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Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison & 7 Other Brilliant Biopic Castings

By Erica Banas // Rock Music Reporter

The Doors was released in theaters on March 1, 1991.

The Oliver Stone film starred Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison with Kilmer delivering an incredibly memorable biopic performance. In honor of the film’s anniversary, here’s a look at some other brilliant biopic castings.

  • Val Kilmer as Jim Morrison – The Doors (1991)

    The Doors may have received mixed reviews, but most can agree that Kilmer embodied Mr. Mojo Risin’ better than anyone else could.

  • Rami Malek as Freddie Mercury - Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)

    Malek’s performance as Mercury is one of the best in the biopic genre in recent years and yielded him an Academy Award for Best Actor.

  • Gary Oldman as Sid Vicious – Sid & Nancy (1986)

    He may be best-known today for his turn as Commissioner Jim Gordon in The Dark Knight Trilogy and Sirius Black in the Harry Potter films, but who could forget Oldman’s breakout role as Sid Vicious in 1986’s Sid & Nancy?

  • Dennis Quaid as Jerry Lee Lewis – Great Balls of Fire! (1989)

    All due respect to “The Killer,” Quaid certainly was an upgrade in the looks department, but more importantly, he captured Lewis’ energy and personality to a “T.”

    https://youtu.be/u9aobri6wyg

  • Paul Dano as Brian Wilson – Love & Mercy (2014)

    While the casting of John Cusack as “Future” Brian Wilson left us scratching our heads, Dano’s portrayal of the Pet Sounds-era Wilson was as brilliant as the songwriter himself.

  • Kristen Stewart as Joan Jett – The Runaways (2010)

    Stewart’s turn as Jett came during peak Twilight-mania, but her performance in The Runaways is one of the strongest in her career and should get more attention.

  • Jamie Foxx as Ray Charles – Ray (2004)

    Up until Ray, most knew Jamie Foxx from his work as a stand-up comic and on In Living Color, but this role of a lifetime was a career changer for Foxx, and it netted him a much-deserved Academy Award win for Best Actor.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVHCQfcugdw/

  • Angela Bassett as Tina Turner – What’s Love Got To Do With It (1993)

    Tina Turner is one of the greatest performers in music history, and Bassett not only nailed Turner’s on-stage presence, but she also got the moves down pat.  Also, those arms?!  This is easily one of the best biopic performances ever, regardless of genre.

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