Movie Bros: Favourite Val Kilmer

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Trivia (IMBD)

Attended Chatsworth High School with Kevin Spacey and Mare Winningham.

Ranked #62 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list. [October 1997]

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 Juilliard's 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 (1996). 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 (1988), the rope holding the cage up broke and the cage landed on Kilmer's 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 (1988). 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 (1989), Batman Returns (1992)) and preceded #3 George Clooney (Batman & Robin (1997)); #4 Christian Bale (Batman Begins (2005); The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012)) and #5 Ben Affleck (Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)). 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 (1943), was released in 1941 and starred Lewis Wilson. The second 15-chapter film serial, Batman and Robin (1949), was released in 1949 and starred Robert Lowery. The TV series, Batman (1966), starred Adam West.

Did his own singing while playing Jim Morrison in The Doors (1991). The real members of the band said they had difficulty distinguishing Kilmer's voice from that of Morrison's.

Turned down the role of Ponyboy in The Outsiders (1983) 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 (1995) 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 (1995).

During the sled riding scene in Willow (1988), he can be seen wearing a black glove on his left hand.

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

Oliver Stone once considered him for the role of Alexander the Great in his long-delayed Alexander (2004) 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 (1986) but was forced to do so because of contractual obligations.

Appeared in Tombstone (1993) opposite Charlton Heston. Five years later, he succeeded Heston in the roles of both Moses and God in The Prince of Egypt (1998).

Does a variation on his trademark of twirling objects in Willow (1988): 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 O'Brien (1993).

Admits in interviews that he is a horrible cook.

After his first film, Top Secret! (1984), he went off and backpacked around Europe.

Enjoys scuba diving and traveling.

Filmed his part as Elvis Presley in True Romance (1993) in 1 day.

Good friends with actor Frank Whaley and musician David Crosby.

Has lived in New Mexico since 1983.

His first auditions were for commercials at 13 years old.

His parents divorced when he was 9 years old. His father, Eugene, died in 1993.

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 (a...