Val Kilmer

Best known for his portrayal of rock icon Jim Morrison, in the movie The Doors, Val Kilmer began his professional acting career on the stage, where he continues to perform. His film debut was in the spoof, Top Secret, (1984) starring as rock idol Nick Rivers. He did his own singing in the movie, and even cut an album as Rivers. He also provided the voice for some of the songs in The Doors. Among other notable films Kilmer has made are Top Gun (1986), True Romance (1993), Tombstone (1993), Batman Forever (1995), The Saint (1997), and At First Sight (1999).

Kilmer was born on December 31, 1959, in Los Angeles, CA, and studied acting at Hollywood’s Professional School and later became the youngest student to be accepted into Juilliard’s Drama Department in New York. Kilmer is divorced and the father of two children. He is a cousin of poet Joyce Kilmer, who wrote the poem “Trees.” —AnswerNote