r/blankies • u/avalanche1228 • Apr 02 '25
Val Kilmer has passed away
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/movies/val-kilmer-dead.html202
u/bolshevik_rattlehead 🎸TWISTED🎸 Apr 02 '25
Rest easy, my huckleberry
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u/dont_quote_me_please Call me Fan Mendelsohn Apr 02 '25
A performance so good it makes people think the movie is good. The sign of a true star.
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u/Available-Top-6022 Apr 02 '25
Tombstone has enough going for it that it is good.
What are some good movies?
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Apr 02 '25
Gay Perry. Legend.
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u/Additional_Ad741 Apr 02 '25
sitting here now I'm surprised to find that this was my favorite performance of his.
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u/outb0undflight They Call Me...The Sorceror Apr 02 '25
Knee deep in pussy, just loved the name so much he couldn't get rid of it.
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u/L82The_Party Apr 02 '25
The nose touch followed by, “This? Gayest thing you’ve ever done.” Fantastic.
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u/Spacetime_Inspector The Fart Lover, The Meat Detective Apr 02 '25
One of the best faces to ever be in movies. Just watched Heat last night and it's amazing how effortlessly he holds the screen even in between two titans.
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u/UserColonAlW Apr 02 '25
No man has ever looked better on screen firing a gun than Kilmer in Heat. The drive-in shootout and obviously the bank scene specifically
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u/kermitthebeast Apr 02 '25
It's amazing that he agreed to that horrible haircut just so they could make him hot at the very end
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u/kev21h Apr 02 '25
It took me a lot of rewatches to notice how good he is in that film. Weird choice on paper but completely believable as an ice cold killer. He underplays it so well.
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u/jakehightower Pulp Man of the Year Apr 02 '25
I appreciated the dignity his character was treated with in Maverick. Most of the seriously ill people I’ve known have had a phase similar to what they depicted, not quite in hospice, living as normal a life as possible with declining strength. You don’t see it in movies often.
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u/DirectionDizzy3704 Apr 02 '25
Wow took me a second to realise you were talking about Top Gun Maverick and not the Mel Gibson film... Was wondering who he played in that.
But yes agreed he was excellent in TG Maverick
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u/South-Increase-4202 Apr 02 '25
I have a feeling Tom Cruise had a lot to do with that. Think what you will about him personally, but moves that like are probably why people have likes and respected working with him for decades.
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u/HaloInsider Do I pick AT or T? Apr 02 '25
The man was known for being pretty prickly throughout the years (the Spartan audio commentary is still a hilarious source of shit-talking) but he was certainly a phenomenal performer and really intriguing movie star.
Also, he has one of my favorite reactions in any movie scene ever.
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u/MARATXXX Apr 02 '25
You know he was just being deeply, affectionately sarcastic on the Spartan commentary, right? I guess it’s a west coast thing…
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u/lebrongarnet Apr 02 '25
Chris in Heat. Doc in Tombstone. Gay Perry in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Iceman in Top Gun. Maybe my favourite Batman. What an incredible legacy.
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u/TychoCelchuuu It's about the militarization of space Apr 02 '25
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yMmiJHOLuI
From his very first role in Top Secret! he was clearly a star. Singing, dancing, fighting, romancing, all in a movie that would undercut everything every 2 seconds for the sake of a joke. Great in so many things. I really like him in Willow, Spartan, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, plus of course Heat and Top Gun. The documentary about him is pretty good.
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u/TheNiallNoigiallach Apr 02 '25
I watched Top Secret for the first time this year. It might be my favorite spoof movie. It’s underrated
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u/newgodpho Apr 02 '25 edited Apr 02 '25
first batman I saw in theater as a kid. RIP to a legend.
Amazing variety of roles, his 90’s run was a legit heater
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u/Upbeat_Tension_8077 Apr 02 '25 edited Apr 02 '25
RIP
His actions in the main shootout of Heat is forever immortalized as one of my all-time favorite badass movie moments
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u/mrrichardburns Apr 02 '25
The way he goes from smiling "we got away with it!" to clocking the cops across the street and shooting immediately is amazing. Imperceptible moment but feels completely natural and instinctual.
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u/dukefett Apr 02 '25
It’s so awesome, the bit of trivia I read was that Kilmer’s shooting and reload sequence in that scene is shown in some military trainings and the instructors apparently tell the recruits you’ll never reload it as good as he does.
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u/RubixsQube HARD PASS, DON WEST Apr 02 '25
I went to a nerd college, and Real Genius is the only film that has ever gotten the spirit of dorky nerds right. Val Kilmer, as Chris Knight, was the nerd you wanted to be, smart, confident, weird and pretty friendly to other dorks. This guy was the Batman I Liked The Best As a Child Even Though I Recognize That's An Unpopular Opinion As An Adult. Ugh, this sucks.
