Val Kilmer has taken a hiatus from Hollywood for the last few years, but he made a rare public appearance to support his TwainMania Foundation, set up to educate students about the meaning of being an American through the legacy and historical writings of Mark Twain.
Val had his big break in the ’80s and ’90s.
He’s an iconic actor with characters who have left huge impressions on audiences around the world.
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Among Kilmer’s famous roles is LT Tom “Iceman” Kazansky from “Top Gun.”
Top Gun is one of the most famous movies of all time and chronicles the adventures of US Naval Aircraft pilots. A sequel is scheduled for June 2020, and I’m already excited.
And of course…
Kilmer also famously donned the wings of the caped crusader, playing Batman himself in Batman Forever in 1995, alongside Tommy Lee Jones’ Two-Face and Jim Carrey’s The Riddler.
Kilmer is a bonafide star.
He’s done theater, musical theater, films, and television in his vast career, but you may have noticed that he hasn’t made a lot of public appearances lately.
In 2017, he opened up about his two-year battle with throat cancer.
He spoke with The Hollywood Reporter where we learned that he had a procedure on his trachea which reduced his voice to a rasp and “rendered him short of breath.”
Despite his break from Hollywood, he recently made a public appearance for his TwainMania Foundation.
According to the foundation , it’s based on Kilmer’s one man play, Citizen Twain .
The foundation “uses educational curriculum to teach students about the meaning of being an American through the legacy and historical writings of Mark Twain.”
Writing about the TwainMania Foundation, Kilmer had a powerful message.
In a post on his Instagram , Kilmer said, “Thank you to everyone who joined us on Sunday to help bring empathy, tolerance and literacy to schools and communities across America.”
It’s a cause that’s very important to Kilmer.
“I believe so strongly in the power and value of art through the learnings of Mark Twain and I appreciate @hollywoodreporter for helping us spread the good word,” he continued.
He attended the event with his 23-year-old son, Jack.
He also gave a speech inside the event, and shared about the evening on his Instagram .
It was a touching message.
Kilmer wrote, “”In all of my life, all I have ever wanted to do is to use art to educate. As an actor this materializes in the effort to always be entertaining and with flair.”
Kilmer referenced the longevity and icon status of many of his characters.
“Building on that notion, I’ve always strived [sic] to deliver the qualities that my characters had to possess and for a good many, somehow they have lived on.”
Kilmer has a theory for why that is.
“I reckon it is because I have never failed to find a deep and absolutely committed truth that I could believe in and respect.”
Kilmer brings the same passion to his charity work.
“This same dedication is what I have brought to the @twainmania – along with Brad and Dom, who have dedicated their lives to proving there is an inspiration in education that this kind of curriculum will be the litmus test.”
Kilmer finished on a touching note.
“Let’s bring empathy, tolerance and literacy to schools together. Learn more and consider a donation by going to the link in my bio and tapping on TwainMania Foundation.”
It was confirmed last year that Val would be reprising his role as Iceman in the upcoming “Top Gun” sequel.
Top Gun: Maverick is scheduled to be released in June of 2020.
Who’s going to be watching? I know we will be!
