Val Kilmer has acted in several highly memorable roles, where he had the opportunity to bring the scripts to life and deliver some wonderful lines of dialogue. Val Kilmer is one of the most recognizable faces in Hollywood, considering his career has seen him act in over 100 titles since 1984. Whether he is playing a superhero, an antagonistic ally, or a straight-up villain, he does a great job embodying the role.
He played Jim Morrison in the biographical movie The Doors, as well as Batman, Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky, and other significant roles throughout his career, showcasing his talents and range. With each new character, Kilmer delivered his lines with great skill. Embodying the figures he plays and crafting the way that they appear onscreen.
“The plaque for the alternates is down in the ladies’ room.”
Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky – Top Gun (1986)
In the original Top Gun movie, Val Kilmer plays an antagonistic pilot attending the Top Gun flight academy and Maverick’s main competition. Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky is an arrogant, but highly talented pilot, not entirely unlike his rival, Peter ‘Maverick’ Mitchell, played by Tom Cruise. When Maverick first joins the academy, he learns that the best pilots have their names added to a prestigious plaque in the flight school. As he admires the plaque he hopes to one day have his own name engraved on, Iceman comments that the plaque for alternates is located elsewhere, chiding his new rival.
“No, she’s just resting her eyes for a minute.”
Perry van Shrike – Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
The relationship between Perry and Harry is fraught with chaotic moments. When the pair discovers a dead girl’s body in the trunk of a car, Perry pulls the body out of the trunk and Harry asks if the girl is dead. Kilmer delivers his line with sharp sarcasm as is typical of his characters, before again acknowledging how clueless his temporary partner is.
“A man’s got to go his own way. A friend taught me that.”
Bruce Wayne (Batman) – Batman Forever (1995)
In the final scenes of Schumacher’s Batman Forever, Val Kilmer’s Batman has a heart-to-heart with Robin as they prepare to face off with the Riddler and Two-Face. After a falling out between the two earlier in the film, Batman decides to let go of his pride and accept help and partnership from Robin. Robin acknowledges that he can’t promise to let the villains go, or pull his punches, and instead of forcing Robin to live by his code, Batman accepts Robin as he is, and acknowledges their equal status as partners and friends.
“You have to be a very good, and usually very dead person to become a saint.”
Simon Templar – The Saint (1997)
As the relationship between Emma and Simon develops, he opens up more and more with her. As The Saint approaches its finale, Simon shows up at a train station to ask for Emma’s help with a scientific formula. She continues to question who he is and comments that he is her own personal saint. Simon responds with the above line and sets up the final moments of the movie, as the line continues, “And more importantly, you have to work three miracles.” He goes on to perform his greatest con of the movie and rack up his three miracles.
“This is the strangest life I’ve ever known.”
Jim Morrison – The Doors (1991)
A reference to one of The Doors songs, “Waiting for the Sun.” Jim says the words as he attends a child’s birthday party for one of his bandmates’ kids. As he sits in the sun, playing with the children, and they unwrap a doll with his likeness, he spots a child at the party who appears to be a younger version of himself before he passes out. The line and the scenario reflect the surreal film and the unusual happenings that occurred throughout the movie and Morrison’s life played to perfection by Val Kilmer.