10 Essential Performances of Val Kilmer's Career

By Dan Bremner - April 3, 2025

Film - Feature

Val Kilmer was more than just a Hollywood leading man—he was a chameleon, an artist, and a performer who could disappear into roles with uncanny precision. From his early comedic brilliance in Top Secret! to his electrifying turn as Jim Morrison in The Doors, and his unforgettable portrayal of Doc Holliday in Tombstone, Kilmer’s career was a testament to his dedication and versatility.

Despite personal and health challenges later in life, his impact on cinema remained undeniable, with performances that defined genres and inspired generations. As we reflect on his career, here are some of Val Kilmer’s most essential performances—roles that not only showcased his immense talent but solidified his place in Hollywood history.

Chris Shiherlis - Heat (1995) Dir. Michael Mann

Val Kilmer’s Chris Shiherlis in Michael Mann’s Heat is lean, mean, and wired with quiet menace. He’s not just a triggerman in De Niro’s crew; Kilmer brings a twitchy, lived-in edge, all haunted eyes and restless energy, like a bloke who’s one bad day from snapping. His strength here is restraint, he lets the silences do the heavy lifting, whether he's in a shootout practising precision and military level tactics or unraveling over his crumbling marriage. It’s a masterclass in playing second fiddle without being overshadowed by the bigger players, proving he can hang with the big dogs and still steal a frame or two.

Lt. Tom 'Iceman' Kazansky - Top Gun (1986) Dir. Tony Scott

Kilmer’s Iceman in Top Gun is the ultimate ‘80s cool cat, sharp jawline, sharper smirks, and a cocky strut that brings the homoerotic brilliance to proceedings. He brings a chilly charisma to the role, turning a rival pilot into a foil who’s equal parts infuriating and magnetic. Every line is delivered with a taunting bite, like he’s daring Cruise to swing first. It’s not just bravado; Kilmer layers in a hint of vulnerability under the swagger, making Iceman more than a cartoon jock. He’s the yin to Maverick’s yang, and he owns it. He went on to reprise the role in a moving and heartbreaking way in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, which also marked his final on-screen appearance.

Jim Morrison - The Doors (1991) Dir. Oliver Stone

Kilmer channels Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s The Doors with a hypnotic, unhinged brilliance. Part rock god, part trainwreck, all charisma. He doesn’t just play the Lizard King, he becomes him, nailing the slurred drawl, the wild-eyed poetry, and that feral stage presence that could flip from seductive to terrifying in a heartbeat. His strength is total immersion, he reportedly sang most of the tracks himself, and you believe every note, every stumble. It’s a performance that teeters on excess but never falls off, capturing Morrison’s chaos and charm in a way that’s downright eerie, keeping Morrison a vastly unlikeable, but compelling figure.

Doc Holiday - Tombstone (1993) Dir. George P. Cosmatos

In Tombstone, Kilmer’s Doc Holliday is a consumptive gunslinger with a drawl sharp enough to cut glass and a wit to match. He brings a languid, devil-may-care charm to the role that's pale, sweaty, and half-dead, yet somehow the most alive actor in every scene. His strength is being effortless cool as he tosses off lines like “I’m your huckleberry” with a twinkle that’s both playful and lethal. It’s a career-defining turn: Kilmer makes a dying man the film’s beating heart, stealing the show from Kurt Russell’s Wyatt Earp with every cough and display of that utterly magnificent mustache in a film full of plenty of stunning facial hair to choose from.

Bruce Wayne/Batman - Batman Forever (1995) Dir. Joel Schumacher

Kilmer’s Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever is a brooding square peg in Schumacher’s neon circus: suave, stoic, and a touch awkward in the cowl. He brings a grounded melancholy to the role, playing Wayne’s inner turmoil with tight lips and weary eyes, a stark contrast to the Riddler’s cackling excess. His strength is that low-key grit, he keeps Batman human amid the camp, tossing dry quips and staring down Two-Face like it’s just another day at the office. It’s not the flashiest Bat, but Kilmer’s quiet cool makes it a sleeper hit in the franchise. An oddity, but a one-off appearance as the Bat which Kilmer unfortunately never got to further develop in a film more on his wavelength, which could have made for spectacular results.

Madmartigan - Willow (1988) Dir. Ron Howard

Kilmer’s Madmartigan in Willow is a scruffy, sword-swinging scoundrel: think a medieval Jack Sparrow with better hair and worse manners. He brings a rollicking, devilish charm to Howard’s fantasy romp, swaggering through battles and banter with a grin that says “I’ve got this” (even when he doesn’t). His strength is that roguish spark, he’s a lovable cad who turns every fight into a laugh and every glance at Sorsha into a swoon-worthy moment. Kilmer’s charm is a colossal part of how Willow becomes such a beloved cult staple, giving it a cheeky edge that’s full of ‘80s charm.

Himself - Life’s Too Short Finale (2013) Sir. Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant

Kilmer joins the likes of Liam Neeson, Johnny Depp, and Helena Bonham Carter in playing a bastardized version of himself in Stephen Merchant and Ricky Gervais’s underrated sitcom Life’s Too Short. Delivering a self-aware riot of a performance, a pompous, gravel-voiced caricature who’s half Hollywood loon, half genius as he attempts to get a self-funded Willow sequel with Warwick Davis (Also as himself) off the ground and save his career. He brings a gleeful absurdity to the bit, deadpanning tales of Top Gun glory and Batman woes like a man who’s inhaled his own hype and loved it. His strength is that balls-out commitment, not afraid to make fun of his career as he plays the fool with such relish you’d swear it’s half-true, outshining Gervais’ antics with sheer weirdness. It’s a cameo that ranks among one of the high points of the short-lived series.

Nick Rivers - Top Secret! (1984) Dir. Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker

Kilmer’s Nick Rivers in Top Secret! is a daft delight: an Elvis-meets-Bond crooner caught in a Zucker-Abrahams-Zucker whirlwind of gags. He brings a wide-eyed, earnest charm to the spoof, belting tunes and dodging spies with a straight face that makes the lunacy sing. His strength is that pitch-perfect timing—he lands every pratfall and punch with understanding of the style. Hard to believe this was his first ever film role, but what a debut.

“Gay” Perry Van Shrike - Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) Dir. Shane Black

Kilmer’s “Gay” Perry in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a slick, sarky PI who is whip-smart, world-weary, and ready to roast Downey Jr. into next Tuesday. He brings a crisp, biting edge to Black’s noir, firing off highly quotable lines that still get used today with a drawl that’s pure snark. He's the electric element in the partnering to RDJ’s out-of-his-depth mess, their banter is a fireworks show that Black writes with witty sharpness. Kilmer makes Perry the film’s secret weapon, a comeback that’s all class. Absolutely criminal that we never got a sequel to this.

Dieter Von Cunth - MacGruber (2010) Dir. Jorma Taccone

Kilmer’s Dieter Von Cunth in MacGruber is a gleeful cartoon cad: Smug, sinister, and sporting a name that’s a gag in itself. He brings a hammy, over-the-top relish to the SNL spoof, sneering at Forte’s bumbling hero with a twirl that’s pure pantomime. His strength is that daft commitment, he dives into the silliness, chewing scenery and trading barbs like a Bond villain on a bender. Kilmer turns a throwaway bad guy into a riotous highlight, proving he’s game for anything and had very wide range of abilities he could pull off with ease.

Val Kilmer’s legacy lives on through the unforgettable characters he brought to life. His performances were more than just roles—they were transformative, leaving an indelible mark on cinema. Though he may be gone, his work continues to inspire, reminding us of the brilliance he shared with the world.