Discover the inspiring life of Val Kilmer, who faced throat cancer yet continued to fight creatively and positively. Hear about his artistic endeavors at Hellmell and the deep connection between his health struggles and spirituality. Explore the complexities of fame, identity, and the quest for authenticity in Hollywood. Reflect on profound themes of resilience and hope amidst adversity, alongside personal anecdotes that reveal the transformative power of storytelling and human connection during challenging times.
53:03
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
question_answer ANECDOTE
Kismet Moments
Val Kilmer's life was full of kismet moments, like exploring a bat cave before being offered the role of Batman.
He dreamt of his future wife and wrote a poem, then met her in a play shortly after.
insights INSIGHT
Kilmer's Paradox
Val Kilmer was a unique movie star, both conventional and eccentric.
He was a handsome leading man but also a fringe weirdo, making him hard to categorize.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Iceman's Impact
Kilmer's charisma was evident even in small roles like Iceman in Top Gun.
His physicality and commitment to the scene, like the iconic jaw snap, made him memorable.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Published in 1869, 'The Innocents Abroad' is a travel book that humorously chronicles Mark Twain's 'Great Pleasure Excursion' on board the chartered steamship Quaker City. The book recounts Twain's five-month voyage through Europe and the Holy Land with a group of American travelers. It focuses on themes such as travel, culture, history, and realism, using Twain's signature satire to critique and describe the various regions and cultures he encountered. The book was a best-seller during Twain's lifetime and remains one of the best-selling travel books of all time.
“The force of his will is the thing I remember about him,” says Taffy Brodesser-Akner, who wrote a profile of Val Kilmer for The New York Times Magazine in May 2020. “He was sure he was going to come back to his exact former self. ”
The two met for an interview just as a lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic seemed all but certain to happen.
Mr. Kilmer, who was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014 and had undergone a tracheotomy, was still performing. Mr. Brodesser-Akner credits him with providing “the first whiff of overarching hope and positivity that I’d witnessed in I couldn’t remember how many months.”
“What does somebody do when the thing that they are known for, which is being a superhero, which is being an action hero, which is being handsome, which is being this sort of picture of good health and vigor, what do you do next?” she said. “And a lot of people, they fade away. But that’s not how it went for Val. ”
Mr. Kilmer, who played classic roles such as Batman and Iceman in “Top Gun,” died on Tuesday in Los Angeles. He was 65.
Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
The Daily 