"Acting is very immediate. "

Val Kilmer is an actor known most for his appearances in comedy films, beginning with Top Secret and including Top Gun.

Kilmer was raised in the San Fernado Valley with older brother Mark and younger brother, Wesley. Wesley drowned in the family swimming pool while Kilmer was a teenager; he claims that it inspired his performance in The Salton Sea. He was raised a Christian Scientist.

Kilmer began acting in 1981 when he co-authored How It All Began, a play that was performed at the New York Shakespeare Festival. His big break came when he received the top bill to play a rock and roll star in the comedy "top Secret." His next major film, Top Gun, alongside Tom Cruise, grossed $344,700,000.

Kilmer met his wife, co-star Joanne Whalley, on the film set of Willow. The couple divorced February, 1996.

Throughout the early 1990s, Kilmer starred in the mystery thriller, Thunderheart, The Realy McCoy, and True Romance. Kilmer's 1995 roles in Wings of Courage, a 3D IMAX film, and Batman Forever, brought him much acclaim. Other notable performances include The Ghost &map The Darkness, The Saint, The Prince of Egypt, The Salton Sea, and Wonderland.

In 2005, Kilmer starred in Kiss Kiss, Bang, Bang; a performance that was highly praised, but only limitedly released. It won the award "Overlooked Film of the Year."

John Frankenheimer worked with Kilmer on The Island of Doctor Moreau, and reported that Kilmer became angry during the filming and had him physically escorted from the set. He said, "At my age there are two things I will never do, climb Mount Everest or work with Val Kilmer again!"

He recently joined the United Nations as an UNESCO (Untied Nations Education, Scientific & Cultural Organization) Ambassador.