as a reminder that true success is not measured by fame or fortune, but by the love and passion for one's craft. And for Kilmer, that passion never wavered, even in the face of adversity.

I’ll always pick Val Kilmer as one of the most talented and awesome actors in modern era. #ValKilmer 💕☝️

Kilmer is a comedic genius. His dead pan delivery in Top Secret kills, and his over-the-top villain in McGruber is the only saving grace for that movie.

The "Salton Sea" was AWESOME 💜💜💜 *EDIT:* I ToTALLY forgot to mention "Wonderland", awesome flick!

He’s an excellent actor whose ego got too big, which caused him to act out and be difficult to work with by various people on various films and this resulted in him being in a lot of terrible films as the years went on. And while his divorce might have contributed to the worst time regarding his behavior, he didn’t need to act the way he did on the sets of the films he was making during that period. Despite his talent, nobody but himself is to blame for his career going the way it did. Great video man, take care!

Salton Sea is an absolute gem of a film and unknown to so many because it had no promotion to it. Between Salton Sea and Wonderland you have to ask if Val had a for real drug problem because he played both hard drug addicted characters almost to perfection. Val became a star so fast that it's not hard to see how his ego could have inflated to a destructive point as it did. I still think he missed his chance for a catch phrase on par with Arnold Schwarzenegger's I'll be back with I'll be your Huckleberry from Tombstone. I mean who doesn't love that. It all fairness it's hard for actors and musicians to be put up on pedestals and borderline seen as a God by some and loved by lots of people who they will never know or meet while they bring in millions of dollars could not become ego driven narcissistic or worse because they are living the life and realizing the dreams of millions and once they realize that it's hard to come back down to reality most do but there are select few that don't unfortunately for Val he was forced to come back down with throat cancer. Anyone who hasn't seen Salton Sea go see it because it is an absolutely great film.

My little sister worked at the Apple Store at the mall in Santa Monica in her early 20s. Val came in and stole her and hired her as his personal assistant. She worked for him for years and he kind of adopted her.. about a couple years before he got sick she had to quit bc he became too difficult to work for and she was starting to dislike him and didn’t want it to ruin their friendship for good. But our family was always glad he found my sister when she was alone in LA. We worried less obviously when he was taking care of her.

Jim Morrison never left Vals presence

He auditioned for the role in Full Metal Jacket by sending a video in something that Stanley Kubrick asked the entire country to do the same I remember seeing them at my community college sending your tape auditioning for Full Metal Jacket so he wasn't just being wacky he was just doing what thousands of people were doing trying to get a role in that movie

Absolutely NO ONE could have played a better or even close 2nd to Kilmer as Doc Holiday he was perfect for that role and quite honestly the best part of the whole movie! And i really liked all of the actors in their perspective roles. That was one of the best cast movies I've ever seen. ❤❤😊

There is a story that the director or producer of “The Island of Dr. Moreau” stated that even if he was making a film on the life of Val Kilmer, he would never cast Val Kilmer again.

The Time Where Val Kilmer Sinks His Career Slowly and Hollywood Shrugs more apt title

Michael Douglas said he had no issue with Kilmer. And I actually liked The Ghost And the Darkness, based on a true story.

Val Kilmer is a phenomenal talented actor. Really. I think what he is truly struggling with most now is living with the aftermath of having cancer, and nearly losing his life. Michael J Fox, Christopher Reeves and many others have had to completely reinvent themselves after a devastating accident or a serious illness. I know its hard, being a cancer survivor, myself. It is much better to look forward in life, rather than to look back when you are dealing with the aftermath of such difficult health issues.Life is not going to ever be quite the same again, But it can be a nice life. You just have to be creative and find ways to make it nice again, and to surround yourself with positive encouraging people in your life. And you have to have very long talks with God, to try and figure out how you can contribute your wisdom and experience in living with your physical changes and difficulties going forward in life, and how to contribute to humanity, by being a good example to others , no matter the cards you have been dealt. Because life is hard. And te bravest thing you can do is go on gracefully, Val.

I really enjoyed Val's career, and i do think sometimes an artist has an instict sbout how to find success with a project. When you look st the amount of good movies Val was in, I find it hard to believe his contributions were just with acting. It's not hard to make enemies.

Val's performance in Top Gun, The Doors and The Saint are the best for me. Batman Forever is a guilty pleasure, as it was my first Batman movie as a kid. Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang is very entertaining, and another guilty pleasure!

I was an extra in a couple of scenes for the saint in oxford, uk. They gave extra jobs to students for 30 pounds and lunch. Kilmer was a nice man who bought us a round in the pub, must have been 40 of us. Told us to not hold out too much hope on the film and joked it was just for the money for him. Didn’t seem at all as described here.

being good at something does not justify being rude, mean or treating poorly people around you. Praise be for those who refused to hire him despite a potential box office less good performance. We as a society should not tolerate such behavior.

Sometimes you get someone like Val who is beyond passionate and talented. I have known many genuine artists in a variety of art genres. If they are the real deal, they are shall we say, different. It's not a right or left-brain thing, it's simply a personality thing that includes absolutely being unable to deal with stupid people. I get that, big time. Val is simply a man of great passion and vision and stupidity or people that can't deal with his sarcasm and insane humor will dislike him immensely. Especially insecure people. They can't deal with his type, and he can't deal with theirs and if they aren't strong enough, or sarcastic enough, they'll have heck with him. I get it. It's me to a T. I hate insecure and stupid people. You just want to shake them and hope for some sense to get roused in them. Val is a great actor. One of a kind. He was robbed of an Oscar for Doc Holliday. But really, they are stupid, nonsensical idols that portray nothing true.

