The rapport between Val Kilmer and Kurt Russell on the set of ‘Tombstone’ was not just professional but also filled with camaraderie. This was evidently showcased through the in-character parting gifts that the two actors exchanged after filming. Kurt Russell recounts the experience with fondness:
“… And so I asked my driver to see if he could get ahold of Val’s holster and gun and hat and chair with his name on the back, take a picture, and then in that picture I wanted to have this thing. … I give Val this present… I had gotten Val was a plot at Boot Hill. And what Val had gotten me was an acre of land overlooking Boot Hill. … We just looked at each other and went, ‘Well, I guess that pretty much says it all.’”
The gifts weren’t just warm-hearted; they were symbols that encapsulated their on-screen characters as well. Val Kilmer, portraying Doc Holliday, a character associated with death, and Kurt Russell, embodying Wyatt Earp, who is tied to life. This symbolic exchange highlighted the profound understanding and connection the actors held towards their roles and to each other—mimicking the profound friendship of Holiday and Earp portrayed in the film. It seems the bonds formed in fiction bled into reality, at least in the case of Kilmer and Russell’s enduring exchange.
FAQ Section:
- What movie did Val Kilmer and Kurt Russell work on together?
- Val Kilmer and Kurt Russell worked together on the film “Tombstone”.
- What were the parting gifts Val Kilmer and Kurt Russell exchanged?
- Kurt Russell gave Val Kilmer a plot at Boot Hill, while Val Kilmer gave Kurt Russell an acre of land overlooking Boot Hill.
- How did the gifts reflect their characters?
- The gifts were reflective of their characters, with Doc Holliday (played by Kilmer) being associated with death, and Wyatt Earp (played by Russell) with life.
- Did the actors’ friendship in the movie reflect their real-life rapport?
- It appears that the deep friendship depicted between their characters in the movie carried over into a real-life camaraderie, as shown in the thoughtful exchange of their gifts.
Conclusion:
Kurt Russell and Val Kilmer’s exchange of hilariously in-character gifts after the completion of ‘Tombstone’ is a testament to the chemistry and the deep understanding they had of their roles. This anecdote exemplifies the kind of bonds that can form on set, where artists are fully invested in their characters. The gifts they gave each other perfectly symbolized their on-screen personas—Doc Holliday’s proximity to death and Wyatt Earp’s zest for life, and further illustrated the unexpected ways life can imitate art. Their sincere exchange was much more than a simple goodbye; it was a celebration of their shared experience, making it a memorable moment off-screen for these two actors.