On April 1, veteran actor Val Kilmer passed away at the age of 65 from pneumonia. The actor had also been battling throat cancer since 2015.
Kilmer had a storied career in Hollywood that dates back four decades and includes unforgettable roles in Top Gun, Heat, Tombstone and The Doors. Perhaps most memorably, Kilmer became the Dark Knight in 1995‘s Batman Forever before George Clooney, Christian Bale, Ben Affleck and Robert Pattinson assumed the role.
Those are the films that are most often associated with Kilmer, but far from the full extent of his greatest roles.
To celebrate Kilmer’s life and the legacy that he leaves behind, watch these four great movies starring the late actor.
‘Top Gun’ and ‘Batman Forever’ Star Val Kilmer Dead at 65
‘The Saint’ (1997)
The Saint’s main character, Simon Templar, predates James Bond by decades, and the ‘60s TV series of the same name featured future 007 actor Roger Moore in the role. In the 1997 film, Kilmer portrayed Templar as a world-class thief rather than a champion of the helpless that the character was known for.
Fortunately, the film works on its own terms and it has a charismatic turn by Kilmer, who initially seduces Dr. Emma Russell (Elisabeth Shue) to steal her revolutionary energy research. But when Templar genuinely develops feelings for Emma, he becomes her only hope of saving her research and staying ahead of the men who want both of them dead.
The Saint is streaming on Paramount+.
‘The Salton Sea’ (2002)
Much like The Saint, The Salton Sea gave Kilmer a chance to portray multiple personas through a single character. Danny Parker (Kilmer) is not the real name of the protagonist, but the details about his life are slowly revealed throughout this intense thriller.
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Danny is apparently working with a pair of cops, Gus Morgan (Doug Hutchison) and Al Garcetti (Anthony LaPaglia), to take down a drug lord, Holland Dale “Pooh-Bear” Monty (Vincent D’Onofrio). However, Danny’s true agenda runs even deeper, and he’s got a serious grudge against everyone in this sting operation. Somebody’s going down hard, the only question is whether Danny’s efforts will cost him his life in the process.
The Salton Sea is available to rent on Prime Video.
‘Top Secret!’ (1984)
Top Secret! was Kilmer’s breakout role and a chance for him to flex his singing and dancing talents as Nick Rivers. Airplane! and The Naked Gun trilogy directors Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker helmed this hilarious action parody that features Kilmer’s character moonlighting as both a spy and a rock star.
Rivers is sent to East Germany to thwart a plan to reunite the country under a new military dictatorship. That description makes the movie sound a lot more serious than it actually is, but Top Secret! is more of a combination of a cheesy Elvis Presley movie and a James Bond spoof with some potty humor thrown in for good measure. It’s tons of fun.
Top Secret! is streaming on Pluto TV.
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‘Kiss Kiss Bang Bang’ (2005)
One of Kilmer’s last great movies was also a comeback vehicle for Robert Downey Jr. three years before he headlined Iron Man. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang featured Downey as Harry Lockhart, a thief who accidentally finds himself cast in a movie as a private investigator.
To help Harry get into character, the studio pays a real PI, “Gay” Perry van Shrike (Kilmer), to show him the ropes and how he operates. Through Perry, Harry finds himself entangled in a real missing persons case brought to them by Harmony Faith Lane (Michelle Monaghan). Director and screenwriter Shane Black masterfully blends comedy and mystery, making the film a modern classic and paving the way for similar movies like The Nice Guys.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is available to rent on Prime Video.
