Val Kilmer Went 'Barefoot' & 'Shirtless' to Movie Audition

Legendary actor Val Kilmer passed away this week at the age of 65 after coming down with pneumonia. And it sounds like he made quite an impression during the audition for one of his most prominent roles.

Following the news of Kilmer's passing this week, actress Jennifer Tilly shared a story of Kilmer's audition for the movie "The Doors," where the actor was auditioning for the role of iconic rock star Jim Morrison.

“A long time ago, I was auditioning for the movie ‘The Doors’ It was kind of a cattle call,” Tilly wrote in her post on social media. “They paired together potential Jims with potential Pamela‘s. And they were running behind so we were spilling out of the casting office, sitting on the porch, the lawn, and the driveway. All of a sudden, a sixties convertible came screeching up, blaring Doors Music at top volume. And a guy jumped out and strode inside: He had wild hair and he was barefoot, shirtless, and wearing nothing but a pair of tight leather pants.”

Obviously, it made quite an impression on everyone else who was auditioning.

“We all looked at each other like … Who is this guy? We were more than a little shook by the sheer audacity of his entrance. Well of course it was Val Kilmer and from that minute on, nobody else stood a chance. Rip King.”

Needless to say, Kilmer got the role, and it was one of the best performances of his entire career. In fact, Nicolas Cage thinks that he deserved to win the Oscar for Best Actor for the role.

“I always liked Val and am sad to hear of his passing. I thought he was a genius actor. I enjoyed working with him on Bad Lieutenant and I admired his commitment and sense of humor. He should have won the Oscar for The Doors,” Cage told The Hollywood Reporter.

It was certainly a bold decision from Kilmer at the audition, but it clearly worked.