Val Kilmer

Attended Chatsworth High School with Kevin Spacey and Mare Winningham.

(October 1997) Ranked #62 in Empire magazines "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.

Co-authored play "How It All Began," performed at the New York Shakespeare Festival, Public Theatre, in 1981.

Was at the time the youngest student ever accepted into Juilliards drama department. His record has been supplanted by Juilliard student Seth Numrich , who was admitted at 15 in 2002.

Val Kilmer and Marlon Brando infuriated director John Frankenheimer on the set of The Island of Dr. Moreau . Frankenheimer later vowed to never work with Kilmer again.

While being let out of the metal cage during the filming of the crossroads scene in Willow , the rope holding the cage up broke and the cage landed on Kilmers foot, nearly breaking it. Later on in the film, Kilmer (who played swordsman Madmartigan) can be spotted having difficulty walking.

Met first wife, British actress Joanne Whalley , when they filmed the 1988 fantasy, Willow . They had two children: daughter Mercedes Kilmer (born in 1991) and son Jack Kilmer (born in 1995).

Is the second actor to play Batman in the movie franchise. He succeeded Michael Keaton ( Batman , Batman Returns ) and preceded #3 George Clooney ( Batman & Robin ); #4 Christian Bale ( Batman Begins ; The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises ) and #5 Ben Affleck ( Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice ). If counting the two different film serials and the television series, then Kilmer is the fifth actor to play Batman. The first 15-chapter film serial, Batman , was released in 1941 and starred Lewis Wilson. The second 15-chapter film serial, Batman and Robin , was released in 1949 and starred Robert Lowery. The TV series, "Batman" , starred Adam West.

Did his own singing while playing Jim Morrison in The Doors . The real members of the band said they had difficulty distinguishing Kilmers voice from that of Morrisons.

Turned down a role in The Outsiders because he was working with a theater company at the time, and if he had pulled out, the show would have been cancelled and his fellow actors out of a job.

Got the role of Chris Shiherlis in Heat after Keanu Reeves , who was originally cast as Chris, backed out.

Contrary to popular belief, he enjoyed playing "Batman" despite his poor working relationship with Joel Schumacher during the production of Batman Forever .

During the sled riding scene in Willow , he can be seen wearing a black glove on his left hand.

Is the only blonde actor to have played Bruce Wayne/Batman.

Oliver Stone once considered him for the role of Alexander the Great in his long-delayed Alexander project. Kilmer plays the father of Alexander, King Philip, opposite Colin Farrell in the Alexander role instead.

Did not want to appear in Top Gun but was forced to do so because of contractual obligations.

Appeared in Tombstone opposite Charlton Heston. Five years later, he succeeded Heston in the roles of both Moses and God in The Prince of Egypt .

Does a variation on his trademark of twirling objects in Willow : he twirls a sword during the fight in the snow camp.

Has played two legendary rock and roll musicians: Jim Morrison and Elvis Presley.

He was 4 11" when he entered high school. He acknowledged this on "Late Night with Conan OBrien" .

Admits in interviews that he is a horrible cook.

After his first film, Top Secret! , he went off and backpacked around Europe.

Enjoys scuba diving and traveling.

Filmed his part as Elvis Presley in True Romance in 1 day.

Good friends with actor Frank Whaley and musician David Crosby.

Has lived in New Mexico since 1983.

His father, Eugene, died in 1993.

His first auditions were for commercials at 13 years old.

His parents divorced when he was 9 years old.

In 1995, Kilmer learned he was getting a divorce while watching CNN in a hotel room. "It was no fun," he has said.

In the past he used to send taped auditions to filmmakers, figuring they would be much better (and less pressure) than live auditions.

Loves buffalo (and owns several on his ranch in New Mexico).

Stated in 1999 that At First Sight was his most challenging role to date.

Turned down Patrick Swayze s role in Dirty Dancing because he didnt want to be perceived as a "hunk."

Turned down roles in movies such as: Dune , Blue Velvet , Flatliners , Captain America , Backdraft , Sliver , Point Break , In the Line of Fire , Indecent Proposal , Crimson Tide , Batman & Robin , The Insider , Bandits , a cameo in Austin Powers in Goldmember , Collateral and Dark Matter (2007/I) .

