Val Kilmer Asked Will Forte to Do ‘The Amazing Race’ Together; Their Agents Said ‘No Way’ and ‘It’s Maybe the Biggest Regret of My Whole Career,’ Says Forte

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I had the distinct honor of penning a heartfelt, first-person essay for Vulture, reminiscing about my unforgettable friendship with Val Kilmer. Sadly, he passed away on April 1, at the age of 65, due to pneumonia. In the 2010 comedy “MacGruber,” where we shared the screen, Val played the formidable Dieter von Cunth. As I recall, Val was more than just a co-star; he went above and beyond, offering me his own shirt during filming.

The comedy series “MacGruber” marked the beginning of a remarkable camaraderie between the two actors. As Forte explains, when Kilmer was facing trouble with his landlord in Malibu, California, he asked if he could stay. For two and a half months, Forte and Kilmer shared a roof. It was during this time that Forte introduced Kilmer to reality TV shows, with “The Amazing Race” being the one that captivated him greatly.

The hit show “MacGruber” initiated an extraordinary bond between the two actors. According to Forte, when Kilmer encountered a problem with his landlord in Malibu, California, he requested to move in. For nearly three months, Forte and Kilmer lived together. It was during this stretch that Forte exposed Kilmer to reality TV, with “The Amazing Race” being the one that held his interest strongly.

Later on, he expressed, “‘Will’, it’s time for us to participate in ‘The Amazing Race.’ It’s a must. Let’s do ‘The Amazing Race,'” Forte recounts Kilmer saying. To which I replied, “I’m all in.” We both got quite thrilled about it and contacted our representatives, only to be told, “It’s impossible for you two to take part in that.” That might have been the biggest career regret for me – not having done ‘The Amazing Race’ with Val.

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He suggested, “‘Will’, we should join ‘The Amazing Race.’ It’s essential. Let’s do it,” Forte remembers Kilmer saying. I responded, “I’m ready and eager.” We became quite enthusiastic about the idea and reached out to our agents and managers, but they replied, “There’s no chance for you two to participate.” This might still be the biggest career disappointment – not participating in ‘The Amazing Race’ with Val.

Forte remarked that, given the circumstances, we likely would have escaped swiftly. However, it would have been an unforgettable experience,” Forte reflected on what might have transpired.

Later on, he expressed a regret that he hadn’t had enough time to recall old tales. There are so many moments he feels he forgot. It seems we discussed working on other projects together, but nothing substantial ever materialized… He was often talking about going off to work with Francis Ford Coppola or some similar venture. By chance, we managed to persuade him for ‘MacGruber,’ but I wasn’t certain if I would have another opportunity to collaborate with him. In the end, I made do by sharing a living space with him instead.

Following the sad demise of Val Kilmer, an outpouring of heartfelt tributes have been shared by his esteemed co-stars and filmmakers. As I stood amidst the bustling atmosphere of CinemaCon this week, promoting “Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning,” I couldn’t help but pause for a moment in memory of Kilmer. A fellow actor, he and I shared an unforgettable journey in the timeless film “Top Gun.

On stage at Caesars Palace, Cruise expressed his admiration for a dear friend of his, Val Kilmer. He was deeply moved by Kilmer’s work and felt incredibly fortunate when he joined ‘Top Gun’ and later returned for ‘Top Gun: Maverick.’ Wishing him well on his next adventure, he conveyed his sentiments.

Read Forte’s full essay on Vulture’s website.

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2025-04-05 01:51