10 Actors Who Took Method Acting Too Far

10. Val Kilmer - The Doors

Parodied in everything from Wayne’s World 2 to The Simpsons, it can be hard to recall just how much Oliver Stone’s Jim Morrison biopic The Doors influenced the nineties-era widespread revival of the late sixties’ hippie/ burn out aesthetic. The film recreated the counterculture of the time to a tee, prompting then-contemporary artists to crib from their deceased forebearers and keep the crusty, marijuana-laced vibe of the decade alive.

The film is anchored by a much mocked performance from Val Kilmer which, upon reinspection, is actually a lot more subtle and convincing than critical appraisal might have you presume. Kilmer went all out to get into character, learning over fifty songs from the band’s back catalogue in order to embody Morrison faithfully and actually singing for the film’s concert sequences.

However eventually the artiste took the masquerade too far, leading an embarrassed Kilmer to insist that a memo telling cast and crew to refer to him only as Jim Morrison when onset was only meant for “his people”, and not the production at large. Sure thing, Jimbo.