Robert Downey Sr.
Robert Downey Sr. | |
---|---|
Born | Robert John Elias Jr. June 24, 1936 New York City, U.S. |
Died | July 7, 2021 New York City, U.S. | (aged 85)
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1953–2011 |
Spouses |
|
Children | 2, including Robert Jr. |
Robert John Downey Sr. (
Early life
Robert John Downey was born Robert John Elias Jr. in the
Career
Downey initially made his mark creating very low-budget independent films aligning with the absurdist movement, in line with counterculture, anti-establishment, 1960s America. His work in the late 1960s and 1970s was quintessential anti-establishment, reflecting the nonconformity popularized by larger counterculture movements and given impetus by new freedoms in films, such as the breakdown of codes on censorship. In keeping with the underground tradition, his 1970s films were independently made on shoestring budgets and were relatively obscure in the Absurdist movement, finding cult notoriety.[12]
In 1961, working with film editor
Downey's films were often family affairs. His first wife appears in four of his films (Chafed Elbows, Pound, Greaser's Palace, Moment to Moment), as well as co-writing one (Moment to Moment). Daughter Allyson and son Robert Downey Jr. each made their film debuts in the 1970 absurdist comedy Pound at the ages of 7 and 5, respectively; Allyson would appear in one more film by her father, Up the Academy. Robert Jr.'s lengthy acting résumé includes appearances in eight films directed by his father (Pound, Greaser's Palace, Moment to Moment, Up the Academy, America, Rented Lips, Too Much Sun, Hugo Pool), as well as two acting appearances in movies where his father was also an actor (Johnny Be Good, Hail Caesar).[15][16][17]
Personal life and death
Downey was married three times. His first marriage was to actress Elsie Ann Ford (1934–2014) in 1962, with whom he had two children: actress-writer Allyson (b. 1963) and actor Robert Jr. (b. 1965). The marriage ended in divorce in 1975. His second marriage, to actress-writer Laura Ernst, lasted until her death on January 27, 1994, from
Legacy
Filmography
Film
Filmmaking credits
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Producer | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1953 | The American Road | No | No | No | Short film; cinematographer | [23] |
1961 | Balls Bluff | Yes | Yes | Yes | Short film; also actor | [24] |
1964 | A Touch of Greatness | Yes | No | Yes | Documentary film; also cinematographer | [15] |
Babo 73 | Yes | Yes | Yes | [15][16] | ||
1965 | Sweet Smell of Sex | Yes | Yes | No | Also cinematographer | [16] |
1966 | Chafed Elbows | Yes | Yes | Yes | [15][16] | |
1968 | No More Excuses | Yes | Yes | Yes | Also actor | [15][16] |
1969 | Putney Swope | Yes | Yes | No | Also uncredited voice dubbing | [15][16] |
1970 | Pound | Yes | Yes | No | [15][16] | |
1971 | Cold Turkey | 2nd unit | No | No | [16] | |
1972 | Greaser's Palace | Yes | Yes | No | [15][16] | |
1973 | Sticks and Bones | Yes | Yes | No | Television film | [24] |
1975 | Moment to Moment | Yes | Yes | No | a.k.a. Two Tons of Turquoise to Taos Tonight | [15][25] |
1980 | Up the Academy | Yes | No | No | [15][16] | |
The Gong Show Movie | No | Yes | No | [15][16] | ||
1986 | America | Yes | Yes | No | [15][16] | |
1988 | Rented Lips | Yes | No | No | [15][16] | |
1991 | Too Much Sun | Yes | Yes | No | [15][16] | |
1997 | Hugo Pool | Yes | No | No | [15][26] | |
2005 | Rittenhouse Square | Yes | No | No | Documentary film | [15][26] |
Acting credits
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1969 | Putney Swope | Putney Swope (Voice) | Uncredited, Dubbing Arnold Johnson | |
Naughty Nurse | Desk Clerk | Short film | [27] | |
1971 | You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat | Head of Ad Agency | [16] | |
Is There Sex After Death? | Himself | Mockumentary and mondo film | [24][16] | |
1985 | To Live and Die in L.A. | Agent Thomas Bateman | [15][16] | |
1988 | Johnny Be Good | NCAA Investigator Floyd Gondoli | [16][26] | |
1994 | Hail Caesar | Butler | [17] | |
1996 | The Sunchaser | Telephone Voices | [24][25] | |
1997 | Boogie Nights | Burt | [24][16] | |
1999 | Magnolia | WDKK Show Director | [24][16] | |
2000 | The Family Man | Man in House | [24][16] | |
2004 | From Other Worlds | Baker | [15][16] | |
2011 | Tower Heist | Judge Ramos | [16][24] | |
