Cher reveals why she dated Val Kilmer—a man 13 years her junior who wasn't 'intimidated by older women'

Cher and Val Kilmer met in the early 80’s and fell ‘madly in love.' Now, almost four decades after they first fell for each other, the singer has opened up about their intense relationship and how that love has evolved over time.

The beloved musician divulged the information about her romantic life, only months after the exciting news that a Cher biopic has been announced.

In an interview with People, she opened up about her relationship with actor Val that lasted from 1982 until 1984. The star revealed that the former couple met at her birthday party and the two quickly became friends.

“I met him at a birthday party my friend was having for me. She said, 'I invited this guy and I think either you or my friend who's an editor will like him.' We became friends because we laughed at the same things constantly.”

She went on to say that their chemistry was immediate and she fell madly in love with him. “Our sense of humor, and what we would put up with from one another, was more than I think I've ever had with any other guy. He would just go off and do his own thing and you just had to be prepared. And he was so beautiful. It went from madly in love and laughing hysterically to respecting each other's ability,” she said.

The singer revealed that despite their thirteen-year age gap, the pair got along like a house on fire and she preferred dating younger men who were less intimidated by her success.

“He was so young. Was he 22? What was I? I don't know. Thirty-something. It was a bigger deal back then. The truth was if I hadn't gone out with younger men, I would have never had a date. Younger men weren't intimidated by older women. But older men in my age category, they weren't having it,” she said.

She went on to say that despite his younger age, Val was incredible with her children and often spent time entertaining them. Cher has two children named Chaz Salvatore Bono (whose father is Sonny Bono) and Elijah Blue Allman (whose father is Gregg Allman). When Val and Cher first got together, Chaz was 13 and Elijah was 6.

The star remembered, “He was so good with my kids. He used to let Elijah drive the truck on his property. He couldn't even see over the dashboard.” She continued to recall, “One New Year's Eve, we didn't want to go anywhere so he brought a bunch of art supplies back to the house and we all did art all night long with the kids, one of the best New Year's Eves of my life.”

Cher also revealed that at the height of their romance and fame, the couple would use nicknames so that they could converse with each other in public.

“We called ourselves Sid and Ethel. Val didn't want to yell 'Cher' and I didn't want to yell 'Val.' We also called ourselves Valus Maximus and Cherus Reprimandus. It was just kind of who I was in the household. Of course he was Maximus, come on.”

Despite this idyllic love story, the couple eventually parted in 1984 and Val went on to remarry in 1988 and have two children. 

More recently Val released a new documentary titled 'Val' that explores his recent health struggles. The Val Kilmer documentary trailer shocked fans with Val's new voice following his throat cancer diagnosis, it's this documentary that Cher discussed in her interview.

“I told him I saw the documentary," said Cher, "I said, 'Sid, it's you.' He is so creative like nobody I've ever known and how brave he was to do it in the way that he did it. He's an artist. He can be a brat too but you forgive him. You forgive him everything. Even when I was angry, it was still a joy.  If he called, it wouldn't matter where I was, I would go.”

The star revealed that she recently reached out to her ex about his new documentary so that she could congratulate him on his incredible work.

Cher said, “I loved him—and I love him.  I [just wrote to him], I said, 'Valus Maximus, I'm sorry if I did anything to piss you off or hurt your feelings. I love you and your documentary was all things... I love the things that pissed me off, the things that made me hysterical, amazed, hurt, astonished, etc. You are brave and beyond brilliant. Ethel.'"

Cher concluded by speaking about how much she admired her former partner and his amazing work. 

She said, “He's a true artist and Renaissance man. He was sick and it didn't stop him. He created an extension of his art and his life. Look what he created and even the things he let you see that nobody would let you see. Even the worst things, he wanted to be in the documentary because he wanted to show you who he was.”

For those looking to learn more about the legend's life and relationship with Val, a Cher biopic has been announced from the producers of Mamma Mia. It is unknown who will play the icon in this new film but Cher says she wants a newcomer to play her in upcoming biopic about her rise to stardom.