Things You Didn't Know About Robert Downey Jr.

Tuesday, Aug 25, 2020, 7:16 am

By:Tony Williams

1.Downey Jr. was Fired From Ally McBeal

Robert Downey Jr. began appearing on the hit show Ally McBeal in 2000. He played Larry Paul, the love interest Ally McBeal (Calista Flockhart). In November 2000, Downey was arrested and charged with felony possession of cocaine and valium and a misdemeanor count of being under the influence of a controlled substance. Downey was arrested once again for suspicion of being under the influence of drugs in April of 2001. Ally McBeal producer, David E. Kelley, stayed true to Downey through his many legal woes, but his 2001 arrest was the straw that broke the camel's back. Downey was let go from the show after that incident.

2.Downey Almost Wasn't Tony Stark

Robert Downey Jr. fits the role of Tony Stark so well, that's it hard to imagine the character without seeing his face. The studio behind the Marvel film didn't want Downey to play Iron Man/Tony Stark. Downey actually had to convince the head honchos he was perfect for the role. During the film's beginning stages, Timothy Olyphant, Nicholas Cage and Tom Cruise all auditioned for the role, with Cruise almost snagging the role.

3.Robert Downey Jr. Knows He Will Win An Oscar

Robert Downey Jr. has a lot of confidence in his acting abilities. Although he has been nominated for two Oscars, Downey has yet to win. But don't feel too bad for him, as he is confident he is going to win one. During an interview with GQ, Downey revealed just how confident he is in winning. He said, "I know it's going to happen," Downey told Chris Heath in a lengthy profile for the most recent issue of GQ, "Even if I don't get one directly, eventually they're just going to have to give me one when I get old. So no matter how you slice it, I'm getting one."

4.Robert Downey Jr. Missed Out on 'Duckie' Rolein"Pretty in Pink"

Robert Downey Jr. was almost cast to play 'Duckie' in the 1986 film Pretty in Pink, but role eventually went to Jon Cryer. The original ending of the film had 'Andie' (Molly Ringwald) ending up with 'Duckie.' Ringwald said that if Downey Jr. had been cast she would have been happy with the original ending since he didn't give him a brotherly-vibe like Cryer did. Ringwald and Downey later starred in the 1987 movie, The Pick Up Artist, together.

5.Robert Downey Jr. Dated Sarah Jessica Parker

Actors tend to hook-up and break-up all the time. Downey dated actress Sarah Jessica Parker for seven years. The pair met on the set of the movie "Firstborn" when they were both teenagers. Their relationship was so serious that they even lived together for a short period of time. He revealed what led to the end of their relationship in a 2008 interview with Parade magazine. He said, "I liked to drink, and I had a drug problem, and that didn't jibe with Sarah Jessica, because it is the furthest thing from what she is," he told Parade in 2008. "She provided me a home and understanding. She tried to help me. She was so miffed when I didn't get my act together."

6.Robert Downey Jr. - The Dancer

Robert Downey Jr. is a regular old twinkle toes. The actor had some grown-up experiences at a very young age, but he was still able to maintain is childhood innocence in some ways. While he was living in London, England, a 10-year-old Robert Downey Jr. studied classical ballet. Chances aren't you won't see him in a tutu anytime soon though.

7.No Robert Downey Jr. In Japan

Japan has no problems showing Iron Man in its theaters, but the star of those films, Robert Downey Jr., is not welcome there. For the2008 premiere of Iron Man, Downey Jr.was almost not allowed in Japan because of his past legal issues. He was interrogated for hours on end before they allowed him to stay. Unfortunately, he is never allowed to enter Japan again.

8.Robert Downey Jr. Found Love on Gothika Set

Robert Downey Jr. revamped his career and found love all at the same year. During the filming of the 2003 movie, Gothika, Downey Jr. met and fell in love with his now-wife producer Susan Downey. The pair married in 2005. Susan gave birth to the actor's second child, son Exton Elias Downey, on February 7, 2012. Gothika was one of the first few movies Downey Jr. appeared in, in an effort to resurrect his career.

9.Downey Jr. Practices Wing Chun

Robert Downey Jr. fights bad guys with his Iron Man doohickeys in the Marvel films, but he uses a different form of 'fighting' to fend off his addiction demons. The actor began practicing Wing Chun, a form of Kung Fu,in 2002. He has said that Wing Chung has given him the strength to battle and overcome his addictions.

10.Robert Downey Jr.'s Solo Album

Robert Downey Jr. has been known to sing a little ditty here and there, but he took his passion for music to the next level in 2004. It was in that year that the actor released his first and only solo album titled, The Futuristic. The album was released through Sony and in his words, featured "highbrow pop with jazz and classical influences."Downey Jr. later said that he would never release another album, simply because he wasn't compensated in the fashion he wasaccustomed to.

11.Robert Downey Jr. on SNL

Robert Downey's stint on SNL was short lived, but someone somewhere liked him, He is the only former SNLcast member to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. He was nominated for his portrayal of Chaplin in the 1992 film by the same name. Several other former SNL cast members have gone on to be nominated in the Best Supporting category at the Oscars, but only Downey has gotten the Best Actor nod. Robert Downey Jr. joined the cast of SNL in 1985 and left in 1986.

12.Robert Downey Jr. - Drug Usage At Age 6

At age six, most kids are learning to ride bicycles or play dodgeball. Sadly, when Robert Downey Jr. was that age he got his first taste of drugs. In 1970, Downey's father casted him in a film called Pound, and after the movie was filmed, he gave a six-year-old Robert Downey Jr. his first taste of marijuana. In an interview with CNN, Robert Downey Sr. admitted to this negligence and shared his regret for such a piss-poor decision.

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