I'm Your Huckleberry: A Memoir

Written by Val Kilmer

Narrated by Will Forte, George Newbern and Mare Winningham

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, 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.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: Apr 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9781797109718

Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer (1959–2025) was an American actor known for his roles in Top Gun: Maverick, Top Gun, Top Secret!, 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 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 was 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. 

Reviews for I'm Your Huckleberry

[Cory Stegall · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I grew up on his movies and his doc holiday is my favorite movie character I have ever seen. I was saddened when I learned about his bout with cancer but over joyed when I heard he beat and with the joy that he currently has I love his art work and hope to one day own a piece so that I can share his love with all who enter my life.

[Hilary Cheeley · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow - not at all what I expected. What a brilliant, loving and positive man. Thank you, Val, for writing this memoir.

[pb9d8xj7y7 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing memoir. Great insight to Val’s mind. Really made you think about life overall. He will be greatly missed.

[jenndempsey84 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I respect his honesty in self reflection after all he has been through. He did not hold back. I do admire the respect and love he had with Cher when he left NM and had to start over. He will be missed! Rest easy Batman!

[gjonathans · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very interesting to see into the mind of a great actor. I was interested the whole time.
I found this to be full of lessons that I should take for heart. This is a man who had many beautiful woman that he fell in live with yet was left with none of them. Yet again he still had purpose and fulfillment in his life. A reminder to myself while I am still youthful that another woman isn't the cure one thinks it is. Maybe the grass is not always greener.

[Rachel · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amazing story-teller. A beautiful soul. I will definitely read this again.

[Leslie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent memoir, inspiring, as well as providing insights into Val's career and acting.

[Pamela Christiansen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thoroughly entertaining. Tombstone is my favorite Val Kilmer movie. Everyone in the cast is great, but Kilmer takes it to another level. It was very interesting to hear his life’s story. I wish him well.
Pam C.

[Linda Moreland · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

What a vain moron. Don’t waste your time. Great actor. Poor writer.

[Josh Diaz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

It felt shorter than expected. I was waiting for the story to continue on and then it ended. A revised extended version would be welcomed.

[Steve Wysocki · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Boring and not straight to the point. All about spirit and poetry. If this is you'll love it.

[Sue Campbell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I am a Kilmer fan and was not one bit disappointed! Mr Kilmer shared his life story in a very personal, poignant way. It was an enjoyable journey behind the lense of Val Kilmer!

[ric_443240277 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Not at all what I expected, what a great surprise! Funny and straight to the point

[ecataldi-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was... interesting. I didn't know much about Val other than the movies I'd seen about him but a lot of this book was which celebrity women he's been with, how good he is at everything, his career, all the roles he's turned down, bizarre poetry, and a lot of spiritual beliefs about LOVE and seeing angels and having premonitions. In chapter one he said that he had a crush on all his readers but I can't say I necessarily return that feeling. It was interesting learning some Hollywood stuff BUT... he came across as pretty pompous. So much name dropping and wild claims about how he could do anything. I would rate this as a 2, but I'm bumping it up to a 3 because of the entertainment value and pictures.

[treehousereader · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

REVIEW: I’m not sure why I was intrigued with this book. I checked it out at my library (and kept it long after it was due back). I don’t follow the entertainment world and probably couldn’t name more than a handful of stars. This book gave a poignant reality to the glittery illusion of an actor’s life. His comments, his poetry, his miracles. It is an inspirational work of a sometimes troubled man. And yet he maintained his faith and purpose. Well done!

DESCRIPTION, NOT REVIEW: Legendary actor Val Kilmer 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.

[knightlight777 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A memoir type autobiography by an actor who made his mark in a number of good movies but never attained the status of super star. Val certainly is talented and was able to do much in his career that extends to the present though definitely limited now by his personal challenges. A number of interesting things he covered on topics I was not aware of about him.

He certainly squired some big names of entertainment that was one big surprise as I was not aware of his time with Cher, Darryl Hannah, and Cindy Crawford to name a few. I was also not aware of his commitment to his faith Christian Science. He contracted throat cancer but spends very little time on how it came about and possible cause like smoking. So though we get some good insights to his character there is that hidden aura also in play here.

[darthdeverell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Many actors who write their memoirs spend a great deal of time discussing conquests, vilifying old rivals, or overindulging in detailing every bit of minutia they can, to the point that the reader wishes their editor had been more forceful. Val Kilmer’s I’m Your Huckleberry, however, takes a different approach. His memoir focuses on a journey of love and artistic self-discovery. He is not afraid to be honest with his reader, admitting his faults and his mistakes, while never giving into base gossip and the opportunity to call out those who have wronged him. If he feels someone was wrong, he says so matter-of-factly, but he doesn’t linger or indulge in personal attacks. He even admits where he shares the blame, which is refreshing in its honesty and shows his commitment to love.

Kilmer does give some inside information on making his films, but this is not a behind-the-scenes book. Rather, Kilmer explores why he chose certain roles, how he sought artistic satisfaction in them, and how every experience was about finding the love. He discusses how certain roles didn’t turn out as he expected or where he may have created problems in his approach, but he makes himself all the more relatable to his reader when he discusses taking some roles just for the opportunity to work with his idols, letting his inner fanboy out.

Kilmer’s memoir is easily one of the most affirming works of this type and is exactly what the world needs right now in this time of uncertainty. Fans of Val Kilmer will find even more reason to like him while aspiring actors should use this as a guide on how to approach their calling in order to get the most fulfillment out of it.