What is Val Kilmer Doing Today?
If you’re wondering what Val Kilmer is doing these days, you’re not alone. In the ’80s and ’90s, Kilmer owned the silver screen, from his breakout role as Iceman in 1986’s Top Gun, to his turns as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s 1991 film The Doors, Doc Holliday in 1993’s Tombstone, Batman in 1995’s Batman Forever, or a thief in 1995’s Heat. Roger Ebert referred to him as “the most unsung leading man of his generation.”
A 2015 throat cancer diagnosis severely impacted Kilmer’s life; a lifelong Christian Scientist, he was reluctant to treat it through conventional medicine, but was eventually convinced by his children to undergo chemotherapy and a tracheotomy. Though Kilmer, 65, has suffered some complications following his treatments, and now must use a feeding tube to eat and is almost entirely unable to speak, he remains active. “My dad’s been crazy prolific since he was diagnosed with cancer, sometimes against his better judgment,” his son Jack told People Magazine in 2021.
Where Is Val Kilmer Today?
Though his health issues have made acting more difficult, Kilmer did appear briefly in 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick, reprising his Iceman role from the original film. Tom Cruise’s Maverick goes to see Iceman, who is sick with throat cancer. Though Iceman mostly communicates by typing, in a strained voice, he briefly gives Maverick a few words of encouragement. This voice was created with AI, which was fed archival recordings of Kilmer’s voice. Kilmer told the L.A. Times in 2022 interview that filming the scene was “very personal and moving”
This film appearance was Kilmer’s only acting role since his treatments, though he had made plans to appear in Disney+’s Willow TV series; unfortunately, those plans were scuttled during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, just because Kilmer isn’t acting, doesn’t mean he isn’t busy. He runs HelMel Studios, a Los Angeles art gallery, art studio and shop, where visitors can check out art by artists that Kilmer is spotlighting, and also pick up merch tied to his long film career (like Tombstone playing cards). HelMel also has a podcast studio and office space, holds periodic film screenings, and does charitable outreach focused on children and the arts, including a program to teach kids about Kilmer’s favorite author, Mark Twain.
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In 2020, he published I’m Your Huckleberry: A Memoir, which touches on his life up through the present; the book became a New York Times bestseller (the title is drawn from a line of Doc Holliday’s in Tombstone).
Kilmer also makes his own art, some of which is abstract, and some of which involves his most famous film roles. Fans can check out the art and buy prints at his website, ValKilmer.com. He also oversees another organization, Kamp Kilmer, which he described as “an exciting project that gives artists a place to learn and share their creative talents.”
Not only is Kilmer still energetic and engaging his many creative passions — he’s not totally sure he’s ready to retire from acting.In 2022, he told the L. A. Times, “I’m so great. Feeling stronger everyday. My dream is to play Frankenstein with Werner Herzog directing. Right now we are in a conflict because he wants to modernize it and I want to keep it classic! ”