MacForte recalls the intriguing era when his 'MacGruber' costar, Val Kilmer, resided as his housemate.
Rewritten Article:
Will Forte, reminiscing about his pal and "MacGruber" co-star Val Kilmer—who he labeled as the "most intriguing chap in the world"—shares a tale about Kilmer living with him for almost three whole months.
In an essay published by Vulture on Friday, Forte recalled Kilmer, who kicked the bucket this week at 65 due to pneumonia, as "roaringly funny and brainy beyond belief. He could switch between being nutty as a fruitcake and a downright devilish little imp—but a sweet devilish little imp. Life is more colorful when you're hangin' with Val."
Forte explained that they'd become "pretty close" after filming "MacGruber," a film based on a recurring "Saturday Night Live" parody of "MacGyver" featuring Forte and Kilmer as the outrageous Dieter Von Cunth. Since Kilmer was looking for a new roof over his head due to certain real-estate shenanigans, Forte said Kilmer asked if he could crash at his pad "for a couple days."
"I don't recall if he said 'a couple days,' but I got the impression it was gonna be more than a couple days," Forte wrote. Thus, Kilmer moved in, and when his assistant came over with two mammoth duffel bags filled with books, Forte figured it might not be just a few days—it might be two and a half months.
Forte painted a picture of their daily escapades, from stumbling upon Kilmer studying with a miner's headlamp on in the dark, to wearing boxers on his head, or heading out for a jog in a linen suit.
"One of the best moments in my life was catching a glimpse of Kilmer jogging back in my direction in that linen suit," Forte penned. "That was the man—always full of surprises. Just the most eccentric fella I've ever met."
Their bond extended to sharing their interests, such as watching The Amazing Race. Initially dismissing the reality show as mere brain rot, Kilmer became a fan after Forte convinced him to give it a shot. Eventually, Kilmer declared, "Will, me and you have to do 'The Amazing Race.' We have to. Let's sign up." But their agents vetoed the idea, putting a stop to their dream adventure.
"Ever since, that's probably the biggest regret of my whole career—not doing 'The Amazing Race' with Val," wrote Forte. "I think we would have set sail pretty quickly, but it would have been a one-of-a-kind experience that I would have cherished forever."
Additional Insights:Val Kilmer and Will Forte's bond went far beyond their work together on "MacGruber." Their friendship was marked by shared experiences, mutual interests, and even a shared dream of competing on the reality TV show "The Amazing Race." Although their agents ultimately nixed the idea, it remains a fond memory for both of them.
- In a strange twist of events, Val Kilmer, who was once living with Will Forte for nearly three months, proposed they participate in the reality TV show 'The Amazing Race'.
- Despite initially dismissing 'The Amazing Race' as mere brain rot, Kilmer was won over by Forte's enthusiasm and declared it was a dream they had to pursue.
- Reflecting on this shared dream that never came to fruition, Forte regrets not competing on 'The Amazing Race' with Kilmer, calling it a one-of-a-kind experience that he would have cherished forever.