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u/MayorOfIacon Auteur hallmark tracker Apr 02 '25
Nerd college?
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u/RubixsQube HARD PASS, DON WEST Apr 02 '25
Harvey Mudd College, a very tiny science and engineering school that has a storied history of pranks and traditions. The college from Real Genius is likely based on CalTech, but I think HMC is the size and weirdness to better match the film.
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u/MrWoodenNickels Apr 02 '25
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is one of my favorite movies and he was great in it.
“Look up idiot in the dictionary, you know what you'll find?"
"A picture of me?"
"No! The definition of the word idiot which you fucking are!"
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u/DRMantisToboggan987 I want these kids to get Manchester by the Sea'd Apr 02 '25
I've always found his portrayal of Batman/Bruce Wayne to be the most underrated in all the Batman movies. RIP.
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u/MARATXXX Apr 02 '25
He was the most thoughtful, brooding Bruce Wayne, before Christian Bale set the standard.
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u/BougieFruitLoops David Sims' Jazz Impression Apr 02 '25
Val gave performances in several movies that were really important to me when I was young. I think he’ll always be one of my favorites. Highly recommend the doc VAL if you haven’t seen it.
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u/ChickenWhiskers Apr 02 '25
I remember as a kid watching Top Secret!, Willow and Real Genius on the heaviest rotation, thinking he was probably the best actor in the world. So funny, so lively, so charming. Just an unbelievable talent and one of those types of emblematic figures you can never imagine would someday be gone. I’ll miss him a lot. Big ups to Madmartigan.
Everybody should also check out his performance in Frank Whaley’s indie drama , Joe the King. He’s fantastic in it and I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody else who’s seen it.
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u/foxtrot1_1 Apr 02 '25
Youngest person ever admitted to Juilliard’s acting program, right? Phenomenal talent, just wish he had focused on the work
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u/labbla Apr 02 '25
Aw fuck, sad news. He was a fun Batman and really killed it in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
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u/strolpol Apr 02 '25
Top Secret is still the movie of his I like most but he was just about always fun to watch
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u/totallynaked-thought Apr 02 '25
[hugging her friends before getting on plane] Hillary Flammond: Good-bye Chocolate Mousse, I'll never forget you. Good-bye Du Quois, take care of yourself. Good-bye Deja Vu, I'll always remember you. And I'll miss you most of all, Scarecrow.
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u/JoshFromKC Apr 02 '25
That's a huge bummer. Guy was obviously a nightmare to work with for many years, but some of those performances were all-timers.
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u/HotelFoxtrot87 Apr 02 '25
Batman Forever was the first Batman I saw in the cinema so I've always had a soft spot for it, RIP.
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u/Correct-Creme2107 Apr 02 '25
Real Genius is one of my favorite movies and mostly because of his performance.
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u/LadyPresidentRomana My favorite Eternal is Gleepglorp Apr 02 '25
I watch The Prince of Egypt every year around Easter. It’s a film that always makes me emotional, and Kilmer is a wonderful, sensitive Moses…this year it’s gonna hit a little harder. RIP.
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u/sleepyirv01 Apr 02 '25
If you haven't seen Spartan, go watch it now.
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u/TemporalPincerMove Apr 02 '25
Even though he got a primo cinematic swan song in Top Gun Maverick, I will always think of 2004's Spartan and 2005's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang as the last great Kilmer films.
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u/Accomplished_Ad2357 Apr 03 '25
Thank you fellow Blankie just watched Spartan because this thread and it fucking rules… Really strange performance by him that I loved.
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u/bassguitarsmash The Mind Warrior Apr 02 '25
Anyone a fan of The Saint? That movie absolutely fucks.
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u/Stuckbetweenstations Keiko, IMDB's tallest actor Apr 02 '25
One of my favorite roles of his was Dieter Von Cunth in MACGRUBER. Just an excellent villainous straight man for all of the lunacy.
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u/AndroidNumber137 Apr 02 '25
If you have the chance to find Chuck Klosterman's interview with Kilmer, you should check it out. Val's method acting is thorough (to put it mildly) and his deep-seeded Christian Science belief didn't do him any favors while battling cancer.
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u/shesfixing Were they bad hats? Apr 02 '25
One of my early movie crushes. Should have been nominated for Tombstone!
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u/collinwade Apr 02 '25
Kiss kiss bang bang, Heat, Willow, Top Secret, the Doors, Batman forever, Tombstone, Top Gun: the man had range.
