7 Surprising Things We Learned About ‘Top Gun’ from Val Kilmer’s Documentary

Actor Val Kilmer, beloved for his role as Iceman in the original “Top Gun,” has just released an autobiographical documentary called “Val” that reveals a few secrets about that classic movie and does a deep dive into his career and complicated life.

The film, which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, also highlights stories about “Tombstone,” “The Doors,” “Batman Forever,” “Heat” and, most scandalously, “The Island of Doctor Moreau.”

Kilmer grew up in a well-off family that lived in the San Fernando Valley near Los Angeles. His father gave his three sons access to video cameras back when they were incredibly expensive, and the kids made their own movies at their home, a ranch formerly owned by Roy Rogers.

When the actor left home, he took his own video camera and shot thousands of hours of footage on movie sets and in his personal life during the next few decades. That gives the filmmakers access to the kind of incredible behind-the-scenes footage that we normally don’t get to see.

Kilmer used his cameras to make an audition tape for “Full Metal Jacket,” and we get to see footage of him traveling to London to deliver the tape in person to director Stanley Kubrick. He didn’t get that part, nor did his tape for Martin Scorsese get him the role of Henry Hill in “Goodfellas,” but we get to see excerpts from both in “Val.”

A great tragedy hangs over Kilmer’s life. His younger brother Wesley, the talented filmmaker in the family, drowned in the family’s hot tub during an epileptic seizure. Kilmer repeatedly revisits that relationship over the course of the documentary, and it’s clear how much memories of his brother have influenced his work.

Kilmer also survived a brutal bout with throat cancer about a decade ago. He now has a breathing tube and must cover an airhole to speak. The voice is incredibly raspy and can be difficult to understand. If you’ve seen pictures of Kilmer wearing a scarf the last few years, it’s because he doesn’t want to show his breathing tube in public.

It’s widely known that Kilmer will be appearing as Iceman in “Top Gun: Maverick.” When you know the extent of his health issues, it’s hard to imagine just what his role will be. Here’s hoping that the producers have come up with a story that honors both the actor and his character.

There are on-camera interviews with Kilmer in the film (that include subtitles to help him be understood), but there’s also Val Kilmer narration throughout the film that’s performed by his son Jack, whose voice sounds remarkably like his father’s.

“Val” opens with Kilmer and Rick Rossovich (Slider) messing around in their trailer on the set of “Top Gun.” and (eventually) making fun of Tom Cruise. It’s not serious and there’s no way Maverick should be offended, but it’s funny anyway.

There’s a ton of behind-the-scenes footage from aboard the USS Enterprise, and “Top Gun” fans will enjoy the previously unseen moments from the movie’s production that go along with all the new things we learn about the movie from this documentary.

Here are seven things we learned about “Top Gun” from Kilmer’s documentary.

1. At First, Val Didn’t Want to Make ‘Top Gun.’

A classically trained actor who’d graduated from Julliard, the kid might have been a little snobby about the job. “I felt the script was silly and disliked warmongering films,” Kilmer admits. He was under contract to Paramount, so he didn’t have a choice.

2. Director Tony Scott Changed His Mind on Set.

Kilmer found out how much fun it could be to work with some real pros, and he came to love the experience, thanks in no small part to director Tony Scott. The director’s “colorful vision and energy made the whole experience enjoyable,” Kilmer reveals.

3. Kilmer Couldn’t Find His Character in the Script.

He “manifested” a backstory for Iceman. Kilmer decided that his character had been raised by a father who ignored him, so Tom “Iceman” Kazansky was driven by the need to be perfect in every way. It’s that obsession with perfection that made Iceman so arrogant.

4. The On-Set ‘Feud’ with Cruise Is Overrated.

Kilmer played up Iceman’s rivalry with Maverick off camera and the actors split into two camps, with Maverick and Goose on one side and Iceman, Slider, Hollywood and Wolfman on the other. That “conflict on the set” tale has followed Kilmer around for decades, but the actor insists that he’s always considered Cruise to be a friend and that they’ve always supported each other.

5. Charlie and Wolfman Fell in Love on the Set.

The characters of Charlotte Blackwood and Leonard “Wolfman” Wolfe may not have much interaction in “Top Gun,” but actors Kelly McGillis and Barry Tubb found romance during filming and, according to Kilmer, stayed together for a while after the production wrapped. McGillis went on to star in “The Accused,” and Tubb is best known for his performance in both “Lonesome Dove” television miniseries.

6. Cher Was Kilmer’s Date at the ‘Top Gun’ Premiere.

Celebrity changed his life. You know you were getting famous in the 1980s when Cher added you to her collection of much younger boyfriends. A kid who’d imagined he’d be a serious stage actor became a heartthrob whose personal life became gossip fodder for “Entertainment Tonight.”

7. Iceman Forever

Every pilot he’s encountered at every airport over the last 36 years has called him “Iceman.” It’s nice to see an entertainer who understands how lucky he was to play this kind of iconic role, and there’s a humility throughout “Val” that counters the actor’s tabloid reputation as a “difficult” actor.

At its core, “Val” is a movie about how one man has learned to adapt to the adversity that he’s encountered in life. It’s not a story about “overcoming” anything, more one about finding purpose and beauty in spite of what life throws at you. That’s not exactly a Hollywood ending, but it makes for a story that’s sure to stick with you after the credits have rolled.

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