Visited Iraq briefly in April 1998 with AmeriCares, delivering supplies such as food, medicine and baby food.

He was in the Kalahari Desert in Africa researching a story he was writing about witch doctors when he was offered the Batman Forever Batman role.

Wrote poetry for actress Michelle Pfeiffer.

Broke his arm while filming The Doors when he performed a jump from the stage into the crowd and the stuntman failed to catch him. The injury has left Kilmer with an abnormal growth on his left elbow that can clearly be seen many times in Heat .

Was originally set to play the lead role in The Island of Dr. Moreau but asked to switch roles because of his divorce.

Keith Campbell has doubled for him in many films. His most recent double has been Chuck Borden.

Warwick Davis , Kilmers co-star in Willow , says in his audio commentary that the question he is most frequently asked is: "What was is it like to work with Val Kilmer?" Davis says he has very fond memories of working with Kilmer, stating that Kilmer had a great sense of humor and was very dedicated to the job.

While the movie The Missing (2003/I) was being shot about one hour from his New Mexico ranch, he called up his old friend Ron Howard [writer/director] and asked for a part. Ron gladly accepted and gave him a part which only took 3 days to film. Kilmers scene is close to 13 minutes long, not counting the DVDs deleted scene.

He and Elvis Presley , whom Kilmer portrayed in True Romance , were/are both said to have Cherokee ancestry.

Shares two roles with Peter Dobson. In True Romance , Kilmer plays Elvis Presley , a role Dobson played in Forrest Gump . Kilmer also plays Chris Shiherlis in Heat , which was a remake of L.A. Takedown , in which Dobson played the role.

Grew up in the San Fernando Valley the middle son of three boys (Mark the eldest; Wesley the youngest). During his high school years, Wesley drowned in the familys swimming pool, an incident Val claims inspired his subsequent performance in The Salton Sea .

His work with the New Mexico Film Investment Program fueled a nearly 40-fold growth in the states annual production revenue, from $3 million in 2002 to $117 million in 2006.

Kilmer was eventually succeeded in the role of "Batman" by Christian Bale after George Clooney vacated the role. In The Prince of Egypt , Kilmer provides the voice of "God", while Bale played "Jesus" in Mary, Mother of Jesus .

Born to Eugene Kilmer and his wife, Gladys Ekstadt.

Vals father was of English, as well as Welsh, Northern Irish (Scots-Irish), French Huguenot, and German, ancestry. Vals mother was of Swedish ancestry.

Second cousin of journalist and poet Joyce Kilmer.

His paternal grandfather was a gold miner in New Mexico.

He and his old friend Kevin Spacey have both played iconic characters from DC Comics. Kilmer played Batman in Batman Forever , and Spacey played Lex Luthor in Superman Returns .

Was considered for the role of Captain America/Steve Rogers in the failed 1990 film adaptation of the character. Captain America later fought Batman, whom Kilmer played, in the 1996 DC vs. Marvel storyline.

Was succeeded as Batman by George Clooney.

To date , he has appeared in one Tony Scott film per decade, for three decades. First was Top Gun in 1986, then True Romance in 1993, and then Deja Vu in 2006.

Actor Girard Swan has worked as his double on past films.

Volunteered to work with AmeriCares in 1998.

While promoting The Prince of Egypt , he visited 6 countries in 5 days, stopping in Amsterdam, Rome, Madrid, Berlin, Paris and Zurich.

Younger brother of Mark and older brother of Wesley.

Attended high school with Mare Winningham and stated in his biography that "he was in love with her, cause she was old enough to drive and he wasnt".

Father, with Joanne Whalley , of daughter Mercedes Kilmer (born on October 29, 1991) and son Jack Kilmer (born on June 6, 1995).

Told Interview magazine during a 1991 conversation to promote The Doors that as a child, his family had employed a veteran of the Vietnam War, ongoing at the time, as a full-time babysitter. When the man found work elsewhere, the Kilmer family lost touch with him. Through Interview magazine they made an appeal for the Vietnam vet to reconnect with them.

Is a longtime board member of the New Mexico State Film Commission, which tries to persuade Los Angeles - based filmmakers and studios to film on location in New Mexico.

