Highly acclaimed but greatly underrated actor of film, TV, and stage Val Kilmer passed away on April 1, 2025. He will be greatly missed. Kilmer achieved fame as a leading man in a wide variety of film genres including comedy, drama, action, westerns, neo-noir crime, science fiction, horror, and fantasy films. Film critic Roger Ebert remarked, “If there is an award for the most unsung leading man of his generation, Kilmer should get it.”
Val Kilmer (1959-2025) was born in Los Angeles and studied drama at Julliard Arts Conservatory in New York. His career began as acting on stage in Broadway plays in the 1990s. His break into film began in 1984. Kilmer’s career was boosted by the film Top Gun working with Tom Cruise. His next big breakthrough came with his role playing Jim Morrison in The Doors movie. Some of his other major roles included the films Batman Forever, Willow, Tombstone, The Saint, The Ghost in Darkness, Déjà Vu, and many more.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Val Kilmer worked with Robert Downy Jr. in the popular Kiss Kiss Bang Bang film in 2002, by Warner Bros, director Shane Black. It is a tongue-cheek neo-noir black comedy, crime action movie that was filmed in LA. Other cast members include Corbin Bernsen and Michelle Monagham. Rankings Rotten Tomatoes 86%, Roger Ebert 2.5/4, IMDB 7.5/10.
Heat
A highly acclaimed and popular hard hitting, dark neo-noir crime action thriller. Heat, 1995, by Warner Bros. directed by Michael Mann with an all-star cast of Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Jon Voight, Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Ashley Judd, and Danny Trejo. The story is about a professional gang of thieves who have an armored car heist go bad which brings police heat and betrayal from their financing partners. The heist puts them on the radar of the LAPD which relentlessly pursues them. Rankings: Rotten Tomatoes 83%, Roger Ebert ¾, IMDB 8.3/10.
The Snowman
The Snowman, 2017, Universal, a British ‘Nordic’ neo-noir, dark psychological thriller. Filmed in Norway and Sweden and directed by Tomas Alfredson. A police detective tracks down a serial killer who builds snowmen on his murder scenes. Cast: Michael Fassbender, Rebecca Ferguson, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Val Kilmer, and J.K. Simmons.
True Romance
True Romance, 1993, Warner Bros., an acclaimed and popular neo-noir romance crime thriller with a top level A-list cast and directed by Quentin Tarantino. The film has gained a cult following. A criminal and a prostitute get married and go on a crime spree of robbery, drugs, and murder. They are being chased by both the police and the mafia drug dealers they stole cocaine from. Cast: Christian Slater, Patricia Arquette, Val Kilmer, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt, and Christopher Walken. Rankings: Rotten Tomatoes 93%, IMDB 7.9/10.
Kill Me Again
Kill Me Again, 1989, MGM, neo-noir crime thriller, director John Dahl and filmed in Las Vegas and LA. Kilmer plays a private detective duped into helping a female criminal on the run from ripping off her partner in a heist. He helps her stage her own death. Cast: Val Kilmer, Joanne Whalley, Michael Madsen, and John Gres. Rankings: Rotten Tomatoes 100%, IMDB 6.3/10.
The Salton Sea
The Salton Sea, 2002, Warner Bros., highly acclaimed yet dark and creepy neo-noir crime thriller. Directed by D.J. Caruso with a cast of Val Kilmer, Vincent D’Onofrio, Adam Goldberg, Luis Guzman, Anthony LaPaglia, and Danny Trejo. Kilmer plays a jazz magician who goes undercover as a stoned-out meth addict to find and kill the drug dealers who murdered his wife. Ratings: Roger Ebert 4/4, Rotten Tomatoes 82%, IDB 7/10.
Double Identity
Double Identity, 2009, Nu Image, neo-noir crime thriller directed by Dennis Dimster. An American doctor working in Bulgaria is mistaken as an agent of the Russian mafia. Cast: Val Kilmer, Izabella Miko, Julian Wadhen, and Hristo Shopov.
Riddle
Riddle, 2013, XLrador, neo-noir crime drama, director John Hartman. A women travels to a small town in search of her missing brother. The police and town leaders try to prevent her search to hide the town’s dark secrets. Cast: Elizabeth Harnois, Val Kilmer, Diora Baird, and William Sadler.