2022 | "Sr." | Himself | Documentary film | [28] |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
1985–1986 | The Twilight Zone | Mr. Miller | also directed 3 episodes acted in segment: "Wordplay"
|
[29] [30] |
1987 | Matlock | Judge Warren Anderson | Season 2, Episode 3: “The Annihilator” | [15] |
1988 | Moving Target | Weinberg | Television film | [15][16] |
1988–1989 | 1st & Ten
|
Mike McDonald / Reporter #4 / Reporter / Sports Writer |
4 episodes | [31] [32] |
1993 | Tales of the City | Edgar's Doctor | Miniseries; 1 episode | [24][16] |
2015 | Saturday Night Live | Himself | Episode: "Tina Fey & Amy Poehler/Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band"
|
References
- ^ Finn, Natalie (September 26, 2014). "Robert Downey Jr.'s Mother Dies: Read His Moving, Candid Tribute to Elsie Ann Downey". E!. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
- ISBN 978-0-8135-4077-1
- ^ ISBN 9780791484753.
- ^ Bloom, Nate (April 12, 2012). "Celebrity Jews: Maggie Gyllenhaal, Barbara Walters, Larry David, Ben Stiller & more". J. The Jewish News of Northern California. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
- ISBN 978-1469618012. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
- YouTube
- ^ Daisy Fried (May 1, 1997). "Senior Class". Philadelphia City Paper. Archived from the original on October 14, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
- ^ Hedegaard, Erik (August 21, 2008). "To Hell and Back With Robert Downey Jr". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
- ^ a b Diamond, Jamie (December 20, 1992). "FILM; Robert Downey Jr. Is Chaplin (on Screen) and a Child (Off)". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2008.
- ^ a b c d Genzlinger, Neil (July 7, 2021). "Robert Downey Sr., Filmmaker and Provocateur, Is Dead at 85". The New York Times. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
- ^ Fulton, Rick (October 27, 2010). "Robert Downey Jr: I don't even know what it's like to be stoned any more". Daily Record.
- ^ Dollar, Steve (May 18, 2012). "Decades Later, Less 'Weird'". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ Vincent Canby. "Review: Greaser's Palace". The New York Times. Retrieved June 17, 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Rittenhouse Square (2005) IMDB". IMDb. Retrieved October 10, 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t "Robert Downey Sr". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Robert Downey – Filmography". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ ISBN 9781852867706.
- ^ "Weddings: Rosemary Rogers, Robert Downey". The New York Times. May 10, 1998.
- ^ Stasi, Linda (July 7, 2021). "Robert Downey Sr., accomplished filmmaker and actor and dad of Robert Downey Jr., dead at 85". New York Daily News. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ "Robert Downey Sr death: Celebrated filmmaker and father of Robert Downey Jr dies aged 85". The Independent. July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
- ^ "Eclipse Series 33: Up All Night with Robert Downey Sr". The Criterion Collection.
- ^ Lewis, Hilary (December 8, 2022). "National Board of Review Names 'Top Gun: Maverick' Best Film". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (July 7, 2021). "Robert Downey Sr., Filmmaker Known for His Countercultural Satires, Dead at 85". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Robert Downey". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on September 13, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ a b "Robert Downey Sr. List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ a b c "Robert Downey, Sr". American Film Institute. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ISBN 9780786499151.
- ^ Wilson Chapman (November 14, 2022). "'Sr.' Trailer Captures the Last Days of Robert Downey Jr.'s Father". Indiewire. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ Lee, Benjamin (July 7, 2021). "Film director Robert Downey Sr dies at 85". The Guardian. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ISBN 9781495046117.
- ^ Evans, Greg (July 7, 2021). "Robert Downey Sr. Dies: 'Putney Swope' Director, Father Of Actor Robert Downey Jr. Was 85". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
- ^ Beresford, Trilby (July 7, 2021). "Robert Downey Sr., Actor and Counterculture Director, Dies at 85". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 7, 2021.