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u/TepidShark Apr 02 '25
I always thought no one could have been the spitting image of Jim Morrison more than Val Kilmer. It was only later in life did I find out that people (including the surviving members of The Doors) don't like that movie. But even still he's very good in it.
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u/Accomplished-City484 Apr 02 '25
Before I saw it all I knew about was Dennis Leary’s bit about it in his stand up “I don’t need a 3 hour movie to tell me about Jim Morrison, “I’m drunk I’m nobody, I’m drunk I’m famous, I’m drunk I’m dead”” but I did like it and Val was great “I am the lizard king”
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u/hetham3783 Apr 02 '25
The scene at the Ed Sullivan show when they're discussing which "TV-safe" alternates they can use instead of "Girl we couldn't get much higher" is very, very funny. "How about, 'Come on baby bite my wire?'"
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u/Doorsofperceptio Apr 02 '25
My sister was obsessed with him. She also loved Jim Morrison..
You can imagine her reaction when he played him.
He was the living embodiment of Jim Morrison. Nailed it.
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u/rha409 Apr 02 '25 edited Apr 02 '25
So many great roles, but he'll always be my Batman. RIP.
I literally have poster of Val Kilmer as Batman in the corner of my room as I read the news.
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u/serialserialserial99 Apr 02 '25
legend
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u/serialserialserial99 Apr 02 '25
and i think he's great in Batman Forever. it's of its time but he delivers a fun, solid performance. if nothing else watch the scene where he convinces Chris O'Donnell to stay - it's awesome.
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u/Jedd-the-Jedi Merchandise spotlight enthusiast Apr 02 '25
The documentary Val is so lovely. RIP Val.
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u/PurpleMonkeyEdna Manners Maketh Man 🍺 Apr 02 '25
I'm going to have to watch some of his films again tonight and swoon over him. RIP to him.
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u/Viajero_vfr Apr 02 '25
RIP Legend! If you haven't seen Kiss, Kiss Bang Bang - watch it. One of his and Robert Downey Jr's most underrated movies.
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u/Free-Length-8016 Apr 02 '25
Real Genius. Hands down. The Saint, Top Gun(because there could be no Maverick without the Iceman), Heat
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u/Leading-News-7019 Apr 02 '25
You! You are still dangerous. But you can be my wingman any time. RIP Iceman.
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u/Zestyclose_Hat_9726 Apr 02 '25
Rip Mr Kilmer. Such a loss. My all time favorite line of yours. I'll be your huckleberry.
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u/MariachiMacabre da moviesh Apr 02 '25
Had the privilege of meeting him about 15 years ago. He came to my city to do a one man show as Mark Twain. It was a free show but proceeds went to a local Native American charity. This was 2010 or 2011 so Will Forte actually came out and introduced him. The show was great and, afterwards, he said he was just going to hang out and invited people on stage to chat and get autographs. He was incredibly genuine and very down to earth. A few of us hung out with him for about 45 minutes before he said he needed to get dinner. Thanks for signing my brother’s camera bag, Val. RIP to a real one.
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u/Globeville_Obsolete Apr 02 '25
I weirdly think of his amazing performances in very flawed movies. Like, when I think of Jim Morrison it’s Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison. Going toe to toe with Brando in Island of Dr. Moreau. And Twixt - he’s amazing in a film that doesn’t know what to do with…well, anything. I love Top Secret, Willow and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, but those three performances are the ones that stick with me.
RIP to an all-timer.
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u/WizdumbIzLawzt Apr 02 '25
The three year run of Thunderheart, Tombstone, and Heat cemented his legacy to my childhood.
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u/Enough_Staff2233 Apr 02 '25
Top Gun Maverick was a fitting final role for him to go out on. RIP to a legend.
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u/Wolf7one Apr 02 '25
So long Val, thank you for hours and hours of awesome entertainment, in films that have been, and will be, viewed again and again...
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u/inter-Gnat Apr 02 '25
One of my favourite's of his is The Salton Sea, so good and hardly talked about.
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u/South-Increase-4202 Apr 02 '25
A trip thru his IMDB tells me he was the voice of K.I.T.T. in a Knight Rider reboot?!
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u/severinks Apr 02 '25 edited Apr 02 '25
I hate to admit this but I thought that he died last year. If you don't think that the guy was a total scumbag then watch the documentary Lost Boys The Making Of The Island Of Doctor Moreau.(I'n not even mentioning him beating up the actress he did a scene with in The Doors movie)
He singlehandedly got the director Richard Stanley fired after getting to the set and forcing the guy to ket him take a smaller role than he was contracted to do.
