A headshot of Robert Downey Jr with glasses on smiling towards the camera
Downey at the premiere of Iron Man 3 in 2013

Robert Downey Jr. is an American actor who has starred in numerous films, and television series. Downey made his acting debut in his father's film Pound at the age of five. In the 1980s, Downey was considered a member of the Brat Pack[1] after appearing in the films Weird Science with Anthony Michael Hall (1985), Less than Zero with Andrew McCarthy (1987), and Johnny Be Good again with Hall (1988). Downey also starred in the films True Believer (1989) and Chances Are (1989), and was a regular cast member on the late-night variety show Saturday Night Live in 1985.

In the 1990s, Downey was featured in the films Air America with Mel Gibson (1990), Soapdish with Sally Field (1991), Chaplin as Charlie Chaplin (1992), Heart and Souls with Alfre Woodard and Kyra Sedgwick (1993), Short Cuts with Julianne Moore (1993), Only You with Marisa Tomei (1994), Richard III with Ian McKellen (1995), and U.S. Marshals with Tommy Lee Jones (1998). His role in Chaplin earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and a BAFTA Award win for Best Actor in a Leading Role.[2][3]

Downey had a regular role in the television series Ally McBeal in 2000, which won him a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.[4] He was then cast in the 2003 films The Singing Detective alongside Robin Wright and Gothika with Halle Berry. In 2005, he starred in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang with Val Kilmer; in Good Night, and Good Luck with David Strathairn and George Clooney; and voiced the character of Patrick Pewterschmidt in the animated series Family Guy. The following year, he appeared in the animated science fiction film A Scanner Darkly and as Paul Avery in the 2007 film Zodiac.

Downey was cast as the role of Tony Stark / Iron Man in the 2008 Marvel Studios film Iron Man, a role he later reprised in Iron Man 2 (2010), The Avengers (2012), Iron Man 3, Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019). He also starred in the films Tropic Thunder (2008) and The Soloist (2009), and played the title character in Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011). In 2020, he starred as the title character in Dolittle. For his role in Tropic Thunder, he was nominated for an Academy Award and a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor. He also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his role in Sherlock Holmes.[4]

