Oliver Stone’s contentious relationship with Val Kilmer: “He didn’t like me in the end”
On April 1st 2025, the world said goodbye to a troubled icon. Val Kilmer, star of such classic films as Top Gun, Tombstone, and Batman Forever, passed away from pneumonia at the age of 65. His battles with throat cancer had been well-publicised, so his death wasn’t truly a shock, but it was still a humbling moment for everyone who grew up with the heartthrob. His life and career was rocked by various personal and professional issues that kept him from reaching his full potential, but even with this in mind, he left behind one hell of a legacy.
One person who knew the late star very well is Oliver Stone. The director worked with Kilmer on two occasions; once on his film Alexander, in which he played King Philip; and most famously on The Doors, which saw him take on the role of Jim Morrison. This is one of Kilmer’s best ever performances, a completely immersive take on one of rock’s most enigmatic figures. The mystery of how he wasn’t even nominated for ‘Best Actor’ at the Oscars still baffles film fans to this day.
Despite being able to get the best out of him on screen, Stone reportedly did not get along with Kilmer on set. This comes straight from the filmmaker’s own mouth. During an interview with RogerEbert.com, he revealed that, once filming wrapped on The Doors, their relationship was effectively over.
“We finished the movie on a poor note,” Stone revealed. “He did a great job, but he was not happy with me or himself, and he was very troubled in many ways. He was not grateful. He was not grateful to have [gotten] the role. And although he became allies in making the movie, at the end of the movie, he hurt me by saying things to me that were not kind. It was a bitter experience in a sense, you know: ‘Goodbye. Go to hell.’ That kind of thing. He didn’t say very nice things to me because he didn’t like me in the end.”
Things didn’t improve once The Doors was released. The film struggled at the box office, barely recuperating its budget, whilst critical reviews varied wildly. Whilst nobody took umbrage with Kilmer’s performance, other aspects of the film were slated. Ray Manzarek, keyboardist with the band, despised the film, with other long-time Doors fans claiming that it was riddled with inaccuracies and an insult to the late frontman’s name and legacy.
Over time, however, opinion softened on the film. Kilmer’s performance was recognised for the triumph it was – when he passed away, The Doors’ official Instagram account posted a touching tribute. Eventually, he was even able to reconcile with his old boss. “I wanted Val to play the father, Philip,” Stone said, referring to Alexander. In the movie, Kilmer plays King Philip II of Macedon, father of the film’s title character, Alexander the Great, who is played by Colin Farrell. “I had a hunch that he would be good for it,” Stone continued. “And he did it perfectly.
Given the egos of both men involved, it’s hardly shocking that Kilmer and Stone didn’t always see eye-to-eye. It does seem like they were able to achieve some sense of closure before the former’s passing, which certainly makes it a lot easier to go back and watch their collaborations.
