The Tragic Real Life Story Of Val Kilmer

Willow. Top Gun. Tombstone. That's just a fraction of Val Kilmer's legendary resume. But off-screen, his life hasn't been without its ups and downs. From on-set outbursts to brushes with death, this is his tragic real life story. Val Kilmer once told The Guardian, "There's nothing good about divorce." And he's known that from a young age, as he comes from a broken home himself. He grew up affluent in Los Angeles, the son of Eugene, an aerospace equipment distributor and Gladys, a real estate developer. When he was nine, his parents' marriage crumbled and he went to live with his dad, his older brother Mark, and his younger brother Wesley. Kilmer has said that the breakup of his family took a toll on him emotionally and strained his relationship with his father. As he described it, "I was quiet. More contemplative than outgoing [...] Things didn't go well between me and my father for a very long time." It's not clear if Kilmer ever patched up his relationship with his dad. When Eugene died in 1995, Val had a falling out with his brother Mark as they battled over their father's estate. In 1996, Mark told People Magazine, "Val has no example in his life of a good relationship he can look to." Watch this video for more of the tragic real life story of Val Kilmer. #ValKilmer Unstable family life: | 00:00 Brother's sudden passing: | 01:08 Tortured genius: | 02:01 Driven to intensity: | 02:50 Bad reputation: | 04:17 Losing his ranch: | 05:31 Fighting cancer: | 06:38 Downplaying his recovery: | 07:43 Lonely without love: | 08:44 Facing death with faith: | 09:49