Film

Robert Downey Jr. facing right in 1990 at a film premiere for his movie Air America
At the Air America premiere, 1990
Robert Downey Jr. smiling and facing left in 2008
Promoting the film Iron Man in Mexico City, 2008
Closeup of Robert Downey Jr. at the San Diego Comic Con International in San Diego, California
At the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con International
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1970 Pound Puppy [5]
1972 Greaser's Palace Small Boy in Covered Wagon Uncredited [6]
1975 Two Tons of Turquoise to Taos Tonight Himself Uncredited [7]
1980 Up the Academy Boy on Soccer Team Uncredited [8]
1983 Baby It's You Stewart [5]
1984 Firstborn Lee [9]
1985 Tuff Turf Jimmy Parker [10]
1985 Girls Just Want to Have Fun Punk Party Crasher Uncredited [11]
1985 Weird Science Ian [12]
1985 Deadwait None Short film [13]
1986 Back to School Derek Lutz [12]
1987 The Pick-up Artist Jack Jericho [12]
1987 Less than Zero Julian Wells [9]
1988 Johnny Be Good Leo Wiggins [12]
1988 Rented Lips Wolf Dangler [12]
1988 1969 Ralph Karr [12]
1988 That's Adequate Albert Einstein [14]
1989 True Believer Roger Baron [12]
1989 Chances Are Alex Finch / Louie Jefferies [15]
1990 Air America Billy Covington [16]
1991 Too Much Sun Reed Richmond [17]
1991 Soapdish David Seton Barnes [18]
1992 Chaplin Charlie Chaplin [19]
1993 Heart and Souls Thomas Reilly [20]
1993 The Last Party Himself Documentary; also writer [21]
1993 Short Cuts Bill Bush [22]
1994 Hail Caesar Jerry [23]
1994 Natural Born Killers Wayne Gale [24]
1994 Only You Peter Wright [25]
1995 Richard III Earl Rivers [26]
1995 Home for the Holidays Tommy Larson [27]
1995 Restoration Robert Merivel [28]
1996 Danger Zone Jim Scott [29]
1997 One Night Stand Charlie [30]
1997 Two Girls and a Guy Blake Allen [31]
1997 Hugo Pool Franz Mazur [32]
1998 The Gingerbread Man Clyde Pell [33]
1998 U.S. Marshals Special Agent John Royce [16]
1999 In Dreams Vivian Thompson [34]
1999 Friends & Lovers Hans [35]
1999 Bowfinger Jerry Renfro [36]
1999 Black and White Terry Donager [37]
2000 Wonder Boys Terry Crabtree [38]
2002 Lethargy Animal therapist Short film [39]
2003 Whatever We Do Bobby Short film [40]
2003 The Singing Detective Dan Dark [9]
2003 Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin Himself Documentary [41]
2003 Gothika Pete Graham [42]
2004 Eros Nick Penrose Segment: "Equilibrium" [43]
2005 Game 6 Steven Schwimmer [44]
2005 Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Harry Lockhart [16]
2005 The Outsider Himself Documentary [45]
2005 Good Night, and Good Luck Joseph Wershba [46]
2005 Hubert Selby Jr.: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow Narrator Documentary [47]
2006 A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints Dito Montiel Also co-producer [48]
2006 The Shaggy Dog Dr. Kozak [49]
2006 A Scanner Darkly James Barris [50]
2006 Fur Lionel Sweeney [51]
2007 Zodiac Paul Avery [52]
2007 Lucky You Telephone Jack Cameo [33]
2007 Charlie Bartlett Principal Nathan Gardner [53]
2008 Iron Man Tony Stark / Iron Man [54]
2008 The Incredible Hulk Tony Stark / Iron Man Mid-credits uncredited cameo [55]
2008 Tropic Thunder Kirk Lazarus [16]
2009 The Soloist Steve Lopez [56]
2009 Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes [16]
2010 Iron Man 2 Tony Stark / Iron Man [57]
2010 Love & Distrust Rob Segment: "Auto Motives" [58]
2010 Due Date Peter Highman [59]
2011 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Sherlock Holmes [60]
2012 The Avengers Tony Stark / Iron Man [61]
2013 Iron Man 3 Tony Stark / Iron Man [62]
2014 The Judge Hank Palmer Also executive producer [16]
2014 Chef Marvin [63]
2015 Avengers: Age of Ultron Tony Stark / Iron Man [62]
2016 Captain America: Civil War Tony Stark / Iron Man [64]
2017 Spider-Man: Homecoming Tony Stark / Iron Man [65]
2018 Avengers: Infinity War Tony Stark / Iron Man [62]
2019 Avengers: Endgame Tony Stark / Iron Man [66]
2020 Dolittle Dr. John Dolittle Also executive producer [67]
2022 "Sr." Himself Documentary; also producer [68]
2023 Oppenheimer Lewis Strauss [69]
TBA High in the Clouds TBA In production [70]

Television

Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1985–1986 Saturday Night Live Various characters 16 episodes [12]
1985 Mussolini: The Untold Story Bruno Mussolini 3 episodes [71]
1995 Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree Mr. Willowby Television special [72]
1996 Saturday Night Live Himself (host) Episode: "Robert Downey, Jr./Fiona Apple" [73]
2000–2002 Ally McBeal Larry Paul 21 episodes [74]
2005 Family Guy Patrick Pewterschmidt (voice) Episode: "The Fat Guy Strangler" [75]
2019 The Age of A.I. Himself (host) 8 episodes; also co-executive producer [76]
2020 The Ellen DeGeneres Show Himself (guest host) 1 episode [77]
2020–2023 Perry Mason None Executive producer [78]
2021–present Sweet Tooth None Executive producer [79]
2024 The Sympathizer † TBA Recurring role; also executive producer [80]
Key
† Denotes television series that have not yet been released

