Did Val Kilmer and Michelle Pfeiffer date? Speculations explored as actress pays tribute

Michelle Pfeiffer has paid homage to her late friend and co-star, Val Kilmer, after he passed away at the age of 65 on April 1, 2025.

The actress posted a black and white throwback picture of the pair on the set of their 1985 ABC Afterschool Special, One Too Many, to her Instagram Story. She wrote in the caption,

"Rest in Peace, Val," with a heart emoji.

Best known for his roles in Top Gun, Batman Forever, and The Doors, Kilmer died from pneumonia complications after a long struggle with health issues, throat cancer included.

Val Kilmer and Michelle Pfeiffer met on the set of One Too Many, an educational TV special about the awareness of teenage drinking and driving. Pfeiffer’s then-husband, Peter Horton, directed the project.

According to Daily Mail, it’s widely believed that Kilmer and Pfeiffer briefly dated in the 1980s. While neither confirmed any romantic relationship publicly, the media at that time speculated their relationship excessively.

Both Kilmer and Pfeiffer were still early in their careers at the time; Kilmer had appeared only in the spoof comedy Top Secret! (1984). On the other hand, Pfeiffer wasn't yet a big star, though she was gaining recognition after her breakthrough role in Scarface (1983).

Per a Daily Mail report, Kilmer had an immediate connection with Michelle Pfeiffer. He later stated that he had confided in her about personal issues, most notably his fraught relationship with his parents.

"The secret pain that Michelle and I shared created an intimacy between us," Kilmer shared in his 2020 memoir.

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More about Val Kilmer's poem inspired by Michelle Pfeiffer

Kilmer’s affection for Pfeiffer was seemingly apparent in his poetry, too. He self-published My Edens After Burns in 1987, a poetry collection that contained a poem called "The Pfeiffer Howls at the Moon," dedicated to Michelle Pfeiffer.

Three decades later, Kilmer published his second book of poetry, Cowboy Poet Outlaw Madman. Dozens of other celebrities, including Cher, Robert Downey Jr., and Sean Penn, praised the book and endorsed his work.

His work often expressed themes of love, longing, and personal struggles. Many of his poems were also written in honor of his lovers, including Cher, Cindy Crawford, and Angelina Jolie.

Val Kilmer has had a history of high-profile relationships, having been linked romantically with stars including Cindy Crawford, Angelina Jolie, Cher, and Ellen Barkin. Despite his active romantic life early on, he later revealed in his memoir I'm Your Huckleberry that it had been 20 years since he had a significant other.