Val Kilmer Revealed Why He Moved To The Desert In A Rare Interview With David Letterman

October 05, 2024

Highlights

Val Kilmer revealed in a rare interview with David Letterman why he decided to move to the desert and discussed his love for buffalo and other wildlife.
Kilmer explained that he chose to live in the desert because he enjoys the open space and tranquility it provides.
The actor also talked about his home in New Mexico, specifically Santa Fe, and how he raised buffalo and children on his property.

During a rare interview with David Letterman, star Val Kilmer revealed why he moved to the desert. Val Kilmer has been in numerous hit Hollywood films, and has been one of the industry's top actors for decades. However, his battle with throat cancer has changed his life and his career.

While some stars would rather not to give interviews, other celebrities don't mind discussing certain aspects of their lives during talk shows. Some celebrities, like Val Kilmer, have found spacious spots away from cities where they feel they can get away. Some celebrities might choose to live in more than one place, or in a big city. Val Kilmer, however, decided to move to the desert, and discussed a few of the reasons during an interview with The Late Show host, David Letterman.

Kilmer Discussed His Interesting Pets During The Rare Late Show Interview

Some celebrities live in big cities, or even in more than one place. Star Val Kilmer seemed to be happy with the home he'd purchased in the desert as he discussed it with host of The Late Show With David Letterman, David Letterman.

Discussing how he lived life out in the desert with the host, the Top Gun actor said during their interview, "We have two buffalo there, and spend a lot of time with them. The bull's name is James Brown, because he is the godfather."

Letterman appeared to enjoy hearing about Kilmer's buffalo. "And his companion is who?"

"Jezebel." Kilmer responded.

The host then wanted to know why Kilmer wanted the animals as pets. "What was it about... Why did you want to get buffalo as opposed to like horses or cattle, or..."

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"I've always loved them. They're big, and they frolic too, which a lot of people don't know", Kilmer said beginning to laugh. "They frolic."

Letterman, needing more details at this point, asked, "Can you describe some of this 'frolicking', that-?"

The star then began trying to describe to the host how his buffalo "frolicked" around. "It's very like a deer frolicking, except that they weigh 2000 pounds."

Val Kilmer Discussed His Home In New Mexico

Val Kilmer is one of Hollywood's top celebrities, and has displayed his immense talent in a wide range of films including Tombstone, Top Gun, True Romance and Wonderland, even though he's made some questionable choices when picking roles.

During a rare interview with host David Letterman on The Late Show With David Letterman, the Batman Forever actor revealed to the host why he decided to move to the desert, and spoke about his film The Doors.

Mentioning the hit he'd starred in with Tom Cruise (he also appeared in the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick years later), David Letterman welcomed Kilmer to the stage commenting, "Our next guest starred in such films as Top Gun," before joking, "that was a movie."

The Late Show host then brought up Kilmer's residence in New Mexico, asking, "I understand you have a home, or spend a lot of your time in the deserts?"

The Saint actor explained it was partly why he had moved there. "Yes, that's one of the reasons I moved to- I live in New Mexico."

"New Mexico," the host confirmed, "What part of New Mexico?" He asked next, wanting to get more specific about where the True Romance actor preferred to live.

"Santa Fe, a little North of Santa Fe," Kilmer replied, giving a more specific location so that Letterman could have a better idea of the area in which the star lives.

Letterman then commented on the beauty of where Kilmer lives. "It's beautiful there, isn't it? It's just like, the first time you get into that area, it's nothing but horizon."

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"It's big. It's big country," Kilmer agreed.

"What do you do there?" The host asked, wanting to know what Kilmer did in his spare time on his property.

"Raise the buffalo, raise the children," the actor replied as the host laughed.

Kilmer Also Revealed That He Loved The Wildlife

Val Kilmer's property reportedly "includes a seven-mile stretch of the Pecos River." According to the Los Angeles Times, Kilmer has also "allowed a wildlife organization to release injured creatures on his land."

During his interview with David Letterman, Kilmer discussed another reason for moving to the desert,

Kilmer, proud of his buffalo, showed off a picture of "James the buffalo" to Letterman. After Kilmer told some stories about his surprising pets, the host wanted to know: "Do you have to go to the government to get them? Or (did you get them from somewhere else)?"

"No, and they're not so much extinct anymore, like the...hawk..." Kilmer replied, looking away. He stretched the word hawk out and seemed to be looking at something as he said the word.

It was soon revealed by Letterman that a hawk was in the studio, and it had been flying while the Real Genius actor spoke about his love of seeing animals in their natural surroundings.

"That's one of the reasons I moved to the desert," Kilmer added, revealing another purpose for his move. "But I see you're bringing wildlife back into the city", he joked.

At one point, Kilmer had apparently angered his neighbors for remarks he had made, for example, that "he lives 'in the homicide capital of the Southwest.'" However, Kilmer has said that "he was misquoted."

Kilmer purchased the property in 1996 and owned his New Mexico Ranch, which was around 6,000 acres, for decades. He eventually sold it in 2011.

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