Video game

Year Title Voice role Notes Ref.
2008 Iron Man Tony Stark Iron Man was voiced by Stephen Stanton [81]

Music video

Year Title Artist Ref.
2001 "I Want Love" Elton John [82]

References

  1. ↑ Booker, Keith M. (2011). Historical Dictionary of American Cinema. Scarecrow Press. p. 58. ISBN 978-0810871922.
  2. ↑ "The 65th Academy Awards (1993) Nominees and Winners". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). 1993. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  3. ↑ "BAFTA 1992 Film Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA). Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  4. 1 2 "Robert Downey Jr. | 4 Nominations | 2 Wins". Golden Globe Awards; Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  5. 1 2 Rothman, Lily (July 1, 2014). "Robert Downey Jr.'s First-Ever Movie Appearance Was Pretty Absurd". Time. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  6. ↑ Green, Paul (2009). Encyclopedia of Weird Western: Supernatural and Science Fiction Elements in Novels, Pulps, Comics, Films, Television, and Games. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., Publishers. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-7864-4390-1.
  7. ↑ Klawans, Stuart (August 29, 2008). "The Resurrection of a Renegade's Scotch-Tape Films". The New York Times. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  8. ↑ Erickson, Hal (2012). Military Comedy Films: A Critical Survey and Filmography of Hollywood Releases Since 1918. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., Publishers. p. 261. ISBN 978-0-7864-6290-2.
  9. 1 2 3 "Robert Downey Jr. Credits". TV Guide. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  10. ↑ Davis, Steve (January 25, 1985). "Tuff Turf". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  11. ↑ Roake, Jessica (September 20, 2013). "How 1985's Girls Just Want to Have Fun Set the Template for All Future Dance Movies". Vulture. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Hirschberg, Lynn (May 19, 1988). "Robert Downey Jr.'s Weird Science of Acting". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Deadwait (1985)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  14. ↑ Riper, A. Bowdoin Van (2011). A Biographical Encyclopedia of Scientists and Inventors in American Film and TV since 1930. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Pub. Group. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-8108-8129-7.
  15. ↑ Ebert, Roger (March 10, 1989). "Chances Are Movie Review & Film Summary". Roger Ebert. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Heath, Chris (April 2013). "Profile: Robert Downey Jr". GQ. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  17. ↑ Canby, Vincent (January 25, 1991). "Too Much Sun (1990) Review/Film; When You're Gay But Must Beget an Heir". The New York Times. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  18. ↑ Ebert, Roger (May 31, 1991). "Soapdish Movie Review & Film Summary". Roger Ebert. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  19. ↑ Diamond, Jamie (December 20, 1992). "FILM; Robert Downey Jr. Is Chaplin (on Screen) and a Child (Off)". The New York Times. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  20. ↑ Burr, Ty (August 13, 1993). "Heart and Souls (1993)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  21. ↑ Heath, Chris (April 2013). "Robert Downey Jr: 21 Years Ago". GQ. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  22. ↑ Travers, Peter (October 3, 1993). "Short Cuts". Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  23. ↑ "Hail Caesar (1994)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2014. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  24. ↑ Hayes, Britt (January 11, 2014). "See the Cast of 'Natural Born Killers' Then and Now". Screen Crush. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  25. ↑ Ebert, Roger (October 7, 1994). "Only You Movie Review & Film Summary (1994)". Roger Ebert. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  26. ↑ Gleiberman, Owen (January 19, 1996). "Richard III Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  27. ↑ Ebert, Roger (November 3, 1995). "Home for The Holidays Movie Review (1995)". Roger Ebert. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  28. ↑ Alex von Tunzelmann (September 6, 2012). "Doctor, doctor, can anyone save Robert Downey Jr's Restoration?". The Guardian. