Drew Barrymore Remembers Val Kilmer as “Nurturing and Safe” During Batman Forever: “He Wanted Things for Me”
In a heartfelt moment on The Drew Barrymore Show, actress and host Drew Barrymore paid tribute to her former Batman Forever co-star Val Kilmer, recalling the kindness and safety he offered her during a vulnerable time in her career.
Barrymore was joined by guest Kevin Bacon, and the conversation turned reflective as they spoke about past collaborations with the late director Joel Schumacher — a common link in both actors’ filmographies. For Barrymore, it was Schumacher and Kilmer who convinced her to join the cast of the 1995 superhero blockbuster.
“Val Kilmer was so nice to me,” Barrymore said. “He was so nurturing and kind and safe, which was a very important thing for me.”
She elaborated on the emotional impact of that experience, emphasizing how rare it was to feel truly supported in the industry at that time.
“Nobody wants anything from me — they want things for me,” she recalled thinking. “Which I thought was really interesting.”
A Rare Kindness in a Demanding Industry
Kilmer’s warmth and generosity clearly left a lasting impression on Barrymore. During that period of her life — still transitioning from child star to adult actress — feeling protected on set meant everything. And Kilmer delivered that, making her feel not only seen, but genuinely cared for.
Kevin Bacon echoed her sentiments, noting that such treatment was “probably not that common in those days.” He also shared his own memories of Kilmer, having worked with him on Broadway in Slab Boys in 1983, alongside Sean Penn and Jackie Earle Haley.
“I just always look at that as one of the great experiences of my life,” Bacon said. “Getting a chance to know him.”
Remembering a One-of-a-Kind Talent
Val Kilmer passed away on April 1 at the age of 65 due to complications from pneumonia. He had previously battled throat cancer, which significantly altered his voice but never diminished his spirit or dedication to his craft.
Trained at Juilliard, Kilmer was a chameleon on screen — equally magnetic as Jim Morrison in The Doors, a brooding romantic in The Saint, a scene-stealing Doc Holliday in Tombstone, and a charismatic if unconventional Batman in Schumacher’s 1995 adaptation.
His later work included standout performances in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Thunderheart, Willow, and a powerful final return in Top Gun: Maverick, which reunited him with Tom Cruise and offered fans one last moment with an actor they had followed for decades.
Val Kilmer leaves behind a legacy of bold roles, unmatched versatility, and the kind of gentle humanity that Drew Barrymore will never forget.