Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Val Kilmer

How Val Kilmer built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Val Kilmer is an American actor who rose to prominence through comedy films like *Top Secret!* and *Real Genius*, followed by roles in *Top Gun* and *Willow*. He achieved critical acclaim for his portrayal of Jim Morrison in *The Doors*. Kilmer starred in well-known movies such as *Tombstone*, *True Romance*, and *Heat*, and played Batman in *Batman Forever*. Other notable roles include *The Ghost and the Darkness*, *The Saint*, *The Prince of Egypt*, and *Alexander*. He reprised his role as Iceman in *Top Gun: Maverick*.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements

2002: Working on Mary Baker Eddy film

In 2002, Kilmer worked on a film about the life of Mary Baker Eddy, the founder of the Christian Science church, and Mark Twain.

2005: Hurricane Katrina disaster relief

In 2005, Val Kilmer traveled to New Orleans to help with the Hurricane Katrina disaster relief.

2007: Release of Sessions with Mick

In 2007, Val Kilmer released a CD called Sessions with Mick.

April 2012: Citizen Twain one-man show

In April 2012, Val Kilmer's one-man show, Citizen Twain, was initially performed as a Hollywood workshop.

2012: Grammy Nomination and The Fourth Dimension

In 2012, Val Kilmer received a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word. In the same year, he also starred in Harmony Korine's short film "The Lotus Community Workshop", part of the collaborative film "The Fourth Dimension", playing an alternate reality version of himself.

Loading Video...

May 2013: Lobbying Congress on behalf of the EACH Act

In May 2013, Val Kilmer lobbied Congress on behalf of the Equitable Access to Care and Health Act, or EACH Act (H.R. 1814).

2013: Planes and Psych

In 2013, Val Kilmer reunited with Anthony Edwards in Disney's animated movie "Planes", voicing the character Bravo. Also in 2013, he played Detective Dobson in the series finale of the television show "Psych".

Loading Video...

2017: Song to Song and The Snowman

In 2017, Val Kilmer appeared in "Song to Song" and "The Snowman".

Loading Video...

August 2020: Paydirt

In August 2020, Val Kilmer shared the screen with his daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, for the first time in Paydirt.

Loading Video...

2021: Voice Recreation with Sonantic

In 2021, Val Kilmer worked with Sonantic to digitally recreate his voice using AI technology.

2022: Top Gun: Maverick

In 2022, Val Kilmer reprised his role as Tom "Iceman" Kazansky for the Top Gun sequel, Top Gun: Maverick.

Loading Video...

2022: Top Gun: Maverick and voice alterations

In 2022, while filming Top Gun: Maverick, director Joseph Kosinski stated that Val Kilmer's actual voice was used, although it was digitally altered for clarity.

Loading Video...