I would argue that Val Kilmer's role as Doc Holliday in Tombstone was the best of his career. I toss and turn between that and his role in Michael Mann's Heat (1995) as Chris Shiherlis. Kilmer excels in tapping into a very physical and emotional intensity that makes his characters so tangible. But I reckon it's his work alongside Kurt Russell's Wyatt Earp that shines the brightest, acting as a guardian angel of sorts. The pair clearly got close when working on the iconic Western together, evident in their chemistry. Apparently, they were close enough, to the point they exchanged gifts by the end of it all.

Back in January 2024, Kurt sat down with GQ to discuss his most iconic film roles. Around the midway mark, he speaks swimmingly of Val Kilmer and his work on Tombstone. Moreover, he recalls a time when it was highly encouraged to exchange gifts with actors on set. "If you're asking me if it was great working with Val Kilmer, who played Doc Holliday on Tombstone, the answer is absolutely," Kurt says firmly.

"In those days, especially when you were working with people, sometimes at the end of the show you'd get them gifts or trade gifts," Russell adds. "It's not mandatory, it's not something that you gotta do or that they've gotta do."