Val Kilmer has fond memories of making Tombstone with costar Kurt Russell. On Monday, Kilmer, 63, shared a series of videos to Instagram shot during the production of the 1993 Western film, which opened in theaters Christmas Day 30 years ago.

Who was originally supposed to play Doc Holliday in Tombstone?

Tombstone Nearly Cast Willem Dafoe As Doc Holliday

Before Kilmer was cast in Tombstone, the producers' first choice for the role of Doc Holliday was Willem Dafoe (via MovieWeb). The studio vetoed Dafoe's casting because they were wary of the controversy surrounding Martin Scorsese's The Last Temptation of Christ.

How good was Val Kilmer in Tombstone?

As Doc, he had style, charisma and looked cool even when his character was terminally ill. His sayings were also legendary and Val Kilmer should go down in film legend for this role alone. Tombstone is the best non - John Wayne western that I have seen.

How much did Kurt Russell make for Tombstone?

Russell earned $10 million for his role in Escape from L.A. (via L.A. Times), which was released just three years later, so it's likely that his Tombstone salary was around the same figure.

What accent was Val Kilmer using in Tombstone?

Val Kilmer practiced for a long time on his quick-draw speed, and gave his character a Southern Aristocrat accent. The southern accent is an authentic touch, as Holliday was a cousin (several generations removed) of Margaret Mitchell, author of "Gone With the Wind".

Val Kilmer explains how he came to create the persona of Doc Holliday

Was Kurt Russell's mustache real in Tombstone?

All the mustaches in the movie were real except Jon Tenney's (Sheriff Behan) who had to be clean shaven for his prior project, and was thus the only fake mustache in the movie.

Who played Doc Holliday better?

Perhaps the most well-known portrayal of Doc Holliday was by Val Kilmer in the cult classic Western movie Tombstone.

Are Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer friends in real life?

Despite the difficulties filming the story inspired by the exploits of real-life Tombstone sheriff Wyatt Earp (Russell), some of the cast managed to develop friendships, and that includes Russell and the man behind Doc Holiday, Val Kilmer.

Why did Kevin Costner turn down Tombstone?

Kevin Costner Tried To Sabotage Tombstone At Every Turn

The late screenwriter Kevin Jarre's script was acclaimed but Costner later dropped out, as he felt the movie should cover Earp's life and not just his time in Tombstone.

Who was supposed to play Wyatt Earp in Tombstone?

Summary. Kurt Russell's performance as Wyatt Earp in Tombstone is one of his most defining roles, but it almost starred Richard Gere instead. Russell fell in love with the story and convinced Disney to distribute the film. Kevin Costner, who was originally attached to the film, left to make a rival biopic of Wyatt Earp ...

Who was the best actor in Tombstone?

How tall was Doc Holliday?

The average weight for a late-Victorian man of Holliday's height (5'10”) was 168 pounds but, by 1884, he weighed just 122 pounds.

Did Val Kilmer play the piano in Tombstone?

Kilmer learned to play the piano specifically for the scene in which Doc plays Chopin's Nocturne in E minor. Kilmer's dedication to his role extended beyond piano playing, as he also learned Latin for a tense scene with Johnny Ringo.

What was Wyatt Earp's wife addicted to?

Blaylock suffered from severe headaches and while in Tombstone, Arizona she became addicted to laudanum, a then-common opiate and pain killer. It is not known exactly when Earp and Blaylock ended their relationship.

Was Johnny Ringo a real person?

John Peters Ringo (May 3, 1850 – July 13, 1882), known as Johnny Ringo, was an American Old West outlaw loosely associated with the Cochise County Cowboys in frontier boomtown Tombstone, Arizona Territory. He took part in the Mason County War in Texas during which he committed his first murder.

Why did Doc hate Ringo?

"In Vino Veritas." - Doc Holliday

When Doc declares that he should "hate" Johnny Ringo because he reminds him too much of himself, Wyatt Earp tries to assuage the younger gunsel by explaining that Doc's drunk and not in command of his faculties.

How truthful is the movie Tombstone?

The film Tombstone is loosely based on the actual events leading up to and including the Gunfight at the OK Corral, the assassination of Morgan Earp, the attempted assassination of Virgil Earp and the resulting Earp Vendetta Ride. There were no characters in the film that were entirely fictional.

Which movie was more successful, Wyatt Earp or Tombstone?

Tombstone was a box office success, grossing $73.2 million worldwide on a $25 million budget, while Wyatt Earp only grossed $25 million against a $63 million budget.

Did Wyatt Earp have kids?

Earp, who had no children, was the last surviving participant of the OK Corral gunfight. In his later years, he'd consulted on Hollywood westerns and gotten to know various actors and directors. His funeral was attended by such celebrities as Western film star Tom Mix, who served as a pallbearer.

Why was Jarre fired from Tombstone?

It would seem Jarre wasn't ready to make the jump behind the camera. Evidently, the film fell behind schedule, and Jarre failed to fulfill the requirements of directing a major motion picture. One month into filming, Jarre was fired and replaced by George A. Cosmatos.

Did Elisabeth Shue and Val Kilmer get along?

They really like each other. “I would never play 'The Girl' in a big action-adventure picture if I didn't really respect the people I was involved with,” says Elisabeth Shue. “I don't want to get lost among the explosions, and I'm very picky about men. Val was great.

What condition does Val Kilmer have in real life?

In 2015, Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer; he had a procedure on his trachea that damaged his vocal cords to the point where he had extreme difficulty speaking. He also underwent chemotherapy and two tracheotomies. In 2020, he published his memoir, titled I'm Your Huckleberry: A Memoir.

What were Doc Holliday's last words?

As he lay dying, Holliday is reported to have asked the nurse attending him for a shot of whiskey. When she told him no, he looked at his bootless feet, amused. The nurses said that his last words were, "This is funny." He always figured he would be killed someday with his boots on.

How much weight did Dennis Quaid lose to play Doc Holiday?

He lost 44 lbs. for the role of Doc Holliday in Wyatt Earp, The director had said for him to lose10 -11 but Dennis felt he needed to lose more as Doc suffered from TB.

What actor was the best Wyatt Earp?