Val Kilmer made a lasting impact on Hollywood, especially with his role in Tombstone alongside Kurt Russell. Recently, Russell shared a surprising story that reveals Kilmer’s wicked sense of humor, particularly with the gifts they exchanged after filming.
Kilmer passed away on April 1 at 65, and tributes have poured in. In a 2024 interview, Russell shared a lesser-known tale about their post-film tradition of exchanging gifts. While it wasn’t obligatory, Russell wanted to give Kilmer something unique and asked his driver to retrieve key items from the set, including Kilmer’s holster and chair. Russell’s surprise gift to Kilmer was a burial plot at Boothill Graveyard in Tombstone, Arizona.
Kilmer’s response was equally dark—he gifted Russell an acre of land overlooking Boothill. Russell laughed at the irony: “Doc Holliday was all about death, but Wyatt was all about life.”
Kilmer’s sense of humor was also evident during filming, particularly in the sweltering Arizona heat. He joked that Doc Holliday’s anger might have stemmed from wearing wool in 134°F heat.
Kilmer held Russell in high regard, crediting him in 2017 for Tombstone’s success, saying Russell was “solely responsible” for the film’s success.