Val Kilmer was often underrated as an actor, despite his prolific career spanning films like Real Genius, Top Gun, True Romance, and more. As Robert Ebert famously described him, he was the most unsung leading man of his generation, a legend whom we now mourn.
While the world recalls his legacy of being ‘hard to work with,’ here is an instance from behind the scenes of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang that showcases what a man he was behind the scenes. Apparently, as an act of solidarity for his co-star Robert Downey Jr., Kilmer did not drink during the film’s production, a profound act of friendship and a testament to Kilmer’s character that one should not forget.
Val Kilmer’s profound act of friendship for Robert Downey Jr.
Val Kilmer has worked with several brilliant actors in his career, from Tommy Lee Jones to Tom Cruise. But one of his most entertaining team-ups was with Robert Downey Jr. in the 2005 black comedy film, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Starring as a gay detective, the film was iconic for several reasons, from their impeccable chemistry to Kilmer snogging RDJ.
But one of the most iconic parts of the film took place behind the scenes. Downey was at a pivotal point in his life, trying to get back into the film business after his infamous struggle with drugs and alcohol. His substance abuse had nearly derailed his career, but then he got the chance to star in Shane Black’s comedy along with Kilmer.
To show support for Downey, who was still struggling to remain sober, Kilmer refused to drink during the entire production of the film (via IMDb). While it might not seem like a grand gesture to everyone, it remains a deeply considerable act, as it ensured that his co-star had one less temptation to deal with while working his way to stability and regaining his career.
Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. had a great time filming Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
![Kiss Kiss Bang Bang [Credit Warner Bros. Pictures]](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/26104659/Kiss-Kiss-Bang-Bang-Credit-Warner-Bros.-Pictures-1-1024x576.jpg "Val Kilmer's Sacrifice to Help Robert Downey Jr. Battle His Addiction During His Hollywood Comeback 4")
Shane Black’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a truly enjoyable and entertaining watch, and just as much as the audience enjoyed watching the film, Val Kilmer and Robert Downey Jr. had just as much fun filming it. Moreover, as is clear from the above instance, the two stars didn’t just have a great time making the film but also had genuine respect for each other.
Way back in 2005, during an interview with CityLife magazine (via Arts Council England), Downey praised his co-star by stating:
He’s Val goddamn Kilmer. He’s amazing. The stuff he came up with on the spot was great. Like when he’s supposed to tell me to put my cigarette out and I ask him where and he just deadpans, ‘Throw it in that clump of dry bushes, you moron.’
Meanwhile, Kilmer added,
Having Robert playing a dumb guy was really fun, because he’s actually very smart but because he’s acting dumb he can’t say anything back to me.
They even improvised a lot while filming, making Black pissed since they would improvise all over his dialogue. Well, as we look back at Val Kilmer’s legacy, the actor was a lot of things: a prolific actor, apparently hard to work with, a charismatic person, but above all, a great friend who stood by his friends when it mattered most.
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is available to be rented on Amazon Prime.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
