“We Almost Ran The Amazing Race Together” — Will Forte’s Heartfelt Tribute to Val Kilmer
When someone truly special leaves the world, they also leave a mark — a lingering echo of laughter, stories, and moments that felt like magic. For Saturday Night Live alum Will Forte, that someone was Val Kilmer — a former co-star, a roommate, and above all, a dear friend. In a recent tribute, Forte opened up with raw honesty and affection, painting a picture of a friendship that was anything but ordinary.
Val Kilmer, known for his legendary roles in Top Gun, Batman Forever, The Doors, and of course, as the villain in MacGruber, passed away on April 1. Though he had battled throat cancer since 2014, his daughter Mercedes Kilmer confirmed it was pneumonia that ultimately claimed his life. He was a force — on screen and off — and to Forte, he was also a surprise house guest who turned into a roommate for nearly three months.
“Hey, Can I Crash for a Few Days?”
Their unexpected living arrangement had a rather casual beginning. Kilmer, at the time, was between places — selling his property in New Mexico and dealing with a landlord issue in Malibu. In true laid-back fashion, he reached out to Forte:
“Hey, can I stay at your place for a couple days while I figure things out?”
Forte, naturally, thought a couple days meant just that. But when Kilmer arrived with nothing but a smile and a casual vibe on a Monday afternoon, it seemed like an easygoing arrangement. That impression shifted quickly.
“Later that day, his assistant dropped off two massive duffel bags—just stuffed with books,” Forte recalled with a laugh. “That’s when I realized… this was going to be longer than a weekend.”
Two-and-a-half months later, they were still living under the same roof — and loving every minute of it.
A Bond Forged in Banter (and Books)
Living with Val Kilmer wasn't just about sharing space — it became a beautiful, messy, hilarious chapter in Forte’s life. The two would spend hours talking, watching TV, and debating the most ridiculous things. Kilmer had this larger-than-life presence, but also a quirky curiosity about the everyday.
One of Forte’s favorite memories? Introducing Kilmer to The Amazing Race.
“He walked in while I was watching it and just goes, ‘What are you watching that garbage for? That stuff’s going to rot your brain,’” Forte shared. But after a bit of banter and persuasion, Kilmer sat down and gave the show a try.
“And then,” Forte laughed, “he got really into it. Like, obsessively into it.”
So much so that Kilmer proposed something wild.
“Let’s Do The Amazing Race, Will.”
At one point, Kilmer turned to Forte with childlike excitement:
“Will, we have to go on The Amazing Race. We’d kill it. Come on, let’s do it!”
Forte was instantly on board. “I was all in. We even called our agents and managers to see if it could happen.”
The dream, however, didn’t fly with their teams. The idea of two high-profile actors running through airports and deciphering clues on national television didn’t exactly line up with Hollywood schedules.
But to this day, Forte says that moment sticks with him as one of his biggest career regrets — not because of fame or strategy, but because of what it would’ve meant: a wild, unforgettable adventure with one of his favorite people.
“Honestly,” he reflected, “we probably would’ve been eliminated early, but I don’t care. That experience would’ve been once in a lifetime.”
From Fanboy to Friend
Before they were co-stars or roommates, Forte was just another guy blown away by Kilmer’s presence on screen. “I mean, come on — Jim Morrison in The Doors, Doc Holliday in Tombstone — the guy was electric,” Forte said.
But somewhere along the way, that pedestal turned into a dinner table. And one night, the reality of their friendship hit him.
“We were sitting at the kitchen table, just hanging out, and some Doors songs came on in the background,” he said. “We both just started singing—‘L.A. Woman,’ then ‘Roadhouse Blues,’ then ‘Touch Me.’”
That spontaneous sing-along became a moment Forte would never forget.
“It hit me then: this guy I idolized for years, he’s just ‘Val’ to me now. A friend. A real friend.”
A Rare Kind of Connection
There’s something truly special about people who defy expectations — who carry Hollywood credentials but never make you feel small. Kilmer was one of those people. According to Forte, Kilmer was generous, intellectually curious, wildly funny, and full of surprises.
“He had this beautiful, chaotic energy,” Forte said. “You never really knew what he was going to say next, but it was always thoughtful, and always from a place of love.”
Whether they were arguing over reality TV or cracking each other up with inside jokes, it was clear their bond ran deep. Their friendship, much like Kilmer himself, was unconventional and unforgettable.
Farewell, But Not Goodbye
While Forte still wishes they’d made it onto The Amazing Race, he knows he got something even more valuable — time. Unplanned, unscripted, and totally unique time with someone who changed his life.
“He came into my house thinking it would be a short stay, and it turned into a life chapter,” Forte said. “He made my world a little weirder, a lot more interesting, and infinitely more full.”
As the world remembers Val Kilmer for his iconic roles, Will Forte remembers him for late-night talks, spontaneous singalongs, and the kind of friendship that leaves a lasting imprint.
“He was more than just a Hollywood legend. To me, he was Val — my roommate, my teammate, my friend.”
Final Thoughts: A Life That Burned Bright
Kilmer’s legacy will always be remembered through the characters he brought to life on the screen — from ice-cold pilots to misunderstood geniuses. But it’s the behind-the-scenes stories, like this one, that remind us how human even our biggest stars really are.
And for Will Forte, the legend of Val Kilmer isn’t found in the credits of MacGruber or the Hollywood Walk of Fame — it’s in the quiet moments, the laughter over bad reality TV, and a dream forever floating in the “what if” of The Amazing Race.
Key Takeaways:
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Val Kilmer once seriously wanted to compete on The Amazing Race with Will Forte.
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What started as a two-day visit turned into a two-and-a-half-month roommate adventure.
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Forte’s biggest career regret? Not racing around the world with Kilmer.
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Their bond went from fan and idol to genuine friendship rooted in laughter, books, and late-night singalongs.
Kilmer may be gone, but through memories like these, his spirit — curious, playful, and passionate — lives on.
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