Robert Downey Jr. could quite possibly be more famous for his tumultuous, addiction-riddled personal life (likely stemming from a long undiagnosed bi-polar disorder) than for his acting skills but make no mistake he is the Maestro when it comes to emotional, intense, fascinating, mirthful and convincing performances.  Not only is he a first class actor, mimic and natural comedian, but he’s also a wonderful songwriter, pianist, Springsteen-esque singer (check out his 2004 debut album “The Futurist” at www.robertdowneyjrmusic.com) and painter. Peter Gelb, president of Sony Classical quotes, “Robert is a brilliantly gifted songwriter who writes lyrics that are wise and moving.  His burnished, smokey voice is an expressive and touching medium for the songs that he has written.”  Downey also sang on “Ally McBeal”, for various soundtracks from the show and in several of his movies.  In 2001, he appeared in the very poignant Elton John music video for “I Want Love”. 

Robert John Downey Jr. was born on April 4, 1965 in New York City to creative, bohemian, Jewish/Irish parents.  His father Robert Sr. is an actor, writer, producer and director of underground films and his mother Elsie Ford, a dancer and singer.  While growing up, Robert lived at various times in Connecticut, New York, California, London, Paris and Woodstock.  While in London at the age of 10, he studied classical ballet at the Perry House School in Chelsea.  He dropped out of Santa Monica High School at 17 and moved to New York to become an actor although he had appeared in some of his father’s films since the age of five.  He is very close to his sister Allyson, lived with Sarah Jessica Parker for seven years during the 1980s and has one 14 year old son, Indio, from his first marriage to actress and singer Deborah Falconer.  Robert credits his second wife, producer Susan Levin, whom he met while filming “Gothika” in Montreal and married in 2005, for saving him from himself.  Some of his closest friends had a hand in that as well including Sting, Moby, Mel Gibson and Sean Penn but I’m not going to focus on his personal life or this spotlight will be the size of a novel.

Although he appeared in several movies between 1970 and 1985, it was Robert’s (or Bob as his pals call him) role in “Weird Science” that first got him noticed.  He joined the cast of Saturday Night Live for the disappointing 1985-86 season with Anthony Michael Hall, Randy Quaid and Joan Cusack and while it was one of the least watched seasons in SNL’s history, Robert later became one of only seven former SNL regulars to receive an Oscar nomination.  For me, it was his stellar turn in 1987’s “Less Than Zero” that caught my attention and I never took my eyes off Downey again.  He turned many heads with the role of cocaine-addicted Julian Wells which of course was a part that he didn’t have to research.  With “The Pick-up Artist”, “Johnny Be Good”, “1969”, “True Believer” and “Chances Are”, Robert cemented his Brat Pack status. 

The 90’s was a prolific time for Robert and he embodied many memorable dramatic and comic characters in “Air America”, “Soapdish”, “Chaplin”, “Heart and Souls”, “Short Cuts”, “Natural Born Killers”, “Only You”, “Richard III”, “Home For the Holidays” (a favourite and coincidentally another drug-fuelled performance), “Restoration” (Which I love!  Director Michael Hoffman said, “He’s one of the most intuitive people I’ve ever met, almost telepathic.”), “Danger Zone”, “One Night Stand”, “Two Girls And A Guy” (intensely compelling with a great, very realistic sex scene!), “Hugo Pool” (one of the weirdest movies he’s ever appeared in), “The Gingerbread Man” (the brilliant Robert Altman had this to say, “Downey is America’s best actor.  I don’t know anybody better.”), “US Marshals”, “In Dreams” (Director Neil Jordan: “He’s the best fucking actor in America.”), “Friends & Lovers”, “Bowfinger” and “Black & White”.

Sadly, Robert Downey Jr. was robbed of the Best Actor Oscar for his preternatural interpretation of “Chaplin” in 1992.  Thankfully, England gave him a well-deserved London Film Critics Award and a BAFTA for the accomplishment and I have no doubt that he will one day take home the statue, probably the Lifetime Achievement Award.  Even Chaplin’s daughter, Geraldine was astounded by his interpretation of her father: “Robert Downey is just devastating. He's so devastating. I mean, he captured everything there was. I don't know how he did it.  I think he was possessed.  That daddy took a trip down from heaven and got inside him.  Because that couldn't have been just acting”.  Even the president of Twentieth Century Fox, Scott Rudin, has nothing but accolades, “I think of all his peers Robert seems to be the one with the widest range and the most natural electricity. Very few actors have that combination of mercurial energy and emotional depth.”

