Val Kilmer was a huge star and household name, especially during his heyday
in the ’80s and the ’90s. But what are the real reasons behind his
disappearance and where is he now?
With a stellar career spanning
over four decades, Val Kilmer developed an appetite for acting in grade
school. Since he was almost unusually good at it, a young Kilmer later
enrolled in the prestigious Juilliard School in NY. Back then, he was the
youngest student to be accepted into the drama division — just one of many
accolades he would garner over an incredible career.
Kilmer began his professional career in theater performing
off-Broadway alongside Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon. He soon transitioned to
film and quickly made a name for himself when he starred in Top Secret.
His
real breakthrough, however, came in 1986, when he played lieutenant Iceman
Kazansky in Top Gun, the highest grossing movie of that year, and a
cinematic staple in pop culture which has finally gotten a sequel, Top Gun:
Maverick.
Val’s career lasted well into the ’80s and ’90s, prominently
starring in acclaimed movies such as The Doors, Tombstone and Heat. In 1995,
Kilmer made his first and only appearance in a superhero film, the sometimes
maligned Joel Schumacher’s Batman Forever. It was around this period that
the actor started developing a reputation as an actor — but not a good one.
Maybe it was Kilmer’s reluctance to honor his contract for the
Batman sequels or his reputation as a difficult and demanding person to work
with on-set. Either way, it was after that point that his Hollywood roles
seemed to dry up. Val continued acting, but the roles he took were fewer and
not nearly as marquee, successful or critically acclaimed as his earlier
films.
Many of Val’s fans, and even his most ardent critics,
think he has been unfairly overlooked by the Academy, having never received
an Oscar. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Kilmer is of the same opinion. However,
being somewhat left out brought the actor what he wanted all along — freedom
to take on roles and projects that he actually enjoys.
He managed to break out of the stereotypical heartthrob
typecast and looked instead towards his own passions, letting them decide
what his next step would be. Because he was no longer forced to act in
movies that meant nothing to him, Kilmer was free to pursue his own
projects. In 2020, he published his memoir I’m Your Huckleberry, which
became an instant bestseller.
Val Kilmer’s Terrible Health Struggles
With time, many rumors spread about Kilmer’s on-set disputes
and reportedly tumultuous love life. But in 2015, people started having a
real debate on the actor’s health.
Around this period, he was
reportedly taken into hospital and received emergency surgery on his throat.
Rumors further swirled that Kilmer was in fact suffering from throat cancer.
However, none of them were confirmed by the actor or his representatives.
Val continued to work on a variety of films and projects,
but when he appeared in Tomas Alfredson’s psychological thriller The
Snowman, fans were shocked by the significant changes in the star’s
appearance and the way he sounded. Later, it was confirmed that Kilmer’s
voice wasn’t used in the movie at all and it was dubbed by another actor.
After
years of guessing and debating over what could be the reason behind the
actor’s different appearance and voice, in 2017, Kilmer decided to publicly
admit that he was indeed battling throat cancer, and had been for several
years.
Val Kilmer’s Miraculous Recovery
Over a
period of six years, Val Kilmer went through radiation and chemotherapy
treatments, as well through a tracheostomy that permanently damaged his
voice. It was grueling, but he made a miraculous recovery.
I
can’t speak without plugging this hole [in his throat]. You have to make the
choice to breathe or to eat. It’s an obstacle that is very present with
whoever sees me.
But despite all the horrible things he had
to experience, Kilmer still managed to pull inspiration from them. His
health struggles had given him a new appreciation for life and its miracles,
and taught him to stop taking his career too seriously.
Val Kilmer: Back In the Spotlight
The fact
that he went through a terrible disease that left him with some serious
damage did not stop Kilmer from continuing his work and remain one of
Hollywood’s hottest actors. In fact, one of his most famous and beloved
roles is about to be brought back to life soon.
In 2018, Val
confirmed he would be returning as lieutenant Iceman, alongside co-star Tom
Cruise. The highly-anticipated Top Gun: Maverick will be released this year,
on May 27.
But despite all that, I still feel I’m the exact same person. Still the same creative soul. A soul that dreams ideas and stories confidently, but now I can express myself again, bring these ideas to you, and show you this part of myself once more. A part that was never truly gone. Just hiding away.
Whatever life has in store for Val Kilmer, one thing’s for sure — he is
ready for anything and he’ll keep on fighting no matter what. His energy,
commitment and perseverance is a true inspiration for us all.