During the filming of Streets of Blood , 50 Cent became good friends with Val Kilmer. The two actors bonded over their love of vintage cars and 50 Cent stunned Kilmer by giving him the keys of a 1965 Chevy Impala which the singer-turned-actor purchased for $100,000.

One of his favourite directors was Tony Scott. The two worked together on three films, Top Gun , True Romance and Deja Vu .

Made a personal appearance at the Big Apple Comic Book & Sci-Fi Expo in New York City. This was a two day fund raising event for several non-profit organizations as Kilmer donated all proceeds.

(July 2005) Playing in a production of David Mamet s "The Postman Always Rings Twice" in London.

(June 2006) Filming alongside Denzel Washington , Paula Patton and Jim Caviezel in Tony Scott s Deja Vu , on location in New Orleans.

(June 2007) While on break from the set of his latest film, he joined former ambassador Joseph Wilson , Jonathan Richards, former CIA undercover agent Valerie Plame Wilson , Mary-Charlotte Domandi, Jane Fonda and Ali MacGraw in reading pieces from the new Eve Ensler book about ending violence against women and girls worldwide. Ticket-sale proceeds from this exclusive event went to various non-profit projects around the world.

(August 2009) Filming alongside Will Forte and Ryan Phillippe for Universal Pictures MacGruber .

(June 2008) While on break from the set of Streets of Blood with 50 Cent , he joined Cuba Gooding Jr. in supporting the First Star Celebration for Childrens Rights.

(January 2008) While promoting "Comanche Moon" and awaiting production of his latest film to start; joined Rosario Dawson , Jessica Alba , Katie Holmes , Gina Gershon and Kerry Washington in supporting V-Day and the global effort to end violence against women and girls. Ticket-sale proceeds from this event went to fund several non-profit non-violent humanitarian missions around the world.

(September 2007) Made a personal appearance for the 2007 Orchard Beach Classic Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show in New York. This was a one day non-profit fund raising event to raise money for the families of police officers who were killed in the September 11th terrorist attack.

He has two roles in common with Adam West : (1) West played Doc Holliday in "Sugarfoot" , "Colt.45" and "Lawman" while Kilmer played him in Tombstone and West played Batman / Bruce Wayne in "Batman" , Batman: The Movie , "SuperFriends: The Legendary Super Powers Show" , "The Super Powers Team: Galactic Guardians" , "The New Adventures of Batman" and "Legends of the Superheroes" while Kilmer played him in Batman Forever .

He has two roles in common with Christian Bale : (1) Kilmer played Batman / Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever while Bale played Batman Begins , The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises and Kilmer played Moses in The Prince of Egypt while Bale played him in Exodus: Gods and Kings .

As of 2015, is the only actor to play Batman in a live action movie (not based on a TV series) to not be nominated/win an Academy Award for acting.

The only actor to have played both Doc Holliday ( Tombstone ) and Wyatt Earp ( Wyatt Earps Revenge ).

Val Kilmer auditioned for the lead role in Full Metal Jacket that eventually went to Matthew Modine.

Is referenced frequently in Psych. He made a surprise cameo in the series finale as the oft-referenced but never seen Detective Dobson.

Hes a big fan of Michael Fassbender. The two became friends after working together on Song To Song and The Snowman and he invited Fassbender to the set of Lifes Too Short when he made an appearance on the show.

He has expressed a desire to play a villain in a Batman film to Ben Afflecks Bruce Wayne/Batman.

He and his son Jack Kilmer have both appeared in films directed by Shane Black: Val in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Jack in The Nice Guys .

The physical terrain, the feeling, the environment and culture improve,my life just by waking up there.

(On his youthful drug experimentation) If marijuana was supposed to make,you mellow, I would be like, "The cops, the cops, the cops . . . " I was,what you call the buzz kill.

Loved every minute of it.

I am taking time to share my life with fans. People have always been so,kind to me and supportive and I never involved myself with any of that.

Why has Amazon taken over Hollywood in five minutes? Because they only,[have] one objective: make the customer happy.

I never cultivated a personality. Almost everyone who is really famous has cultivated a personality.