Val Kilmer Was The Best Doc Holliday Of All Time – 6 Facts You May Not Know About His ‘Tombstone’ Character
The late Val Kilmer will always be remembered for his iconic portrayal of the legendary gunslinger in the beloved cult classic, Tombstone, which is available to stream on Hulu. Here are some lesser known facts about Doc Holliday, Kilmer’s performance, and the production.
1. The mustache was real.
Director George Cosmatos was insistent on historical accuracy, making sure all of the finer details of the production were as realistic as possible. Kilmer’s styled mustache added to the romance of the character, fitting for a gambler, but also reminiscent of the pirates, swashbucklers, musketeers, and Robin Hoods of old Hollywood.
2. The name ‘Doc’ Holliday came from his background as a dentist.
Born John Henry Holliday, Doc earned his degree in dentistry from the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery when he was 20 years old. His status as an educated man in the ‘Wild West’ would explain his genteel nature beyond just southern charm.
3. Kilmer worked with a voice coach to perfect his aristocratic Georgian accent for the role.
Speaking of southern charm, Holliday’s Georigian roots often get lost in the stereotypes of Western mythology, but Kilmer worked to recreate the way his character would have spoken in that time period with an accent no longer alive today. Fun fact, Holliday was also a distant relative of writer, Margaret Mitchell, who is known for authoring Gone With the Wind.
4. Kilmer went to uncomfortable lengths to portray the physical characteristics of a man dying of consumption.
To give himself cold sweats, Kilmer layered on several ice packs on top of his skin before shooting, and for his death scene, even laid on a block of ice to help make him shake. This comes in stark contrast to the extreme heat Kilmer experienced while filming in historically accurate wool clothing, at one time claiming a thermometer on set hit a record 134 degrees.
5. Kilmer penned a blog post supporting Kurt Russell’s claim he essentially directed the film.
Screenwriter Kevin Jarre was orginally supposed to direct the film, but was replaced by Cosmatos only one month into production. Kilmer wrote, “I watched Kurt sacrifice his own role and energy to devote himself as a storyteller, even going so far as to draw up shot lists to help our replacement director, George Cosmatos, who came in with only two days prep.” Kilmer said of his involvement, “Kurt is solely responsible for Tombstone’s success, no question.”
6. He named his 2020 memoir I’m Your Huckleberry after his iconic line in the film.
Fans have often debated the true meaning of this line, which comes from a southern phrase meaning, “I’m the man for the job.” It’s use in the title suggests Kilmer’s fondness for the film, which he recounts in the autobiography alongside his romantic relationships, health struggles, and film career. If you enjoy trivia facts like these, give it a read!