A Last Goodbye to Madmartigan

As a rule, I tend to avoid mentioning someone's passing. I prefer to share positive news, facts, and events. But today, I’ll make an exception.

Val Kilmer is no longer with us.

I first took notice of him a little later in his career. Yes, there were Top Gun, Top Secret!, and other early successes, but the film that truly etched his name in my memory was Willow.

At that time, still under the strong influence of Star Wars, this fantasy film—based on a story by George Lucas—captivated me deeply. It drew me once again into the fairy-tale atmosphere of Lucas’ world.

The sword master, the energetic and jovial rogue, quickly became my favorite character. Frivolous and seemingly carefree, yet possessing a heart of gold, he evolved into a responsible and reliable ally—a steadfast support to the protagonist. This complex and contradictory character was brought to life flawlessly by Val Kilmer.

After Madmartigan, many more remarkable roles followed, but in my opinion, his greatest performance was as Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s The Doors. His portrayal was so convincing that while watching the film, I completely forgot I wasn’t seeing the real Jim Morrison on screen.

Val immersed himself deeply in the role. I read that even between takes, he continued to live as Morrison, to the extent that his colleagues and producers grew concerned for his well-being. Thankfully, he left that dangerous lifestyle behind after filming ended—otherwise, we might have lost him much earlier.

And this isn’t just my opinion. I know people who were initially skeptical about Kilmer playing Morrison, but after watching the film, they agreed—his performance was astonishing.

Sadly, this role remains somewhat underappreciated among movie buffs. Perhaps only devoted fans of The Doors sought out the film, which is a shame.

After The Doors, Val Kilmer delivered many more outstanding performances. The last time I saw him on screen was in Top Gun: Maverick, where he essentially played himself—a man facing an incurable illness, fully aware that his days were numbered.

But for me, he will always be the great-hearted and cheerful Madmartigan.