More Tributes: Tom Cruise Honors ‘My Dear Friend’ Val Kilmer
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s 1991 film, The Doors.
Val Kilmer, who in scores of films portrayed such real-life figures as Jim Morrison in The Doors and Doc Holliday in Tombstone and perfected fictional characters like Batman (Batman Forever) and Iceman in the two Top Gun pictures, died April 1, 2025, at just 65. Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015 and had undergone several medical procedures.
Following his passing, the box-office star was mourned by fellow actors and others who raved about his talent.
Rest in peace to our former campus mate, the great Val Kilmer (1959-2025), who at 17 was the youngest drama student ever admitted to The Julliard School’s Drama Division. pic.twitter.com/X2bgQBRVJi
— Film at Lincoln Center (@FilmLinc) April 2, 2025
Remembering Val Kilmer, whose indelible cinematic mark spanned genres and generations. RIP Iceman. pic.twitter.com/a3jQ8ENma9
— Top Gun (@TopGunMovie) April 2, 2025
At the film distributor event CinemaCon, in Las Vegas, to promote his upcoming Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning, Tom Cruise praised his fellow Top Gun star. “I’d like to honor a dear friend of mine, Val Kilmer, for a moment,” he said to the industry audience. “I can’t tell you how much I admired his work.” He added, “If we just all take a moment to remember the wonderful time we had with him… let’s just take a moment.” Cruise closed his remarks by saying, “I wish you well on your next journey.”
Michael Douglas wrote, “It was an honor working with Val on The Ghost and the Darkness nearly 30 years ago. Val will be greatly missed, but his legacy will live on forever in the films and performances he so brilliantly shared with us!”
Val Kilmer rest in peace pic.twitter.com/iZSRHiIklt
— Ralph Fiennes (@mrralphfiennes) April 2, 2025
RIP Val Kilmer. If it wasn’t for our chance encounter at the Source in 1985, I may never have been cast in FULL METAL JACKET. Thanks, Val. pic.twitter.com/YTMRjy78vC
— Matthew Modine (@MatthewModine) April 2, 2025
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A long time ago, I was auditioning for the movie “The Doors” It was kind of a cattle call. They paired together potential Jims with potential Pamela‘s. And they were running behind so we were spilling out of the casting office, sitting on the porch, the lawn, and the driveway.…
— Jennifer Tilly (@JenniferTilly) April 2, 2025
Rest in peace, Val Kilmer. pic.twitter.com/3nGA0SzKGS
— Antonio Banderas (@antoniobanderas) April 2, 2025
Many of Kilmer’s movies are available to stream or purchase in the U.S. here and in the U.K. here.
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- Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: 100 Crucial Omissions - 04/28/2025
4 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationVal Kilmer always delivered something special. My best bud and I dressed in 60’s clothes and weaseled our way into the Whisky to see Val as Morrison. He was moments away from performing when we were spotted and tossed out. We listened to him from outside next to Eric Burdon who was playing the doorman. Good times! R.I.P Val.
I remember The Whisky well from mid ‘70’s. A L0T of entertainers I met there, including Tom Petty, I went to Hollywood Professional school for 6 years, a 1/2 day school for entertainers that covered nursery school thru college in 1 bldg. As I was leaving Hollywood to move to Valencia, CA, I ran into Val (before he was famous). Very nice, kind person. I feel @ loss hearing that he has passed! RIP, Val!
THIS news hit me really hard yesterday, and still does today! SAD and bewildering! 65 is too young…my fave role of his was DOC HOLLIDAY, and scene where he and Wyatt visit in hospital, and DOC asks him to leave is one I will carry with me in memory and heart forever…and his presence in HEAT!
GOD BLESS YOU, VAL KILMER, you are loved and will be missed by me and millions of others! RIP!
He was a great actor in all the films listed above. But my favorite of his was probably Top Secret! which came out in my formative years. I still laugh for 90 minutes straight when I watch that movie. He will be missed.