Will Forte reveals he missed out on experience of lifetime with Val Kilmer: 'Biggest regret of my career'

Will Forte and Val Kilmer grew close after 'MacGruber' and even lived together for nearly three months, Forte shared in a heartfelt tribute
PUBLISHED APR 6, 2025
Will Forte reflected warmly on his relationship with Val Kilmer (Getty Images)
Will Forte reflected warmly on his relationship with Val Kilmer (Getty Images)

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Will Forte and Val Kilmer formed a close bond while working together on 'MacGruber', the 2010 film based on Forte’s 'Saturday Night Live' character.

Following Kilmer’s death at the age of 65, Forte opened up about one of the most meaningful and missed opportunities of his career involving the late actor.

Will Forte shares his 'biggest regret' 

Val Kilmer once poked fun at Will Forte for watching 'The Amazing Race', calling it “garbage.”

Forte recalled Kilmer saying, “What are you watching that garbage for? Come on, that stuff’s going to rot your mind.”

Actor Val Kilmer visits the United Nations headquarters in New York City, New York to promote the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative, July 20, 2019. (Photo by EuropaNewswire/Gado/Getty Images)
Actor Val Kilmer visits the United Nations headquarters in New York City, New York, to promote the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) initiative, July 20, 2019 (EuropaNewswire/Gado/Getty Images)

Rather than push back, Forte invited Kilmer to watch the show with him before judging it. “So he sat down and started watching it, and he got really into it,” Forte reminisced in a write-up in Vulture.

Kilmer enjoyed the show so much, he eventually came up with the idea that they should participate in the CBS competition series together.

Will Forte attend the 64th TV WEEK Logie Awards at The Star on August 18, 2024 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by James Gourley/Getty Images for TV WEEK Logie Awards)
Will Forte attend the 64th TV WEEK Logie Awards at The Star on August 18, 2024, in Sydney, Australia (James Gourley/Getty Images for TV WEEK Logie Awards)

“Then, at a certain point, he said, ‘Will, you and I have to go do The Amazing Race. We have to. Let’s do The Amazing Race,’” Forte remembered Kilmer telling him.

Forte was completely on board with Kilmer’s plan. “I’m like, ‘I am so fully in.’ We got really excited about it, and then we called our respective agents and managers,” he wrote according to Variety.

Val Kilmer and Will Forte in MacGruber (2010) (IMDB)
Val Kilmer and Will Forte in'MacGruber' (2010) (IMDB)

Unfortunately, their enthusiasm was met with firm rejection. Forte recalled, “They were like, ‘There’s no way you guys are doing that.’ That is, maybe to this day, the biggest regret of my whole career — that I never did The Amazing Race with Val.”

Despite the likelihood they wouldn’t have made it far in the competition, Forte still cherished the idea. “I think we would've gotten out very quickly, but it just would've been the experience of a lifetime,” he wrote.

AUSTIN, TEXAS - MARCH 10: Will Forte attends the
Will Forte attends the 'Good Boys' Premiere 2019 SXSW Conference and Festivals at Paramount Theatre on March 11, 2019 in Austin, Texas (Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for SXSW) 

Val Kilmer died of pneumonia at age 65

Val Kilmer’s daughter, Mercedes Kilmer, confirmed to the New York Times that her father died of pneumonia.

Though he was previously diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, she shared that he had since recovered.

Val Kilmer in Top Gun, 1986 (Paramount Pictures)
Val Kilmer in 'Top Gun', 1986 (Paramount Pictures)

Kilmer, known for his roles in 'The Doors' and 'Batman Forever', left behind not only a legacy in film but also in the personal connections he made along the way—including a friendship with Will Forte that led to one lasting regret.

Moreover, his roles in 'Top Gun' and its sequel, 'Top Gun Maverick' with Tom Cruise, have been cherished by movie fans.

MORE STORIES

The post Khloe Kardashian liked featured Charlie Kirk speaking with a fan at an event about his devout Christian faith
Sep 13, 2025
Whitney Cummings sparked widespread outrage after posting a controversial tweet about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk
Sep 13, 2025
Prince Harry was spotted entering King Charles’s London residence, months after saying his father had ignored his calls
Sep 11, 2025
Rosie O'Donnell said Ellen DeGeneres’ friendship denial hurt so much she printed T-shirts for her staff reading, 'I don’t know Rosie, we’re not friends'
Sep 10, 2025
A post alleged that Karoline Leavitt called Patti LaBelle 'just a singer,' leading LaBelle to deliver a seven-word response that froze the studio
Sep 10, 2025
Jennifer Lopez feels free channeling emotions into music, but Ben Affleck is embarrassed and sees it as crossing a line, according to the source
Sep 9, 2025
Howard Stern added that he missed last week’s show due to illness, not contract talks, and addressed rumors of being fired from his own show
Sep 9, 2025
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s engagement in August 2025 triggered a wave of pregnancy chatter after an ultrasound photo went viral
Sep 9, 2025
Ed Sheeran, 34, revealed that he was leaving Suffolk with his wife Cherry Seaborn and their two daughters, Lyra and Jupiter
Sep 9, 2025
From Ice Spice’s chaotic corset to Paris Hilton’s flame dress, see the celebs who landed on the worst-dressed list at the 2025 VMAs
Sep 8, 2025