Person Details

Birthday: 1936-06-24 17:12:56

Aliases: Robert John Downey Sr. , Robert Elias Jr.

Gender: Male

Place of birth: New York City, New York, USA

Homepage:

Movie Involvements: 55

TV Involvements: 2


Most Famous Work

Biography

Robert John Downey Sr. (né Robert Elias Jr.) is an American filmmaker, director and writer. The father of actor Robert Downey Jr., he is best known as an underground filmmaker, serving as director and/or writer of such cult classics as Putney Swope, a satire on the New York Madison Avenue advertising world. According to film scholar Wheeler Winston Dixon, Downey's films during the 1960s were "strictly take-no-prisoners affairs, with minimal budgets and outrageous satire, effectively pushing forward the countercultural agenda of the day." Downey was born in New York City, the son of Elizabeth (née McLauchlen), a model, and Robert Elias Sr., who worked in management of motels and restaurants. His paternal grandparents were Lithuanian Jews, while his mother was of half Irish and half Hungarian Jewish ancestry. Downey was born Robert Elias; but he changed his last name to Downey for his stepfather, James Downey, when he wanted to enlist in the United States Army but was underage at the time. Robert Downey Sr. initially made his mark creating basement budget, independent films aligning with the Absurdist movement, coming of age in counterculture anti-establishment 1960s America. His work in the late 1960s and 70s was quintessential anti-establishment, reflecting the nonconformity popularized by larger counterculture movements and given impetus by new freedoms in filmmaking, such as the breakdown of Codes on censorship. In keeping with the underground tradition, his 1960s films were independently made on shoestring budgets and were relatively obscure in the Absurdist movement, finding cult notoriety. In 1961, working with the film editor Fred von Bernewitz, he began writing and directing low-budget 16mm films that gained an underground following, beginning with Ball's Bluff (1961), a fantasy short about a Civil War soldier who awakens in Central Park in 1961. He moved into big-budget filmmaking with the surrealistic Greaser's Palace (1972). His most recent film was Rittenhouse Square (2005), a documentary capturing life in a Philadelphia park. Downey's films were often family affairs. His first wife, Elsie, appears in four of his movies, as well as co-writing one. Daughter Allyson and son Robert 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. Robert Jr.'s lengthy acting résumé includes appearances in eight films directed by his father, as well as two acting appearances in movies where his father was also an actor (Johnny Be Good, Hail Caesar). Downey has been married three times.

Most Famous Work

Licorice Pizza
Average
7

Licorice Pizza

(2021) Thanks
Hugo Pool
Average
5

Hugo Pool

(1997) Writer
Putney Swope
Average
7

Putney Swope

(1969) Writer
Secret Celebrity RuPaul's Drag Race
Average
6

Secret Celebrity RuPaul's Drag Race

(2020) Development Producer
Up the Academy
Average
5

Up the Academy

(1980) Director
Greaser's Palace
Average
5

Greaser's Palace

(1972) Screenplay
Too Much Sun
Average
5

Too Much Sun

(1990) Writer
The Gong Show Movie
Average
4

The Gong Show Movie

(1980) Writer

Acting

Year Character Movie/Tv
2022 Self
2021 N/A
2019 Self
2017 Self (archive footage)
2012 Self
Himself
Self
2011 Judge Ramos
2005 Interviewer
2004 Baker
2000 Man in House
1999 WDKK Show Director
1997 Burt, Studio Manager
1996 Telephone Voices
1994 Butler
1993 Edgar's Doctor
Self
1988 NCAA Investigator
Weinberg
1986 N/A
1985 Thomas Bateman
N/A
1981 N/A
1971 Himself
Head of Ad Agency
1969 Putney Swope (voice) (uncredited)
Desk Clerk
1968 Pvt. Stewart Thompson
Self - Guest
1961 N/A
Year Character Movie/Tv

Crew

Production

Year Role Movie/Tv
2020 Development Producer
2001 Associate Producer
1969 Producer
1966 Producer
1964 Producer
1961 Producer
Year Role Movie/Tv

Directing

Writing

Editing

Year Role Movie/Tv
1966 Editor
Editor
Year Role Movie/Tv

Join the discussion

Please Log in to comment