Val Kilmer's Performance In Tombstone Was So Good, It Got Him His Second Most Iconic Role

By Sean Morrison

Published Apr 26, 2025

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Val Kilmer's performance as Doc Holliday in Val Kilmer's most memorable performances.

Tombstone was great on its own, but it also proved to be great for Val Kilmer's career. It wasn't exactly a breakout role for Kilmer, but many of his best films did follow Tombstone, such as Heat and The Island of Doctor Moreau. More than that, however, Kilmer's performance in Tombstone directly led to him being case in his second most well-known movie role, as Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever. Through an incredibly lucky stroke of timing, Doc Holliday helped Val Kilmer become Bruce Wayne.

Joel Schumacher Decided To Cast Val Kilmer As Batman After Watching Tombstone

When Michael Keaton Dropped Out Of Batman Forever, Joel Schumacher Decided Val Kilmer Was A Perfect Replacement

In an interview with Charlie Rose (via Manufacturing Intellect), Batman Forever director Joel Schumacher explained how he cast Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne. In Schumacher's words, he saw Tombstone when it came out on Christmas day in 1993 and thought that Kilmer's performance as Doc Holliday was proof that he would make an excellent Bruce Wayne. Schumacher even said that Kilmer was "fantastic in [Tombstone]." Shortly thereafter, Michael Keaton, who starred in both Batman and Batman Returns, parted ways with Warner Brothers and dropped out of Schumacher's sequel, and Schumacher brought Kilmer on in his stead.

Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne in Batman Forever and as Doc Holliday in Tombstone

Val Kilmer's Iconic Tombstone Performance Proves His Divisive Superhero Movie Released 2 Years Later Is Misunderstood

Val Kilmer's time as Batman and Bruce Wayne was severely underrated, and the actor's earlier work as Doc Holliday in Tombstone proves it.

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Because Joel Schumacher saw Tombstone, Val Kilmer ended up getting his second most iconic role. There were a lot of problems with Batman Forever, of course. Kilmer reportedly hated playing Batman, and his only turn at the cowl proved deeply divisive to viewers and critics alike. Batman Forever's mixed legacy doesn't take away from the fact that Kilmer was excellent as Bruce Wayne, however, and it certainly doesn't make the film any less memorable a part of Kilmer's legacy. As memorable as Kilmer's turn at Batman was, however, it didn't sur the movie that made it possible, Tombstone.

Val Kilmer Was A Great Batman (But Doc Holliday Is His Most Iconic Character)

Kilmer Added An Interesting Chapter To Batman's History, But He WAS Doc Holliday

Simply put, Val Kilmer was a lot better at playing Batman than many people give him credit for. As Bruce Wayne, he was suave, charming, clever, and witty. As Batman, Kilmer was intimidating and dark, but he still managed to pull off Batman Forever's goofy tone and silly humor. As good as he was, however, Kilmer was even better in Tombstone than he was in Batman Forever. There's really no way to overstate just how impressive Kilmer's performance as Doc Holliday was. It's not a slight to Batman Forever, it's just a testament to how impressive Tombstone really was.

Many of Doc Holliday's best moments are also the cast of Tombstone. In a movie led by Kurt Russell, Sam Elliott, Powers Boothe, and Michael Biehn, among many others, Kilmer stole the show. Val Kilmer's performance in Tombstone was utterly iconic, so much so that it made another iconic movie possible.