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  29. ↑ "Danger Zone Review". Entertainment Weekly. January 17, 1997. Archived from the original on September 14, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  30. ↑ Robey, Tim. "Wesley Snipes interview: 'Robert Downey Jr called me for advice about Iron Man" (August 9, 2014). The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  31. ↑ Tatara, Paul (May 26, 1998). "Review: Downey scores with 'Two Girls and a Guy'". CNN. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  32. ↑ Mathews, Jack (December 12, 1997). "'Hugo Pool' Doesn't Reflect Well on Downeys Jr. and Sr". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  33. 1 2 Howell, Peter (August 27, 2014). "Robert Downey Jr. returns to TIFF as its leading man". Toronto Star. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  34. ↑ Ebert, Roger (January 15, 1999). "In Dreams Movie Review & Film Review (1999)". Roger Ebert. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  35. ↑ Ebert, Roger (April 30, 1999). "Friends & Lovers Movie Review". Roger Ebert. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  36. ↑ Clement, Nick (August 22, 1999). "Murphy Never Better Than In Oz's 'Bowfinger'". Hartford Courant. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  37. ↑ Ebert, Roger (April 5, 2000). "Black and White Movie Review & Film Summary (2000)". Roger Ebert. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  38. ↑ West, Kevin (March 2007). "Robert Downey, Jr? Call Him Mr. Clean". W. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  39. ↑ Gilberti, Francesca (March 9, 2012). "A Visual Feast: An Interview with the Director of Jiro Dreams of Sushi". Vogue. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  40. ↑ Bovino, Arthur (July 31, 2005). "A Leap of Faith Produces a Do-It-Yourself First Album". The New York Times. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  41. ↑ "Charlie: The Life & Art of Charles Chaplin Saturday, August 2". TCM. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  42. ↑ Morales, Tatiana (November 21, 2003). "Robert Downey Jr.'s 'Gothika'". CBS News. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  43. ↑ Ebert, Roger (April 8, 2005). "Eros Movie Review & Film Summary". Roger Ebert. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  44. ↑ Laist, Randy (2010). Technology and Postmodern Subjectivity in Don DeLillo's Novels. New York: Peter Lang. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-4331-0841-9.
  45. ↑ Guerrasio, Jason (June 16, 2006). "Agent Provocateur". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved May 12, 2013.
  46. ↑ Ebert, Roger (October 20, 2005). "Good Night, and Good Luck Movie Review". Roger Ebert. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  47. ↑ Nesselson, Lisa (September 14, 2005). "Review: 'Hubert Selby Jr.: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow'". Variety. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  48. ↑ A. O. Scott (September 29, 2006). "The Old Neighborhood Never Looked So Grim". The New York Times. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  49. ↑ Ebert, Roger (March 9, 2006). "The Shaggy Dog Movie Review". Roger Ebert. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  50. ↑ Dargis, Manohla (July 7, 2006). "'A Scanner Darkly': Keanu Reeves, Undercover and Flying High on a Paranoid Head Trip". The New York Times. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  51. ↑ Emerson, Jim (November 16, 2006). "Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus". Roger Ebert. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  52. ↑ Harris, Paul (April 14, 2007). "So Who Was the Zodiac Killer?". The Guardian. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  53. ↑ Holden, Stephen (February 22, 2008). "High School's the Same; the Drugs Have Changed". The New York Times. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  54. ↑ McMillan, Graeme (November 15, 2013). "Terrence Howard Accuses Robert Downey Jr. of 'Iron Man' Sabotage". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  55. ↑ Eisenberg, Eric (August 2, 2011). "New Marvel Short Film Explains The End Of The Incredible Hulk". Cinema Blend. Archived from the original on September 14, 2014. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  56. ↑ Lawrence, Will (September 14, 2009). "Robert Downey Jr on The Soloist". The Telegraph. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  57. ↑ Leopold, Todd (July 23, 2014). "More 'Iron Man'? Sounds good to me, Robert Downey Jr. says". CNN. