Robert Downey Sr., actor and filmmaker dad of Robert Jr., dead at 85
He was not on the list.
Robert Downey Sr., the filmmaker, actor and father of Robert Downey Jr., has died. He was 85.
Downey Sr. died in his sleep, his wife said, at his New York City home Wednesday, according to the Sun. He celebrated his 85th birthday last month.
Best known for his acting appearances in “Boogie Nights,” “Magnolia” and “To Live and Die in LA,” Downey Sr. had been battling Parkinson’s disease for more than five years.
The father of stars Robert Downey Jr. and Allyson Downey, the director, writer and producer largely stayed away from press, mostly to protect his famous kids. But in 2001, when his Oscar-nominated son was facing cocaine charges, Downey Sr. spoke to The Post at length about the difficulties being in Hollywood.
“Life is too easy when you’re a movie star. People will do anything you want and get you anything you want,” he told The Post. “Hollywood is a horrible place.”
Born in New York, Downey Sr. served in the Army, played minor league baseball, was a Golden Gloves boxing champ and a playwright for off-off-Broadway productions before the age of 22, according to IMDb.
By the 1960s, he pivoted to film, writing and directing classics such as “Balls Bluff” (1961), “Babo 73” (1964), “Chafed Elbows” (1966), “No More Excuses” (1968) and “Putney Swope” (1969).
After the cult success of the satirical “Putney Swope,” he hit bottom when his career foundered in the 1970s.
“Ten years of cocaine around the clock,” he told The Post in 2001. “I didn’t beat it until ’81, until my late wife gave me an ultimatum. I officially quit in front of my son. He keeps reminding me about it. I tell him, ‘If it made such an impression on you, then why can’t you do the same thing?’ ”
The most recent film he worked on was 2011’s “Tower Heist,” which also starred Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller and Casey Affleck. As director, his final projects were 1997’s “Hugo Pool” and the 2005 documentary “Rittenhouse Square.”
Filmography
Year Film Role Credit Notes
1953 The American Road Cinematographer Short film
1961 Balls Bluff Civil War Union soldier Director, writer, and producer Short film
1964 A Touch of Greatness Director, producer, and cinematographer Documentary
1964 Babo 73 Director, writer, and producer
1965 Sweet Smell of Sex Director, writer, and cinematographer
1966 Chafed Elbows Director, writer, and producer
1966 Literature Au-Go-Go Cinematographer and editor
1968 No More Excuses Pvt. Stewart Thompson Director, writer, and producer
1969 Putney Swope Director and writer Voice, uncredited
1969 Naughty Nurse Desk Clerk Short film
1970 Pound Director and writer
1971 You've Got to Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat Head of Ad Agency
1971 Is There Sex After Death? Himself Mockumentary and mondo film
1971 Cold Turkey Second unit director
1972 Greaser's Palace Director and writer
1973 Sticks and Bones Director and writer Television film
1975 Moment to Moment Director and writer Retitled Two Tons of
Turquoise to Taos Tonight
1980 Up the Academy Director
1980 The Gong Show Movie Co-writer
1985 To Live and Die in L.A. Thomas Bateman
1985–1986 The Twilight Zone Mr. Miller Director Directed 3 episodes
acted in segment: "Wordplay"
1986 America Director and co-writer
1986 Matlock Judge Warren Anderson Episode: "Judge Warren Anderson"
1988 Rented Lips Director
1988 Moving Target Weinberg Television film
1988 Johnny Be Good NCAA Investigator Floyd Gondoli
1988–1989 1st & Ten Mike McDonald / Reporter #4 /
Reporter / Sports Writer 4 episodes
1991 Too Much Sun Director and co-writer
1993 Tales of the City Edgar's Doctor Miniseries; 1 episode
1994 Hail Caesar Butler
1996 Sunchaser Telephone voices
1997 Hugo Pool Director and co-writer
1997 Boogie Nights Burt
1999 Magnolia WDKK Show Director
2000 The Family Man Man in House
2004 From Other Worlds Baker
2005 Rittenhouse Square Director Documentary
2011 Tower Heist Judge Ramos
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