Val Kilmer, 1959 - 2025.
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Updated 3 weeks ago,April 8, 2025
Val Kilmer never got the credit he deserved.
While his contemporaries racked up Oscar nominations, Kilmer quietly built one of Hollywoods most versatile careers.
Tombstone / Buena Vista
His filmography reveals an actor who disappeared into roles rather than forcing characters to fit his persona.
From blockbusters to indies, Kilmer brought unexpected depth to everything he touched.
Here are 10 movies that proved he was Hollywoods most underrated hero.
Completely improvised on set.
Kilmer made you understand Ices perspective while still rooting for Tom Cruise.
Their rivalry works because Ice isnt a villain hes the guy following rules that Maverick keeps breaking.
Paramount Pictures
When they finally respect each other, it feels earned rather than forced.
The Doors (1991)
Surviving Doors members couldnt tell Kilmers singing from Jim Morrisons actual recordings.
Let that sink in.
Tri-Star Pictures
Beyond the uncanny physical resemblance, Kilmer captured something essential about Morrisons self-destructive charisma.
He didnt just wear the leather pants he inhabited Morrisons tortured psyche and poetic soul.
The performance goes beyond impression into something almost supernatural.
Tombstone
Tombstone (1993)
Doc Holliday could have been a cliche, but Kilmer made him unforgettable.
Playing a man whos dying throughout the entire film, he balanced gallows humor with genuine pathos.
Im your huckleberry entered the cultural lexicon because of how perfectly Kilmer delivered it.
Warner Bros.
His Chris Shiherlis contains multitudes professional criminal, devoted father, heartbroken husband.
Watch the scene where he discovers his wifes betrayal and contemplates killing her but cant pull the trigger.
Without a word, Kilmer conveys everything about this complex character in just his eyes.
Warner Bros.
Each of Templars personas required completely different accents, mannerisms, and physicality.
Rather than making each disguise a caricature, Kilmer created believable characters within characters.
His chemistry with Elisabeth Shue elevated standard spy fare into something with genuine emotional stakes.
Paramount Pictures
His deadpan delivery of Shane Blacks razor-sharp dialogue perfectly countered Robert Downey Jr.s manic energy.
Perry could have been a stereotype, but Kilmer gave him depth and humanity beneath the caustic exterior.
Their odd-couple chemistry makes the film endlessly rewatchable.
Warner Bros.
His gradual unraveling as the lions outsmart every trap makes for a psychological thriller disguised as an adventure movie.
Kilmer conveys mounting dread without overplaying it.
Willow (1988)
As Madmartigan, Kilmer brought swashbuckling charm back to fantasy films.
Paramount Pictures
His journey from selfish rogue to reluctant hero never feels formulaic because Kilmer plays against the cliches.
His chemistry with Warwick Davis grounds the fantasy with surprising emotional heft.
Incorporating his real-life health struggles, the scene between him and Cruise achieves remarkable poignancy.
MGM/UA
With minimal dialogue, Kilmer conveys decades of friendship, rivalry, and mutual respect.
Their final salute carries more emotional weight than all the fighter jet sequences combined.
Paramount Pictures