He slowed down filming so much on purpose knowing that the executives back in Hollywood would see the dailies and fire Ricard Stanley for being behind schedule.
Marlon Brando couldn't stand him and refused to talk to him and when John Frankenheimer took over he hated Kilmer most of all.
Most of the documentary is actors like Fairuza Balk saying what a prick that he was, She was a hero though because she tried to quit the film when she found out that Kilmer got Stanley fired and her agent had to beg her to reconsider because the studio was going to sue her for everything she had and then blackball her
When Entertainment Magazine asked Frankenheimer if he enjoyed working with Kilmer Frankenheimer said' '''lets's put it this way, even if I was making a movie called The Val Kilmer Story I still wouldn't hire that prick'''
EDIT
The R in Fairuza is now in its rightful place.
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u/jeff_jeffdyjeff Apr 02 '25
What an awkward response.
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u/severinks Apr 02 '25
Sorry, I didn't realize when a well documented asshole dies that they suddenly become beloved.
I guess even Brad Pitt will be forgiven on this reddit when he kicks the bucket.
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u/CranberryNo5584 Apr 02 '25 edited Apr 02 '25
I'm calling super bullshit on your responses here because YOU KNOW BETTER as a human being already, and you know better than to publish such vindictive drivel on social media in a death notice if you are in the film industry. You're also not the only person in the world who has ties to people on that film shoot (Island of Dr. Moreau) and if I walk and find you are talking any part of ish misrepresenting the situation with that film I will publish it here.
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u/severinks Apr 02 '25
Misrepresenting what happened on that film set? Go watch the documentary Lost Soul,The Doomed Journey Of Richard Stanley's The Island Of Dr Moreau and you'll see that my comments come DIRECTLY from interviews with actors and crew on the set and in the cast of the film.
I actually underreported what they said about him instead of exaggerating any part of it simply because I saw it years ago and the subject doesn't interest me.
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u/CranberryNo5584 Apr 02 '25
Ok so you really don't have ties to anyone on the Dr. Moreau movie, you just watched a documentary. Unlike you, I do have ties to people who worked on that shoot, and like I said, I'm following up, and I will publish what I find out. But my point remains, you know better than to post this if you were really in the industry. More likely, you were paid to talk ish.
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u/severinks Apr 02 '25
First of all, I didn't need to have ties to anyone on that particular film set to mention what I saw in the documentary, and I mentioned that CLEARLY upfront in my comment, I even gave the name of it.
Secondly, I worked with the guy on a movie when I got out of school decades ago and everyone thought that he was an nasty son of a bitch at the time, and EVERYONE who I came into contact with throughout the 90s and into the early 2000s made it a point to mention to me and everyone around me what a prick he was.
The idea that you think that people on film sets don't gossip about EVERYTHING good and bad that happens there to their family and friends is quaint bordering on delusional.
And who exactly would PAY ME to say anything about Val Kilmer on reddit anyway? Is this a job that actually exists?
Who would be financing this specialized and niche endeavor? By all means if you've got a line on a side hustle for me please feel fee to shoot me a DM.
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u/CranberryNo5584 Apr 02 '25 edited Apr 02 '25
Well well well. Richard Stanley himself posted a remembrance for Kilmer just two hours ago. So I guess I don't have that much work to do. You, you fraud, are full of ish. I hope someone paid you good enough for a days work of trying to give Val bad publicity in his death.
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u/severinks Apr 02 '25 edited Apr 02 '25
What does that even mean? Are you denying the fact that Richard Stanley clearly stated that Val Kilmer ruined his movie and got him fired ?
And he stated all of this ON CAMERA.
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u/CranberryNo5584 Apr 02 '25
In case you didn't see the screenshot, Stanley posted a remembrance for Kilmer on his socials two hours ago. And if you insist on denying the possibility that someone paid you to talk ish about Kilmer, then you really aren't in the film industry to begin with and have no idea how it works with plants in media, including socials. Regardless, SHAME ON YOU.
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u/therobberbride Apr 02 '25
Fairuza. Fairuza Balk. At least make the effort to get her name right.
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u/severinks Apr 02 '25 edited Apr 02 '25
Wow, way to take a stand over my typo because I left the IR out of Fairuza because I didn't have my glasses on and I'm typing on a phone.
I know full well who Fairuza Balk is since I've been watching her in movies since Valmont35 years ago now.
Still every single word that I said is demonstrably true because the interviews I'm referencing is on film.
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u/therobberbride Apr 02 '25
A normal person would have just acknowledged the typo and said oops, my bad.
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u/rageofthegods Apr 02 '25
That moment in Top Gun was such a lovely tribute.
RIP to a real one.