I'm Your Huckleberry: A Memoir

Product Description
In this New York Times bestseller, legendary actor and star of the acclaimed documentary Val shares the stories behind his most beloved roles, reminisces about his star-studded career and love life, and reveals the truth behind his recent health struggles in a remarkably candid autobiography.
Val Kilmer has played many iconic roles over his nearly four-decade film career. A table-dancing Cold War agent in
Top Secret! A troublemaking science prodigy in
Real Genius. A brash fighter pilot in
Top Gun. A swashbuckling knight in
Willow. A lovelorn bank robber in
Heat. A charming master of disguise in
The Saint. A wise-cracking detective in
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Of course, Batman, Jim Morrison and the sharp-shooting Doc Holliday.
But who is the
real Val Kilmer? With
I’m Your Huckleberry—published ahead of next summer’s highly anticipated sequel
Top Gun: Maverick, in which Kilmer returns to the big screen as Tom “Iceman” Kazansky—the enigmatic actor at last steps out of character and reveals his true self.
In this uniquely assembled memoir—featuring vivid prose, snippets of poetry and rarely-seen photos—Kilmer reflects on his acclaimed career, including becoming the youngest actor ever admitted to the Juilliard School’s famed drama department, determinedly campaigning to win the lead part in
The Doors, and realizing a years-long dream of performing a one-man show as his hero Mark Twain. He shares candid stories of working with screen legends Marlon Brando, Tom Cruise, Robert Downey Jr. and Robert De Niro, and recounts high-profile romances with Cher, Cindy Crawford, Daryl Hannah, and former wife Joanne Whalley. He chronicles his spiritual journey and lifelong belief in Christian Science, and describes travels to far-flung locales such as a scarcely inhabited island in the Indian Ocean where he suffered from delirium and was cared for by the resident tribe. And he reveals details of his recent throat cancer diagnosis and recovery—about which he has disclosed little until now.
While containing plenty of tantalizing celebrity anecdotes,
I’m Your Huckleberry—taken from the famous line Kilmer delivers as Holliday in
Tombstone—is ultimately a singularly written and deeply moving reflection on mortality and the mysteries of life.
About the Author
Val Kilmer is an American actor known for his roles in
Top Secret!,
Top Gun,
Real Genius,
Willow,
The Doors,
True Romance,
Tombstone,
Batman Forever,
Heat,
The Saint,
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and more. A graduate of Juilliard’s drama department, he has appeared on Broadway and London’s West End. He has published two books of poetry and received a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Album. He is also an accomplished visual artist, with work exhibited in galleries worldwide, and the star of an acclaimed documentary
Val about his life as a Hollywood actor.
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
1. The Pinball Machine
PROGRESS PROVES THE INFINITE
I’m saying what we’re praying and how it’s neighboring delight
To spend an eternity in this hour holding hands throughout the night
Never needing to check for relevance
(Our proof is what we pay for)
We dance across the cosmos
Reflecting purity and purpose from Pulpit and Press
I salute you brothers and sisters
Whose progress
Proves
The Infinite
—Hollywood, California, 2019