Val Kilmer’s Hollywood presence has been a fascinating journey filled with highs and lows, alongside moments when his decisions could have dramatically altered the course of his life and career. From almost turning down iconic roles to near-misses in his love life, Kilmer shared lesser-known chapters of his life.
In I’m Your Huckleberry: A Memoir, Val Kilmer delved into pivotal moments from his life regarding his initial choices and decisions. According to snippets from his story, Kilmer revealed how he initially turned down Tom Cruise’s Top Gun and even hesitated to date the legendary musician Cher, who later had a short fling with Cruise.
Val Kilmer Had Made the Near Mistake of Refusing Tom Cruise’s Top Gun
Despite being notoriously famous for his difficult personality, Val Kilmer has worked with a few of the most acclaimed filmmakers and accomplished actors in Hollywood. With a filmography spanning from DC flicks to blockbuster hits, Kilmer successfully crafted a storied career for himself. Nonetheless, his envious resume didn’t come without his fair share of near-misses.
According to I’m Your Huckleberry: A Memoir, Val Kilmer reflected on his iconic Hollywood career, wherein he recalled one particular film that he almost turned down since he felt, it lacked appeal. As per a snippet of his memoir shared by The New York Post, the movie turned out to be Tom Cruise’s Top Gun, which is often considered Kilmer’s best performance.
I didn’t want the part. I didn’t care about the film. The story didn’t interest me. My agent, who also represented Tom Cruise, basically tortured me into at least meeting [director] Tony Scott, saying… he was completely obsessed with me.
Eventually, Val Kilmer signed the role of Lieutenant Tom ‘Iceman’ Kazansky in Top Gun which went on to become one of the biggest hits of his career. The actor further confessed to becoming obsessed with his character to figure out why Iceman was a jerk. Therefore, the film became a classic example of how Kilmer’s initial hesitation turned into a major success, a pattern that can also be seen in his personal life.
Val Kilmer was Initially Reluctant to Date Tom Cruise’s Ex-Girlfriend Cher
Ahead of being hesitant about starring in Tom Cruise‘s 1986 movie Top Gun, Val Kilmer noted in his memoir how his personal life mirrored his career, as he admitted to nearly missing the opportunity to date the legendary musician Cher in the early 80s. According to I’m Your Huckleberry: A Memoir, Kilmer admitted that he wasn’t initially receptive to the idea of dating the singer.
Revealing how he was informed about Cher by a mutual friend, Val Kilmer stated that he had initially found the singer less-than-fascinating, considering her career and personal life were already declining back then. The actor felt that the musician was merely a character out of the gossip rags, and presumed that he wouldn’t have anything in common with Cher.
I saw Cher as a less-than-fascinating character out of the gossip rags. I was not motivated to meet her, not out of snobbery but simply because I was sure we had nothing in common.
But eventually, as he decided to change his mind and meet the singer, Val Kilmer claimed to find her truly witty and interesting. Thereafter, Kilmer and Cher have been on-and-off partners for years and remained amicable even after their breakup.
[Cher is] the funniest person you’ll ever meet… To most of Hollywood, I was… ‘Cher’s lover.’ I… could often hear industry folks whispering about us in fancy restaurants.
Following Cher and Val Kilmer’s breakup in 1984 as per Smooth Radio, the musician went on to have a short fling with Tom Cruise, after meeting him for the first time at Madonna and Sean Penn’s wedding in 1985. Although Cruise was 23 back then, when he dated the 38-year-old singer, the duo sparked a connection based on their common problem of dyslexia.
