8 Things You Didn’t Know About Val Kilmer

➡ Val Kilmer Biography

Val Kilmer has been entertaining audiences for more than three decades. He began his career as a stage actor, appearing in several plays before landing his breakthrough role in Top Secret! in 1984. The film, a parody, helped Kilmer establish himself as a talented young actor. Throughout the 1980s, Kilmer continued to star in some of the most memorable films of the era, including Top Gun. However, most of his fans are unaware of the unknown facts that we’ve discussed below.

8 Things You Didn’t Know About Val Kilmer

1. Has No Faith In Modern Medicine

Kilmer is a devout Christian Scientist, and as such, he has little faith in modern medicine. When the actor was diagnosed with oral cancer in 2015, he allegedly refused treatment for a time due to his religious beliefs. He eventually had surgery but did not reveal his illness until Michael Douglas revealed it. ^[1]

2. His Obsession With Cate Blanchett

Kilmer declared his love for Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett in May 2017. He traveled to Australia to meet her. But then he started tweeting about her, and things got weird. ^[2]

3. Psycho Kilmer

Everyone has a coworker who is unlikely to sing their praises, but Kilmer has more than most. In fact, he’s dubbed “Psycho Kilmer” in Hollywood. Joel Schumacher, the director of Batman Forever, described Kilmer as “childish and impossible.” ^[3]

4. Walked Off Set When He Was 12

Kilmer, then twelve, landed his first role in a hamburger commercial. Even that proved difficult; Kilmer told the director that he couldn’t pretend to like the burgers in the commercial. He eventually left the set.

5. Turned Down The Role Of NEO In “Matrix”

Kilmer was one of many actors who declined the role of Neo in the first Matrix film. The Wachowskis fought hard to get Johnny Depp to play the lead, but Warner Brothers preferred Val Kilmer or Brad Pitt.

6. Turned Down The Role In Dirty Dancing

Kilmer declined the role of bad boy dancer Johnny out of fear of being typecast in heartthrob roles. Billy Zane was also considered for the role before the late Patrick Swayze agreed to play it opposite Jennifer Grey.

7. Published A Book

Kilmer wrote The Pfeiffer Howls at the Moon, a poem inspired by his co-star. This became part of a larger collection of poems titled My Eden After Burns, which Kilmer self-published the same year.

8. A Perfectionist

Kilmer did all of his own singing while playing Jim Morrison in the 1991 film “The Doors.” He attended all of the Doors’ concerts and other events in order to prepare for the role.