Described by some as Hollywood's most difficult leading man, the hazel-eyed, lush-lipped, handsome blond Val Kilmer also has his share of advocates to offset the howls of his surprisingly vocal detractors, few of whom, despite their issues with him, would argue that his best work ranks him right up there with Hollywood's elite leading men. He has described his father as "very eccentric and headstrong", so clearly the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Kilmer's intransigence led to the firing of directors Kevin Jarre ("Tombstone" 1993) and Richard Stanley ("The Island of Dr. Moreau" 1996);
Fresh from the inauguration, actor Val Kilmer is pondering running for governor of New Mexico in 2010, when Democrat Bill Richardson's second term ends.
"I'm just looking for ways to be contributive," Kilmer told The Associated
Grew up on a ranch once owned by Roy Rogers in Chatsworth, California; used to visit the hippies at the neighboring Spahn ranch, home to Charles Manson
1981
Co-wrote a play with Juilliard classmates, "How It All Began"; starred in subsequent off-Broadway production at Joseph Papp's New York Shakespeare Festival
1983
Broadway debut, "The Slab Boys", alongside Sean Penn and Kevin Bacon