Throughout his acting career, Val Kilmer was never a stranger to music. In his first feature film, Kilmer—who became the youngest actor to be accepted into the prestigious Julliard School at 17—played rock star Skeet Surfin’ in the comedy Top Secret! singing “Are you Lonesome tonight?” “Tutti Frutti,” a medley of Beach Boys songs, and more throughout the movie. In 1991, Kilmer took everything further, immersing himself in the life and voice of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s musical bio The Doors. Kilmer’s singing in the film was so convincing that surviving members of the band mistook his vocals for Morrison’s.
He even took on the persona of the spirit of Elvis Presley, offering guidance to Christian Slater’s misdirected Clarence Worley in True Romance in 1993. Kilmer also voiced the singing Moses in the 1998 DreamWorks animated musical film Prince of Egypt and played a jazz trumpeter looking to avenge the death of his wife in the 2002 thriller The Salton Sea.
Blending music with acting, Kilmer also starred in the 2012 Teacious D video for “To Be the Best” and again in 2016 in Oneohtrix Point Never’s video for “Animals.”
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In 2007, Kilmer recorded an album with New Jersey-born musician and composer Mick Rossi, who has collaborated with Paul Simon, Philip Glass, Hall & Oates, and more. Rossi also co-wrote the 2006 crime drama Played and the thriller 2:22 from 2008 and starred in both alongside Kilmer.
Titled Sessions with Mick, it features seven songs co-written by the actor and Rossi. The album, which was released in 2007 as a limited edition to support the charities V-Day and The Wild Life Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, spans brooding ballads and moodier blues with a few stompier rockers.
Here’s a look (and listen) behind the songs that Kilmer, who died at 65 on April 1, 2025, wrote and the only album he released in his lifetime.
“Pigtails”
Written by Val Kilmer and Mick Rossi
“Pigtails” opens the album and is one of the few uptempo tracks on the Sessions with Mick. The song moves through repeated mistakes and few regrets and ends with Kilmer and Rossi singing the repetitive Listen to the Nightingales.
I’ve been growing sideways
I’ve been growing thin
I’ve been a zombie all day
I’ve been preventing sin
Noobadaba dootoo, noobadaba dootoo
“True Friend”
Written by Val Kilmer and Mick Rossi
On this piano-tinkled acoustic ballad, Kilmer’s raspier vocals lead the way around his loyalty as a friend. He faithfully sings, Until the end I’ve been a true friend / Always steady / Always true. / I never bent when the way was straight for you.
One more mortal has let me down
I’m alone with my rhyming in an unknown town
Alone with poetry and foreign football on hotel television
A text message from a troubled-kept woman
And I bend and I bend and I’m abandoned
“Frontier Justice”
Written by Val Kilmer and Mick Rossi
Brooding and bluesy, “Frontier Justice” takes a darker turn, with Kilmer embodying a character out of Tombstone. After learning about an unfateful partner, he decides to take things into his own hands—literally—singing, I saw you with him. You took his hand. You went in that motel room, you drew them blinds. … I took his .45, ain’t gonna tell no lie. I walked right through that rain, trying to feel my brain. My hand went numb. Oh, God, thinkin’ what I had done.
I’ve been dreaming
You’ve been screaming
I could see you go
Ever since you let me know you’re taking that job across town
I followed you yesterday
My second sight told me you might go that way
Yes, I saw you with him
You took his hand
You went in that motel room
You drew them blinds
“Christmas is Calling”
Written by Val Kilmer and Mick Rossi
In the middle of some heavier lyrics, Kilmer adds a touch of levity with a Christmas song. A feel-good holiday ballad, “Christmas Is Calling” slowly builds into a more uplifting anthem.
Snow is falling
Christmas is calling
Good God, dontcha know
Happiness is all That we need live for
Children’s faces
Oh how they grace us
Show us how to feel
Only love is real
Oh let it shine on you
“All Children are Beautiful”
Written by Val Kilmer and Mick Rossi
The tender acoustic ballad follows more carefree lyrics about the innocence and fun of childhood and showcases Kilmer’s love for his two children.
I was just walking
On the beach with my kids today
We didn’t have no plans ya we just lazed and play
Then I played a game
Who could be the most truthful
And I said in all the world they were the most beautiful
But my daughter said no
And I said oh
And she said daddy look around, look around
She said all, she said all
Children are beautiful
Kilmer, who had two children with ex-wife Joanne Whalley, Jack and Mercedes, talked about turning down acting roles to spend more time with his kids when they were younger. “I can’t be a responsible parent and only be there three or four months a year,” he told Vanity Fair in 2012.
When Kilmer was diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, his children were by his side during recovery. Both also executive produced the 2021 documentary Val, about their father’s battle with throat cancer, narrated by Jack. “They really have done everything to make my health as usual,” said Kilmer.
Of the health challenges he was facing, Mercedes, who starred in the 2020 thriller Paydirt with her father, added: “So many good things have come out of it. We all spend so much time together. Even just getting to meet all my dad’s friends from before I was born. There are so many beautiful things that happen when you need help from people.”
“We All Need (Somebody)”
Written by Val Kilmer and Mick Rossi
A more vulnerable ballad, “We All Need (Somebody),” also listed as “We All Need,” cues more sentimental messages and the power of unity and love. And all I need is some direction / Smile in the daylight / Cryin’ in the moonlight / And Good Lord knows I need protection sings Kilmer.
Smiles in the morning
Cry in the evening
And all I need is some direction
Smile in the daylight
Crying in the moonlight
Good lord knows I need protection
And we all need somebody
Yes, we all need somebody
With love and affection
Smile in the morning
*Video/song interspersed wth Kilmer’s 1999 film At First Sight.
“A Song Beyond Your Years”
Written by Val Kilmer and Mick Rossi
Closing the album, “A Song Beyond Your Years” chugs around stories of the oppressed. Double-edged, the song reads as cautionary and empowering to stand up for one’s rights and beliefs.
I stand tall and pray for you all
I’m drunk and strange and ephemeral
Enternal and grateful
Humble, I mumble a prophecy of songs
The topography of youth
The line is the truth
Photo: Shutterstock
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