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Robert Downey Sr.

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.


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Born:
Jun 1, 1936
Movie/TV Credits:
20
First Appeared:
In the movie Balls Bluff 1961-01-01
Latest Project:
Movie Pablo 2012-10-17
Known For
Poster of Energy and How to Get It
Poster of Naughty Nurse
Poster of No More Excuses
Filmography
Movie Pablo Self 2012-10-17
Movie Radio Unnameable Himself 2012-09-19
Movie Tower Heist Judge Ramos 2011-11-02
Movie From Other Worlds Baker 2004-10-29
Movie The Family Man Man in House 2000-12-12
Movie Magnolia WDKK Show Director 1999-12-10
Movie Boogie Nights Burt, Studio Manager 1997-10-07
Movie The Sunchaser Telephone Voices 1996-05-29
Movie Hail Caesar Butler 1994-05-11
Movie The Last Party Self 1993-08-27
Movie Johnny Be Good NCAA Investigator 1988-03-22
Movie America Paulie Hackley 1986-10-01
Series The Twilight Zone Unknown 1985-09-27
Movie Energy and How to Get It 1981-08-10
Movie You've Got To Walk It Like You Talk It or You'll Lose That Beat Head of Ad Agency 1971-09-19
Movie Is There Sex After Death? Himself 1971-10-24
Movie Putney Swope Putney Swope (voice) (uncredited) 1969-07-10
Movie Naughty Nurse Desk Clerk 1969-01-01
Movie No More Excuses Pvt. Stewart Thompson 1968-08-08
Movie Balls Bluff 1961-01-01
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