Hollywood legend: 5 most iconic roles of Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer wasn’t just an actor for all of us, right? He was like a force of nature. A man who didn’t just play characters but became them, leaving pieces of his soul on the screen every single time. With his passing in 2025, we lost one of the greats, but his performances? They’re immortal.

Here’s a tribute to the roles that made us laugh, cry, and sit in stunned silence, the ones that proved, again and again, that Kilmer was pure magic.

Val Kilmer delivered many iconic performances in Western cinema historyGetty Images

1. Doc Holliday – Tombstone (1993)

"I’m your huckleberry."

Oh, Doc. The way Kilmer slid into this role like a knife between the ribs was nothing short of perfection. Witty, tragic, and dripping with Southern charm, as Doc Holliday, he stole the damn movie. That smirk, that cough, that lethal elegance: Kilmer made us believe in a man who was equal parts poet and killer.

Kilmer’s portrayal of the legendary gunslinger remains one of the most captivating performances in Western cinemaInstagram

Why it’s iconic:

• Kilmer played Holliday as a tragic yet charming figure, balancing both wit and vulnerability.
• The role became one of his most critically acclaimed performances, with many considering it his best work.

2. Jim Morrison – The Doors (1991)

"I am the Lizard King. I can do anything."

Kilmer didn’t just channel Morrison. The swaying hips, the slurred poetry, the raw, untamed energy of a man burning too bright, he ‘became’ him. He sang every song himself, and the result was so hauntingly real that you’d swear Morrison had possessed him.

Kilmer didn’t delivered a performance so eerily accurate that even The Doors’ band members were stunnedInstagram

Why it’s iconic:

• Kilmer performed all the singing himself. Yes, that hauntingly accurate voice was all him!
• His commitment was so intense that he reportedly needed therapy afterwards to shed Morrison’s persona.

3. Iceman – Top Gun (1986) & Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

"You can be my wingman anytime."

That cocky grin. That effortless cool. Iceman was the rival we all secretly rooted for because Kilmer made him impossible to hate. And when he returned in Maverick, older, wiser, his real-life battle with illness echoing through the screen? That wasn’t acting. That was just heart.

From cocky rival to a poignant, full-circle moment in Maverick, Kilmer’s Iceman was the soul of Top Gun’s legacyInstagram

Why it’s iconic:

• Iceman wasn’t just a rival, he was ‘the’ rival, the guy you hated to love.
• Kilmer’s final scene in Maverick was deeply moving, mirroring his real-life battle with throat cancer.

4. Batman – Batman Forever (1995)

"It’s the car, right? Chicks love the car."

Kilmer’s Batman was brooding, intense, and tragically underrated. Sandwiched between Keaton’s gothic hero and Clooney’s… well, Clooney, his take was a perfect balance of Bruce Wayne’s charm and Batman’s darkness.

Brooding, intense, and often underrated—Kilmer’s take on the Caped Crusader balanced Bruce Wayne’s charm with Batman’s darknessInstagram

Why it’s iconic:

• He mastered the duality of Batman and Bruce Wayne, something not all actors have managed.
• His departure from the franchise left fans wondering what could have gone wrong.

5. Chris Shiherlis – Heat (1995)

"For me, the action is the juice."

In a film stacked with legends, Kilmer still stood out. As a thief on the edge, he brought desperation, loyalty, and sheer intensity to every frame. That downtown shootout? Pure adrenaline, and Kilmer was the beating heart of it.

In one of cinema’s greatest heist films, Kilmer’s Chris Shiherlis was a thief with depth, loyalty, and raw intensityInstagram

Why it’s iconic:

• Heat features one of the greatest shootout scenes in cinema history, and Kilmer played a crucial part in it.
• His dynamic with De Niro added a lot of emotional depth to an already intense film.

Bonus, because, it is Val Kilmer

Gay Perry – Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

"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!"

Kilmer’s comedic timing? Flawless. As the sarcastic, no-bullshit detective Gay Perry, he and Robert Downey Jr. created one of the funniest duos in film history. This role proved Kilmer could do anything: even make us snort-laugh in the middle of a murder mystery.

With razor-sharp wit and impeccable comedic timing, Kilmer’s Gay Perry stole scenes and redefined the buddy-cop dynamicInstagram

Why it’s iconic:

• His chemistry with Robert Downey Jr. was electric, making every scene an absolute joy to watch.
• The film became a cult classic, in part because of Kilmer’s hilarious and sharp performance.

The legacy of a chameleon

Val Kilmer was beyond just an actor. He was a presence. Whether he was a rock god, a gunslinger, or a caped crusader, he made us believe. And now, as we look back, one thing’s clear: Hollywood won’t see another like him.

And if you haven’t seen his documentary, Val (2021), do yourself a favour. It’s a raw, beautiful goodbye from the man himself!