I always liked Val Kilmer and people seem to have mixed opinions on him. I just watched a thing Kurt Russell did with GQ or Esquire or something and he had nothing but good things to say about working with Val Kilmer. I should re-watch Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. I really liked that one.

He killed it in Tombstone and Heat and he wasn't even in a lead role. He proved what he could do in Willow after doing Top Gun. He got a lot of hate over the years

The man is certifiable! First met him during PR for TOP Secret,where he was nice for a long as wanted to be,then he just turned it off. So many actors behave like that, it really didn't surprise me. But,when he started going out with a friend of mine a very sweet young English actress,all hell broke loose, after a day where he'd asked her to meet his children, he blew his top,in public,because " You can't bond with my children. It would be better you don't speak to them!" She rang me in tears,super confused,when I said I'd go round to her flat,something I did often,she got mildly hysterical; apparently he was sitting in his car watching her building! I has another friend in her building, so I asked them to come meet me at front door & we went & shopped for the poor girl,who was too scared to go out as he'd screamed at her in the street,followed her to shops & made a huge scene about things she said, sounded deranged. We then went back to her/my other friends building, where he tried to force his way in the door & only left when my friend said he'd call the police. He sat in that car for what seemed like a week,ringing her phone every few minutes. She was a complete mess crying & terrified to go out. She even missed going to a couple of auditions,meaning her agent started threatening her. Finally we got her out of the back of The building with a couple of suitcases,when the owner of the ground floor flat came back from a long holiday. She already had those timer plugs on various lamps to give impression someone was home/the flat wasn't deserted - something a lot of people did then - ,to lower risk of burglary. She moved in to a girlfriends flat for a week & then left early to start work on a film being shot on location in USA. That was when I got a call from her asking if I'd go & deal with police, it seemed "someone " had broken into her flat,had turned it upside down, but,it didn't seem anything was taken,apart from her answering machine. We'd already put the tape where Kilmer was sending threatening voice messages in a bank box. She didn't have the greatest dating history having gone out briefly with Danny Houston,who is probly the most evil person ever,makes Kilmer look like a choirboy,his ex jumped to her death & he's destroyed so many of the women he's been associated with. My actress friend found her name was tarnished, many rumours leading back to Kilmer,whom she's scared of to this day.

I think Val Kilmer fades away off Hollywood is just a natural phenomenon like everything in this world will be. He had his time, now he goes away.

Having heard some of the stories of how he acted on different sets, it sounds like he could be a little unreasonable. He has the talent to back that up a little though

He is an awesome actor. Best wishes to him always.

I was never a Kilmer fan. I have never been a Tom Cruise fan either. But when I took a chance and watched Top Gun Maverick, I was sold on both. The scene between them before "Ice" passed (in the movie) was a piece of great work and brought tears to my eyes.

Though it is not as well known as some of his other movies, the musical comedy "Top Secret" is the movie that showed Kilmer's total realm of talents. It showed he is a Triple Threat. Superb acting, singing and dancing.

This man's career ruin hurts me to this day.. What an actor 😢

Val was and is one of my favorite actors.

"Tombstone", "Wonderland", and "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" among my favorite films, due largely to Kilmer's presence in them.

i wouldn't call playing in indie films a fall from grace, he came, saw, conquered, and moved on

Thunderheart is very good.

I met a British veteran camera operator who said Kilmer was the worst actor he'd worked with and Kilmer was an unpleasant womaniser too

My wife and I loved Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang. We were rooting for it to help Val and RDJ. It worked for one of them.

I love "Real Genius". That's one of the few movies ever made where the science nerd is not only the hero, he looks damn cool while he's doing it. "Tombstone" is also a fantastic movie.

I actually think “The Ghost and The Darkness” is a really good movie. I watch it every couple years. And his Doc Holliday is a top 5 all time movie character.

I grew up watching Val Kilmer. Batman Forever came out when I was 5 or 6. I was so disappointed that they replaced him in Batman and Robin I walked out of the theatre in the first 10 minutes and played arcade games at the theatre. As I’ve gotten older and watched more of his work, he’s one of my favorite actors. Idk how difficult he is, he earned it, and what do you expect for someone who spent a year method acting Jim Morrison.

Val is a gifted actor and not a sell out. I admire him for that.

I had always wondered what happened to Val. I wasn't aware of the antics or prima Donna issues, so this helps shed light on his fading away after being such a leading star. Glad he was able to have a role in Top Gun 2.

@1:13. Very common theme amongst the stars. The sacrifice.

I still really like his early 2000's films like The Salton Sea, Wonderland and Felon. He seems to do better when he doesn't have a big studio pressing on his shoulders.

Val Kilmer played Doc Holliday like a genius ❤❤❤

Love Val, How could you forget Wonderland , he was so good in it, great movie!

I think Val Kilmer had some incredible performances as an actor. I could give two shit about what others say about him on set.

Weird, I always like and look forward to his movies. Even the flops, Red Planet is one I can't explain why I enjoy it but it's fun