Stephen Merchant remembers Val Kilmer’s classic ‘Life’s Too Short’ cameo: “As engaging as he was eccentric”

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Life’s Too Short – watch below.Earlier today, it was confirmed that the Top Gun and Batman Forever star had died from pneumonia at the age of 65.

He passed away on Tuesday (April 1), having been diagnosed with throat cancer in 2014, although he did later make a full recovery.The Hollywood star is also remembered for his distinctive portrayals of Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone’s The Doors and Shane Black’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.One other memorable skit that Kilmer was involved in came in Merchant and Ricky Gervais’ sitcom Life’s Too Short, which revolved around the exploits of Warwick Davis’ character’s attempts to navigate his way through showbusiness.Despite a combative reputation, Val Kilmer was great fun to work with on Life’s Too Short, always willing to be playful and self-deprecating.

I got to know him socially too, and he was as engaging as he was eccentric. A true one-off. RIP Val pic.twitter.com/BblhDZuMT7— Stephen Merchant (@StephenMerchant) April 2, 2025In the 2013 special of the show, Gervais and Merchant’s celebrity agent character are having dinner with Davis’ character when Kilmer shows up dressed head to toe in a Batman costume.

After failing to guess his identity, Kilmer takes off his mask to reveal himself, much to the guests’ ambivalence.Davis says that he and Kilmer are trying to raise money for Willow 2, a follow-up to their 1988 fantasy film, which does not impress Gervais and Merchant.