Read This: Will Forte remembers Val Kilmer, with whom he almost appeared on The Amazing Race

The experience of filming MacGruber alone could probably fill multiple books, but Forte also had the unique experience of not only befriending Kilmer but letting Kilmer crash at his house for almost three months. As such, he’s got a lot of incredible anecdotes about their time together, like this gem:

“I used to watch The Amazing Race, and he came back home at some point when I was watching it and was like, ‘What are you watching that garbage for? Come on, that stuff’s going to rot your mind.’ I said, ‘It’s pretty good. You should sit down and watch it. Give it a try before you shit on it.’ So he sat down and he started watching it, and he got really into it. Then, at a certain point, he said, ‘Will, you and I have to go do The Amazing Race. We have to. Let’s do The Amazing Race.’ I’m like, ‘I am so fully in.’ We got really excited about it, and then we called our respective agents and managers, and they were like, ‘There’s no way you guys are doing that.’ That is, maybe to this day, the biggest regret of my whole career — that I never did The Amazing Race with Val. I think we would’ve gotten out very quickly, but it just would’ve been the experience of a lifetime.” 

Forte describes Kilmer as an eccentric but generous friend who would literally give you the clothes off his back. He recalls duetting The Doors together, recording a 30 Rock commentary track, and watching the genesis of Kilmer’s play Citizen Twain. “He was incredibly funny and incredibly smart. He could be super-silly and then turn around and be a little frickin’ devil — but a sweet little devil,” Forte says fondly. “Life is more vivid when you’re hanging out with Val.” You can read the full piece here.