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  58. ↑ Goldberg, Matt (2010). "False Advertising: Poster for Love & Distrust "Starring" Robert Pattinson, Robert Downey Jr., and Sam Worthington". Collider. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  59. ↑ Wete, Brad (July 15, 2010). "Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis comedy 'Due Date': Can We Be Part of this Wolf Pack?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  60. ↑ A.O. Scott (December 15, 2011). "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows – Review (2011)". The New York Times. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  61. ↑ Noonan, Kevin (August 28, 2014). "Robert Downey Jr. Calls 'Guardians of the Galaxy' the Best Marvel Movie Yet". Variety. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  62. 1 2 3 Breznican, Anthony (July 22, 2014). "Robert Downey Jr. on 'Iron Man 4': 'Why Give Up the Belt?'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  63. ↑ McNary, Dave (May 10, 2013). "Robert Downey Jr. Reunites With Jon Favreau on 'Chef'". Variety. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  64. ↑ Giardina, Carolyn (May 10, 2016). "How 'Captain America: Civil War' Turned Robert Downey Jr. Back Into a Teen". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 24, 2023.
  65. ↑ Kit, Borys (April 21, 2016). "Robert Downey Jr. Joins 'Spider-Man: Homecoming'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on April 22, 2016. Retrieved April 21, 2016.
  66. ↑ Kerr, Mandi (June 28, 2019). "Robert Downey Jr.'s Final Scene in 'Avengers: Endgame' Could've Been Very Different". Showbiz Cheat Sheet. Retrieved July 5, 2019.
  67. ↑ Ford, Rebecca; Kit, Borys (March 20, 2017). "Robert Downey Jr. to Star in 'The Voyage of Doctor Dolittle'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 21, 2017.
  68. ↑ Zhan, Jennifer (September 26, 2022). "Netflix Hopes Robert Downey Jr., Sr. Will Win an Oscar". Vulture. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  69. ↑ Kroll, Justin (November 2, 2021). "Robert Downey Jr. And Matt Damon Latest Stars To Join Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2021.
  70. ↑ Keslassy, Elsa (October 26, 2023). "Paul McCartney's Gaumont-Backed Animated Film 'High in the Clouds' Sets Director, Writer and More (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
  71. ↑ Turner, Miki (November 18, 2000). "'Ally' Creator Hopes Downey Jr. Helps Ratings". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  72. ↑ Mifflin, Lawrie (November 26, 1995). "Signoff;They're Not All Just Merry Little Reruns". The New York Times. Retrieved September 2, 2014.
  73. ↑ Moore, Matt (July 16, 2019). "Robert Downey Jr. reflects on his Saturday Night Live experience". Last Night On. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
  74. ↑ Vineberg, Steve (March 18, 2001). "Television/Radio; Delivering Something Real To 'Ally McBeal'". The New York Times. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  75. ↑ Wright, Megh (February 21, 2012). "Saturday Night's Children: Robert Downey Jr. (1985–1986)". Split Sider. Archived from the original on September 3, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  76. ↑ Chace, Calum (December 20, 2019). "The Age of AI, A YouTube Series Presented by Robert Downey Jr". Forbes. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  77. ↑ Cantor, Brian (January 14, 2020). "Rami Malek Joins Guest Host Robert Downey, Jr On "Ellen DeGeneres Show" (Watch Now)". Headline Planet. Retrieved December 26, 2022.
  78. ↑ Romano, Evan (June 18, 2020). "Robert Downey Jr. Has Been Trying to Get 'Perry Mason' Made For Nearly 10 Years". Men's Health. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  79. ↑ Nakamura, Reid (April 29, 2021). "Robert Downey Jr-Produced 'Sweet Tooth' Series Gets Trailer, Premiere Date at Netflix (Video)". TheWrap. Retrieved June 30, 2021.
  80. ↑ Kroll, Justin (July 15, 2021). "Robert Downey Jr. To Co-Star In Drama Series Adaptation Of Viet Thanh Nguyen's 'The Sympathizer' For HBO And A24; Park Chan-wook Directing". Deadline Hollywood.
  81. ↑ "Iron Man Video Game Cast Revealed!". Marvel. March 21, 2008. Archived from the original on September 4, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  82. ↑ Schumacher-Rasmussen, Eric (August 3, 2001). "Elton John Casts Robert Downey Jr. In His New Video". MTV News. Retrieved May 3, 2008.
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