Will Forte’s Heartfelt Regret Surrounding Val Kilmer
In a poignant reflection, Will Forte has disclosed that his most significant regret involves missing the opportunity to participate in a reality show alongside the late Val Kilmer. This revelation comes from a first-person essay published in Vulture, where Forte reminisces about his friendship with Kilmer, who sadly passed away at 65 due to pneumonia.
A Bond Formed on Set
Forte and Kilmer forged a close relationship while collaborating on the 2010 film MacGruber, an adaptation of Forte’s popular recurring sketch from Saturday Night Live. Their time together on set laid the foundation for lasting friendship that continued even beyond the film.
Shared Experiences and Unexpected Connections
Long after the film’s release, the two actors kept in touch. Forte recalls a time when Kilmer sought refuge at his home while dealing with a landlord dispute in Malibu. During their two-and-a-half months as housemates, Forte introduced Kilmer to the world of reality television, specifically The Amazing Race.
“I used to binge-watch The Amazing Race, and one day he walked in and questioned, ‘What are you watching that garbage for? That stuff’s going to rot your mind,'” Forte remembered. To Kilmer’s surprise, Forte made a strong case for the show, eventually persuading him to give it a watch. “He ended up really getting into it,” Forte added.
The Spark of an Idea
As they delved deeper into the show, an exciting idea surfaced. “At one point, Val turned to me and said, ‘Will, we have to do The Amazing Race. It has to happen!'” Forte recalled, expressing their shared enthusiasm for the adventure. “I was all in!” he exclaimed.
A Regretful Turn of Events
However, when Forte and Kilmer presented their reality-show plans to their respective agents, the response was not as encouraging as they had hoped. “They were adamant: ‘There’s no way you guys are doing that,'” Forte recounted. He reflected, “To this day, I consider it the biggest regret of my career — that I never participated in The Amazing Race with Val. Though we might have exited early, the journey would have been unforgettable.”
About The Amazing Race
The Amazing Race is a long-standing reality competition series that challenges multiple teams to race around the globe, with the first team to reach the final destination winning a grand prize of $1 million.