Val Kilmer was a force. Even after his battle with throat cancer profoundly affected his voice and health, he never let it define him. Instead, he embraced his journey with courage, sharing his struggles and triumphs and continuing to create and inspire others. Both before and after his diagnosis Kilmer made various appearances in Austin to share his passion and celebrate his projects with fans.

Here Are Val Kilmer’s Top Moments In Austin

MacGruber Premiere at SXSW 2010

Let’s start by taking it all the way back to 2010. Kilmer came to Austin to premiere the film MacGruber at SXSW. In this video on the red carpet, he talks about working with Will Forte and Kristin Wiig. He also speaks about how fun it was playing the bad guy.

Val Kilmer cuts hair on stage at Fun Fun Fun Fest

While on stage with the Black Lips at Fun Fun Fun Fest, Kilmer had the crowd buzzing as he hacked his hair off with a knife. Come to find out, it was a stunt for the Terrence Malick film Song to Song.

Rolling Roadshow Presents Tombstone and Top Gun

In 2019, Kilmer dame to Austin for not one but two Rolling Roadshow presentations. On night one, fans got a real western style experience at Lorraine Ghost Town with a screening of Tombstone. The following night, Camp Mabry was the site for a screening of Top Gun. Kilmer attended both events an spoke on stage, even taking time to mingle with a few fans in the crowd. The experience was later featured in the documentary Val, which you can stream on Prime.

Val Kilmer was more than just a Hollywood icon—he was a testament to strength, resilience, and the power of the human spirit. His talent knew no bounds, but it was his unwavering determination in the face of adversity that truly defined him.

The legend died on April 1, 2025, due to complications from pneumonia. He was 65.