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Billboard Women in Music 2025
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.
‘Top Secret’ (1984)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
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.
‘Real Genius’ (1985)
Image Credit: ©TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
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.
‘Top Gun’ (1985)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
Kilmer played Iceman in the military action blockbuster, the rival turned wingman of Tom Cruise’s Maverick.
‘Willow’ (1988)
Image Credit: ©MGM/Courtesy Everett Collection
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.
‘The Doors’ (1991)
Image Credit: ©TriStar Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
Kilmer portrayed rock ‘n’ roll legend Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s biopic “The Doors,” which earned him critical acclaim.
‘Tombstone’ (1993)
Image Credit: ©Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection
Kilmer starred in the cult classic Western alongside Kurt Russell and Sam Elliott as famed gunfighter and alcoholic Doc Holliday.
‘True Romance’ (1993)
Image Credit: ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
Kilmer played Elvis in the romantic crime film, directed by Tony Scott and written by Quentin Tarantino.
‘Heat’ (1995)
Image Credit: ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
Kilmer played Chris Shiherlis, the right-hand man of Robert De Niro’s career thief, in Michael Mann’s classic crime drama.
‘Batman Forever’ (1995)
Image Credit: © Warner Bros./courtesy Everett Collection
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.”
‘The Ghost and the Darkness’ (1996)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
Alongside Michael Douglas, Kilmer played an engineer on a railway project in Kenya whose work is upended by a series of lion attacks.
‘The Saint’ (1997)
Image Credit: ©Paramount/Courtesy Everett Collection
Val Kilmer in ‘The Saint.’
‘The Prince of Egypt’ (1998)
Image Credit: ©DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett Collection
Val Kilmer voiced Moses in ‘The Prince of Egypt.’
‘Alexander’ (2004)
Image Credit: ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
Val Kilmer and Colin Farrell in ‘Alexander.’
‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ (2005)
Image Credit: ©Warner Bros/Courtesy Everett Collection
Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.’
‘MacGruber’ (2010)
Image Credit: ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection
Val Kilmer in ‘MacGruber.’
‘Twixt’ (2011)
Image Credit: ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection
Val Kilmer in ‘Twixt.’
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ (2022)
Image Credit: Screenshot courtesy MovieClips/YouTube/Paramount
Val Kilmer in ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’
