Val Kilmer has many iconic projects to his name. Whether it was 1986’s Top Gun, 1991’s The Doors, or 1993’s True Romance, the actor somehow shone bright in every role he played on the screen. He even starred as the Batman himself in Tim Burton’s Batman Forever (1995). Clearly, Val Kilmer’s filmography is filled to the brim with some of the most unforgettable titles of all time.
Batman Forever (1995) | Tim Burton Productions
Despite all this, Val Kilmer has one regret in his exceptional career – not building himself a particular identity in the film industry, as many actors have done. Giving an example of actors like Johnny Depp and Tom Hanks, Val Kilmer deep dived into this major regret.

Val Kilmer Opened Up About His Regret

Val Kilmer in Top Gun (1986) | Paramount Pictures
It might be difficult to believe that even an actor like Val Kilmer has regrets about his professional life but that’s the harsh reality. Talking to Vanity Fair back in 2012, the actor stated that he regrets not creating a persona for himself throughout his career.

He added that these actors – Johnny Depp, Sean Penn, and Nicolas Cage – prompt fans to have an “instant opinion” about their characters.

I actually regret not having created a persona years ago like all of my wise contemporaries [did]. Basically, our whole gang of wonderful talent, like Johnny Depp and Nic Cage and Sean Penn—everybody has a pretty solid identity. When I say each one of these [names], you have a very instant opinion about a very particular kind of character.

He then gave an example of America’s sweetheart, Tom Hanks, and the specific choices he made in his career.

I’m not suggesting that any of these guys altered how they are perceived to be in the public because of somebody else. I think they are all really talented. But I think there is a very specific idea about America that you think of when you think about Tom Hanks. He made very specific choices in and around some of his wonderful, oft-winning performances. You get a sense that he has a dedication to America, and a particular kind of America. That’s not an accident.

While the Top Gun actor regrets this now, he admitted that creating a persona was not a goal for him initially.

Creating A Persona Did Not Interest Val Kilmer

A still from Top Secret! (1984) | Paramount Pictures
Kilmer has many projects under his name and he was once a force to reckon with. Starting his career in the film industry with Top Secret! in 1984, the actor’s trajectory has consistently ascended. Throughout his time in Hollywood, Kilmer never really cared about creating a persona for himself, unlike his peers.

The last thing Kilmer could be is conventional. His only priority was his acting. In the above interview, the actor stated,

I just wasn’t interested in my career that way, or my persona. My acting was really my only priority. I haven’t been conventional, to say the least, in pursuing my interests, especially lately. Because when you get out of the spotlight, you just have to wait in line, or do things that are not as time-efficient as just doing a large movie…

…I’ve got to work hard on my little humble sway to sell 1,600 tickets, whereas if I had been in a big action movie last year, it wouldn’t be on my list of priorities. I could just practice my new monologue.

It looks like Kilmer didn’t know he would end up regretting this in the future. On the other hand, his illustrious career is adorned with iconic roles that have left an indelible mark on the film industry. While Kilmer may look back with some regret, his body of work continues to speak volumes about his dedication and exceptional talent.