Doc Holliday’s piano scene was a memorable moment in Tombstone, but did the actor actually play in the saloon, or was it just movie magic?
- Val Kilmer’s portrayal of Doc Holliday in Tombstone is considered one of his best performances.
- Kilmer learned to play the piano specifically for the scene in which Doc plays Chopin’s Nocturne in E minor.
- Kilmer’s dedication to his role extended beyond piano playing, as he also learned Latin for a tense scene with Johnny Ringo.
Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday never ceases to amaze those around him in Tombstone, and the same can be said for the actor’s performance playing the piano during the 1993 Western. The actor has given dozens of notable performances throughout his 40-year career, but his portrayal as Doc Holliday might be one of his absolute best. Kilmer fully embodied the gambling gunslinger in the 1879-set film that also featured standout performances from co-stars Kurt Russell, Bill Paxton, Sam Elliot, Powers Boothe, and Michael Biehn. While Kilmer wasn’t the only cast member to play a real-life gunslinger in Tombstone, he had the ability to steal every scene he was in.
Before the tension between Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday completely boiled over with Curly Bill’s Cowboys, everything was starting to turn around for the Earp bro thers in Tombstone. Doc, who was in town because he needed a dry environment for his tuberculosis, was also benefitting from Wyatt’s presence, especially when it came to cleaning up the Oriental Saloon. At one point, Doc sat at the saloon’s piano and played Chopin’s Nocturne in E minor, Op.72, No. 1, as if it was a simple tune to tackle. The question was whether Kilmer had a part in this piano playing or if it was all for show.
Val Kilmer Learned To Play The Piano For Tombstone
According to Val Kilmer himself (via Reddit), he didn’t play piano, but he specifically learned for the scene in Tombstone. In fact, the actor confirmed that it took him “months of practice,” adding that it was a difficult task for him. Even more remarkable is that the scene showing Doc playing the piano was relatively short, so Kilmer dedicated a lot of his time learning to perform Chopin for a scene that lasted about a minute. Tombstone could have easily chosen a simpler tune or filmed the scene in a way that didn’t require Kilmer to be the one playing.
Playing Piano Wasn’t The Only Example Of Val Kilmer’s Dedication In Tombstone
Aside from Doc’s piano skills, Tombstone also highlighted the character’s expertise as a gunslinger. Even more surprising was the tense scene showcasing Doc’s first encounter with Johnny Ringo, which featured the two speaking in Latin. The complexities of Kilmer’s role were on full display throughout Tombstone, proving the lengths he went to in order to play someone like Doc Holliday. With lines like “I’m your Huckleberry” and “Forgive me if I don’t shake hands,” it’s no surprise that Doc has some of Tombstone’s best one-liners.
Aside from quick-witted speaking, there were physical appearance requirements required to play someone suffering from tuberculosis, explaining why Kilmer always looked like he was sweating in Tombstone. It also didn’t help that the Tombstone cast was required to wear wool clothing to be setting-accurate, causing them to overheat in the Arizona environment. Interestingly, Kilmer was put on ice during the deathbed sequence in which he oddly stated “this is funny” before Doc died in Tombstone‘s ending. Doc was surely a peculiar figure, but Kilmer fully dedicated himself to bringing the compelling figure back to life.