The most memorable Val Kilmer roles

Kilmer is not above lending his voice to an animated feature. His time in the popular Disney movie Planes (2013) is brief. His Bravo character, a United States Navy Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet, might be an homage to another high-flying role Kilmer played years earlier. When the film's protagonist Dusty Crophopper gets lost over the ocean, Bravo is there to help. 

Film critics weren't enamored with At First Sight. However, Kilmer is solid opposite Mira Sorvino in this 1999 romantic drama. Virgil, blind since he was a young boy, reluctantly undergoes an operation to regain his sight after starting a relationship with message client Amy (Sorvino). Once he can see, Virgil is a different man. Kilmer does a nice job portraying Virgil's discomfort and disorientation. 

A 1996 fictional account based on the story of the Tsavo man-eaters. Lions terrorized those working on the Uganda-Mombasa Railway in East Africa in the late 1890s. Kilmer's Col. Patterson is at the heart of the action. He was initially slated to help oversee the project but found himself often frustrated trying to hunt and kill the lions who continue to plague the progress. Kilmer plays an authoritative role that's worthy of celebration even while overshadowed by some of his better known work from the 1990s.

Some of Kilmer's notable performances weren't limited to the big screen. Perhaps his best television role was in HBO's 1987 drama The Man Who Broke 1,000 Chains. Kilmer played Robert Burns, a World War I veteran who escapes from prison to become a successful writer and publisher. However, Burns is his own worst enemy and is ultimately sent back to prison. 

True Romance has earned cult classic status despite struggling at the box office upon its 1993 release. Some of its best moments are also the briefest. Like when the spirit of Elvis — that's where Kilmer comes in — appears to film protagonist Clarence Worley (Christian Slater) and convinces him to kill the demised pimp (Gary Oldman) of his hooker wife Alabama Whitman (Patricia Arquette).

Another memorable Kilmer television moment came with his 2004 guest spot in HBO's Entourage. He plays the "Sherpa," a friend of Vince's current girl, a vegan. She takes the gang to meet the hippie "Sherpa" and score some pot. The heavily0bearded Sherpa thinks he's deep, but he's goofy. That said, his dope-selling business seems good, and his probation officer is one of his best customers.

Kilmer digs deep in history for his role as Philip II, from Oliver Stone's 2004 epic drama about Alexander the Great. Colin Farrell fares fine in the lead role, but Kilmer shines as Alexander's one-eyed father. He wants strength and prosperity for a son with whom he had no real relationship beyond contempt. Philip's death scene remains one of the most emotionally powerful moments in the film. 

Kilmer has the knack for playing the bad guy. One of his most villainous moments came in the 2010 underdog comedy MacGruber. Dieter Von Cunth is smarmy. Slicked-back hair with a ponytail. He runs a nightclub, takes possession of a nuclear warhead, and kills MacGruber's fiancée. The movie is over-the-top, but Kilmer seems to be fine with that and pokes fun at his character.

By the mid-1990s, Kilmer was a big enough star to warrant taking on the role of a legendary superhero. After Michael Keaton donned the Batman suit for the first two Caped Crusader films directed by Tim Burton, Kilmer jumped into the starring role with Joel Schumacher now directing. While Jim Carrey and Tommy Lee Jones earned critical praise as The Riddler and Two-Face, respectively, Kilmer's performance was met with a sense of "meh." His take on Batman, struggling with his dual identity, adds a more human touch to the character. Even so, his stock didn't rise any higher. 

More animated work from Kilmer. Chronicling the life of Moses, Kilmer claims the lead role and runs with it. Over the years, Kilmer was highly entertaining when being overdramatic. Within the annals of Kilmer's work, this is one project that perhaps gets just credit for his performance and ability to bring any film concept to life. He also offers the voice of God, though uncredited.

Kilmer is one to shy away from taking on a larger-than-life, non-fictional character. He tends to throw his brand of bravado into such roles. Now, one can nitpick that Kilmer doesn't completely resemble John Holmės, but he owns the carefree attitude that was part of the character's off-screen persona. Kilmer is the undisputed star of this 2003 picture chronicling the Wonderland tragedies from the summer of 1981.

Undoubtedly, the best part of 1997's The Saint is the on-screen chemistry between Kilmer and co-star Elisabeth Shue. Kilmer delivers one of his most intriguing characters. Simon is a technological thief who roams the underground and avoids capture by disguising himself under the moniker of different Catholic saints. 

One can argue that Kilmer's performance in this Shane Black dark comedy from 2005 is his best work from the 2000s. "Gay" Perry van Shrike is a smart-mouth, sure-of-himself private investigator tasked with helping Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.) for an upcoming screen test. Kilmer's character stands out without trying. He seems almost natural in a role that's fun to watch and easy to like — a reminder of just how talented Kilmer can be when on his game.

Kilmer was already a bonafide Hollywood star when Willow was released in 1988. Once again, he delivered. Willow was a larger-than-life fantasy film, and Kilmer's Madmartigan was over-the-top in many ways. The conceited mercenary, quite the swordsman, helps film protagonist Willow (Warwick Davis) on his quest featuring plenty of action and romance.

It all began here for Kilmer in this 1984 comedy spoof of Elvis Presley musicals and spy movies, brought to us by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker (Airplane!, The Naked Gun franchise). Kilmer burst on the scene in his first film role as American rock star Nick Rivers. While playing a show in East Germany, he becomes involved in hilarious international intrigue. Kilmer would not play many more full-on comedic roles in the future, but he thoroughly delivered in one of the 1980s best comedies.   

Al Pacino and Robert De Niro get top billing, but Kilmer is equally good in this popular 1995 crime drama. Chris is part of a crew led by infamous thief Neil McCauley (De Niro), but the life is starting to wear on him. Sure, he's dedicated to his boss and is good at his job, but his marriage is falling apart, and it seems harder for Chris to get up each day.

Depending on who is doing the talking, this is either Kilmer's greatest film role or just too far out there to applaud. Kilmer gives it his all as the famed frontman of the legendary rock outfit. While the movie chronicles some of the group's notably infamous moments (the 1969 Miami show) and Morrison's relationship with his more subdued bandmates, it also explores Morrison's reliance on hallucinogenic drugs and a disturbing obsession with death. Regardless of how one views Kilmer's take on "The Lizard King," it's another iconic moment in his entertainment legacy.

Is there a cooler Brainiac than Chris Knight? In Kilmer's second film role, he's a renowned former boy genius, a legend in the “National Physics Club,” and arguably the smartest student. Chris is also a goofball and prankster — wise-cracking and making intelligence look super fun. 

He's feeble, nearing death from tuberculosis, but the legendary "Doc" Holliday was still having a good time with the Earp boys in Tombstone. The dry wit, sarcasm, and ability to sling a six-shooter or tin cup all make for one standout Kilmer performance amid a stellar ensemble cast that included Kurt Russell, Sam Elliott, and Charlton Heston. Many die-hard fans of this classic 1993 Western believe Kilmer's effort bested the bunch. "I'm your Huckleberry."

Is there a cooler, better-looking film faux antagonist than "Iceman"? Yes, we've highlighted other notable Kilmer roles worthy of this top slot, but "Iceman" is a fictional icon. In fact, there are plenty of moviegoers of a certain age who would be fine flying alongside "Iceman" over Tom Cruise's hot shot "Maverick." We got a double dose of "Iceman" when Top Gun: Maverick finally arrived in May 2022.