Warwick Davis, known for playing the lead role alongside Val Kilmer in the 1988 fantasy film Willow, recently reflected on his co-star Val Kilmer’s passing. He noted Kilmer’s extraordinary power at the time the film was made. Speaking at the May 21 grand opening of Universal’s Epic Universe in Orlando, Davis recalled his own admiration for Kilmer. He loved Kilmer’s colorful, capricious turn as Madmartigan in the film.
Davis went on to explain that Kilmer was instrumental in getting him through the difficult process of filming Willow. Ron Howard directed the film, while George Lucas produced it. Together, they teamed up for a box office smash that raked in almost $140 million, all made on a small $35 million budget. It won two Oscars for sound and visual effects, creating a legacy in cinematic history.
In a heartfelt tribute, Davis stated, “He’s really the reason I got through the making of the film Willow.” He remembered on-set times where Kilmer inspired him with cries of “Push it! Don’t stop! Go, go, go!” For Davis, this camaraderie pushed her through the challenging and hormone-fueled filming process and played a big part in making the film truly successful.
Alongside his groundbreaking role in the 1988 film, Davis brought his character to life in the recent original run on Disney+’s Willow. The series was unfortunately cancelled after only one season. Davis had lofty goals to include Kilmer in the docuseries. Tragically, his dreams of what could’ve been were soon lost in the nineties when Kilmer succumbed to pneumonia at age 65. Kilmer, who had fought throat cancer since 2014, a fight that changed the course of his career and personal life.
Media coverage over the years, particularly in the wake of recent controversies, has not been entirely kind to Kilmer. He stated, “I always like to tell the world how great he was because I often think the media gave the wrong impression of who he was as a person.” This feeling encapsulates the deeply felt appreciation and affection that Davis had for his late best friend and co-star.
Fans and friends continue to pay tribute to Val Kilmer. At the same time, Warwick Davis is celebrating his legacy by looking back on their short time spent together while working on Willow. Their relationship out of character deepened their creative collaboration on screen in exceptional moments. It had a tremendous — and tragic — effect on Davis’s life and career.
