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Val Kilmer -- Autographs Part II

I wrote the story before about how he wouldn't sign autographs for people that had to sit through his horrible "Citizen Twain" play/movie, even though they paid $100 for the "meet-and-greet" (and they couldn't talk to him, as the surgery rendered him without a voice).

He would sell you a signed picture for $75, he just wouldn't sign your items. Well, people that pre-ordered his book could get signed copies. A few had complained they didn't get it signed, though. Others have complained they got a book plate signed. I ordered one, so I could do a review.

In his book, he tells two interesting autograph stories. One of them is on the set of Batman (can we all agree, he was the worst Batman?). Jim Carey, playing the Riddler, was distraught about having just lost his dad. Carey said that at the funeral, someone came up with a headshot of him asking for him to sign it.

He also said that Marlon Brando, on the set of Dr. Moreau, gathered the entire cast, and everyone working on the movie, no matter what their job, to come over to his trailer so he could introduce himself. Kilmer figured he did this so during filming, various people wouldn't try to ask for his autograph during the process. A smart move by Brando.

Anyway, don't waste your time on the book. It's a mess. Here's my review of it:

https://fox5sandiego.com/entertainment/val-kilmer-im-your-huckleber...

Tags: Batman, I'm Your Huckleberry, Jim Carey, Marlon Brando, Val Kilmer

1 member likes this

Comment by BC on May 4, 2020 at 8:46pm: I've always like Kilmer as an actor. Heat, Wonderland, and Tombstone are all movies that I enjoy watching. Wonderland always stood out performance wise, even if it was a little over the top. You're spot on though, his body of work just isn't impressive for someone with his talent. It makes sense when you read about how he was difficult to work with and no studio heads liked him.

A year or two ago, Kilmer did an Ask Me Anything Q&A on Reddit that was odd. He would kind of answer a question, go on about something else forever, and referenced people without context. He would randomly bring up Bobby or Michael, I'm sure he was talking about De Niro and Michael Mann, but no one put could put that together. Sounds like that's how his book went. Which is a shame, because there was probably something there, but Kilmer got in the way. I'm sure his relationship failures highlighted and explained more would be interesting topics, but he probably didn't want to make himself look bad.

As for Batman, Clooney takes the cake for worst Batman and worst Batman movie. That movie has no redeemable qualities. Batman Forever should have been a great movie but their attempt to appeal to kids spoiled an all-star cast.

Comment by Mike Shepherd on May 5, 2020 at 6:21am: I was very fortunate to finally get his autograph last year. I had waited a very long time to complete my Willow photo by then.

Comment by Josh Board on May 5, 2020 at 9:23am: How did you get it signed, Mike?

Comment by rob kunne on May 7, 2020 at 9:11am: maybe you are not waiting for this comment but i was shocked to see val on this photo because i would never recognize him without the info he's the man on the left. did i miss something?.

Comment by Josh Board on May 7, 2020 at 9:29am: He's been ravaged by cancer and other things. I had heard somewhere, that he didn't take care of the cancer soon enough (because of his religion or something). In his book, he hardly covered the extent of his medical conditions, but it rendered him voiceless, so...meet-and-greets mean, no conversation and no autographes. Just him smiling and you hovering over him. Oh, you can spend $80 on one of his signed pictures or one of his goofy pieces of art (those are hundreds)

Comment by Jason Strecker on May 9, 2020 at 5:58am: Interesting story about Marlon Brando. Before he passed all I read about him was from autograph collectors or dealers who wrote about his dislike of signing but post death, I've read more stories about his random positive interactions with people. The story you posted is similar to one I read about his Score movie (I think that was the name) with Robert DeNiro movie where he had headshots and signed one for all the cast.

Comment by Josh Board on May 9, 2020 at 8:28am: As his hero Mark Twain would say "News of his death has been greatly exaggerated." He is still alive and (not well). He just can't talk and looks like crap. And despite a few stories you may hear, he's basically a jerk when it comes to signing autographs. Unless you cough up $75 for one.

Comment by Jason Strecker on May 9, 2020 at 9:49am: I've only ever watched three Val movies, Batman as a fan of the series and Salton Sea as a fan of Vincent D'Onofrio and Dr. Moreau because of the intrigue in Marlon Brando. Non of the three stand out of something I would watch again. I'm sorry Val has cancer and I'm guessing he won't be doing too many photo op appearances for a while but he really does need to step things up a bit to make the events more fan friendly. He's probably being led around by someone making a big cut on this and he either has little say or just doesn't care. But the problem is as the stories circulate (as they did back when he started) of what the events are like people still keep paying him and he or his management would still keep putting the events on. It isn't until people say "screw it" and stop paying that they may learn.

Comment by Josh Board on May 9, 2020 at 9:57am: First, how in the world have you only seen three? You never saw Top Gun? What about Tombstone? Anyway...he obviously makes money at the $75 a picture signed, or he wouldn't keep selling them for that. If they didn't sell, he'd lower the price, until they did sell. And, he isn't being led around. He's broke, and this is what he does for money.

Comment by Jason Strecker on May 10, 2020 at 6:13am: Those movies are really the only ones I've ever seen. The type of movies he does really don't interest me. I usually like buddy comedy movies (older stuff, not newer) or hallmark coming of age or coming home type. My favorite genre are the vigilante or action type with guys like Chuck Norris or Charles Bronson. Anything with those two or Al Pacino I try and watch. I usually get direct to DVD type of movies as it's usually less about the actor and more creating a quality story.

I still feel like someone is having a hand in Val's sales even if it is Val wanting to do these shows. Someone has to do the talking to the venue promoters and handling the contracts.

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