Haiku: I Live and I Germinate - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2025

Picking the flower

I smell the love

I am every flower. I live and I germinate!

Val Kilmer - ©Theda Bara

The name I introduce to you in this post is Val Kilmer, an American actor of German, Swedish, Irish and Cherokee descent, who passed away yesterday (April 1), in California). 

Kilmer was originally a stage actor, who became popular in the mid-1980s after starring in several comedy films, starting with “Top Secret!” (1984), playing the character: “Nick Rivers” and “Real Genius” (1985), playing the character: “Chris Knight”. He also starred in action films, including a supporting role in “Top Gun” (1986) and “Top Gun: Maverick” (2022) as “Tom Kazanski” (his final film, as his voice was weakened by cancer), and a larger role in “Willow” (1988), playing the character: “Madmartigan”. During the 1990s, Kilmer gained critical acclaim after starring in several box office hits, including his roles as “Jim Morrison” in “The Doors” (1991); “Doc Holliday” in the Western “Tombstone” (1993); “Batman” in “Batman Forever” (1995); “Chris Shiherlis” in “Heat” (1995); “Colonel John Henry Patterson” in “The Ghost and the Darkness” (1996); “Simon Templar” in “The Saint” (1997); and in the animated musical film, he voiced “Moses and God”, in “The Prince of Egypt” (1998).

In 2020, Val Kilmer released his memoir: “I’m Your Huckleberry”, in which he goes into detail about his battle with throat cancer and his failed relationships with famous actresses.

A philanthropist, Kilmer helped NGOs whose causes he considered just, such as Habitat for Humanity, AmeriCares and Wildlife Center, which earned him the Humanitarian Award in 2022.

Val Kilmer was born, lived and died in Los Angeles and inexplicably does not have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, nor any relevant awards in film, TV or theater.

Born Val Edward Kilmer, in Los Angeles, California, on December 31, 1959 - died due to pneumonia, on April 1, 2025, Los Angeles, California, at the age of 65.

In his marriage to British actress Joanne Whalley (1961-) from 1988 to 1996, the actor had two children: actress Mercedes Kilmer (1991-) and actor Jack Kilmer (1995-).

Haiku: April Fools’ Day - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2025

Today is April 1st

April Fools’ Day

But it’s so sad to live deceiving others!

Matt Damon - ©Theda Bara

The name I present to you in this post is Matt Damon, a talented American actor, producer and screenwriter, whose career was launched after the success of the drama film “Good Will Hunting”, in which he acted and co-wrote the script.

“Good Will Hunting” (1997) is, without a doubt, his best interaction with the cinematic universe, because, if he did not win the Oscar for Best Actor in 1998, character “Will Hunting”, he acted alongside American actors Ben Affleck (1972-) character “Chuckie Sullivan” and the iconic Robin Williams (1951-2014) character “Sean Maguire”; and won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay, which he co-wrote with his friend and actor Ben Affleck. This film also earned him the Golden Globe for Best Screenplay. The other Golden Globe he won was for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical for “The Martian” (2015). That same year, Matt Damon was again nominated for Best Actor for “The Martian”, playing the character “Astronaut Mark Watney” and in 2010 for Best Supporting Actor for “Invictus” (2009), playing the South African rugby player “François Pienaar”, a film directed by Clint Eastwood (1930-) and with Morgan Freeman (1937-) playing the then President of South Africa Nelson Mandela (1918-2013), but did not win any of these Oscars. Damon also received an award outside the United States, an MTV Australia Movie Star Award in 2008.

Matt Damon has a star on the Los Angeles Walk of Fame at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard in the motion picture category.

Born Matthew Paige Damon on October 8, 1970, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, he is now 54 years old.

Matt Damon is married to Argentine Luciana Bozán Barroso (1976-), his wife since 2005. They met in 2003, while Damon was filming “Stuck on You” in Miami, United States, and Damon went for a drink with his crew. Together they have three daughters: Isabella Damon (2006-); Gia Zavala Damon (2008-) and Stella Damon (2011-). The actor adopted Barroso’s first daughter, Alexia (1999-), from acto previous relationship. Alexia ended up following her stepfather’s career.

Haiku: Spring - ©Theda Bara

Haiku and Art by ©Theda Bara — 2025

The flowers reveal themselves

Life becomes more flowery

The beloved spring has arrived so beautifully!