Val Edward Kilmer was born on December 31, 1959, in Los Angeles, California. He began his acting career on stage before achieving fame with roles in comedy films such as Top Secret! and Real Genius. Besides comedy, he showcased his versatility in numerous film genres, including the military action blockbuster Top Gun and the fantasy film Willow. Kilmer's critically acclaimed portrayal of Jim Morrison in The Doors and his tenure as Batman in Batman Forever further cemented his reputation in Hollywood. Despite being diagnosed with throat cancer in 2015 that caused severe speech difficulty, Kilmer remained active in the industry. He even published a memoir titled I'm Your Huckleberry: A Memoir in 2020 and was the subject of the documentary film Val in 2021. This film provided an intimate look into his health struggles and career trajectory. Throughout his decades-long career, Kilmer’s movies have grossed over $3.5 billion at the worldwide box office, establishing him as one of the best-paid actors of the 1990s.