By the end of the 90’s, Robert’s drug problems had escalated to the point where almost no one would insure him and although his friends stuck by him it was obvious he was in serious trouble.  In 2000, Robert joined the cast of the hit series “Ally McBeal” as Ally’s love interest Larry Paul, was nominated for an Emmy and won Screen Actors Guild and Golden Globe awards for his efforts.  Although he was forced to leave the show because of his addiction, the beginning of the 21st century has seen Robert recuperate, rehabilitate, do his time, pay his dues, and once again continue to prove his value as an actor on the silver screen.  The fact that Hollywood’s A-List still want to work with him is evident by his roles.

The handsome, five-foot-nine-inch electric Robert was dazzling in “Wonder Boys”, knocking out director Curtis Hanson: “What pleases me most is the precision and specificity of his performance, punctuated like a diamond turning in the light with flashes of unmistakable, irrepressible Downey brilliance.”  He ignited the strange “The Singing Detective” co-starring his friend Mel, as well as “Gothika” with Halle Berry who declared, “He's a genius, I mean, he's really, really, probably one of the pound for pound best actors I've ever worked with. And he's so smart that, when he talks, I don't even understand what he's saying. Nobody does! [laugh]”.  After smaller parts in “Eros” and “Game 6”, Robert was terrific in the delightful “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” and his co-star Val Kilmer fell for him immediately: “Hey, it's not like I could tell that guy anything about acting, you know. He's one of the best there is, and he may be one of the best there ever was. More importantly, though, he may be the funniest SOB I've ever met in my life.”  George Clooney hired him for “Good Night and Good Luck”; Tim Allen said that at times he was funnier than he was in “The Shaggy Dog”, and of “A Scanner Darkly”, co-starring his friend Keanu Reeves, director Richard Linklater commented: “Robert is his own unique specimen. One human body is almost not a large enough vessel for all he contains.  His mind is so rich with so many thoughts about so many things and ideas.  That's why acting is a really good outlet for him.”

Of his performance in “Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus”, director Steven Shainberg says, “He was always the guy for me. When you think about the gracefulness of his body, and how articulate he is gesturally. And when you think of the expressiveness and the tenderness of his eyes, and his incredibly beautiful voice...”  Writer/Director Dito Montiel chose Robert to portray him in “A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints” and David Fincher directed him in this year’s thriller “Zodiac”.  "He's amazing," says co-star Mark Ruffalo, "I think he's as close to genius as you can come without falling over the edge. I found it really exciting to work with him, and scary and fun. There's the danger factor. Not physical or violent danger - it's his spontaneity."  Curtis Hanson directed him again in “Lucky You” starring Eric Bana and Drew Barrymore and we have “Charlie Bartlett” to look forward to in early 2008.  Next year should be an excellent year for Robert as he will appear in the title role of the highly anticipated superhero flic, “Iron Man” directed by Jon Favreau, co-starring Terrence Howard, Jeff Bridges and Gwyneth Paltrow as well as in Ben Stiller’s new comedy “Tropic Thunder” with Stiller, Steve Coogan and Jack Black. 

The now healthy Robert regularly practices Wing Chun Kung Fu and Ashtanga Yoga which he acknowledges for helping him beat his addiction.  The spiritual Downey also believes in healing stones and saging for clearing negative energies and being in love with Susan Levin has brought out the best in this man who takes fatherhood very seriously.  It’s hard not to like Robert whose dry sense of humour, quick wit, freestyle stream of consciousness banter, openness and honesty about all things makes for one very interesting dude.  He’s been described as solicitous, manic and hilariously profane but gaze for one moment into those vast, beautiful, dark chocolate brown eyes and you’ll believe anything that comes out of his mouth.  Look up the word redemption in the dictionary and you’re liable to find his picture beside it.  This is Robert Downey Jr.’s time…his rebirth, his chance to finally have everything he ever dreamed of and then some.  For someone who once said, “I’m not used to feeling like I belong where I am,” he’s finally come full circle and completely belongs.  I’ll be first in line to buy his autobiography which is expected to be published next year. 

I meant what I said…this man is a genius and you just have to watch every movie he’s ever done.

There are interesting interviews with Robert in March’s issue of Esquire at www.downeyunlimited.com and about the making of “Iron Man” at www.wizarduniverse.com.  In fact, there are a plethora of wonderful interviews and reviews at the excellent fansite, www.downeyunlimited.com which is where I’ve spent the last four hours!