All beginnings are difficult – this also applies to Robert Downey Jr., who already won an Oscar for Best Actor in 1993 (for the biopic ‘Chaplin’) and, thanks to ‘Iron Man’, after a long dry spell in his career, only found himself in Hollywood’s A league, but has also become one of the highest-paid actors ever.
Downey Jr., whose father was also a director and actor, knew early on that he too wanted to be in front of the camera. But after he left school to pursue his acting career, he only landed a few extra roles and continued to make ends meet with odd jobs, including at a restaurant and a shoe store.
But in 1983 the time had finally come: at the age of 18, the “Oppenheimer‘ star was offered his first ‘real’ rolewith a role name and credits in the opening and closing credits – in the romantic youth drama “Baby It’s You” from master director John Sayles (“Lone Star”) he would play a supporting role as high school student Stewart.
Robert Downey Jr. bragged to his friends, but then came the rude awakening
Young Downey Jr. almost bursting with pride, thinking he had finally made it. “A lot of friends of mine auditioned for it,” the actor revealed in an interview with Rolling Stone – and he was the one who ended up winning! “I did ‘Baby It’s You’ for four weeks and told all my friends that I was officially a big talent and a movie star,” Downey Jr. said.
But when the film was finally finished, came the rude awakening: his role no longer appeared in the final cut – Downey Jr. was only briefly seen once in the background. “(…) They cut out all my scenes,” the 58-year-old recalls. “You don’t even see me except in one scene where you see me in the background until this narcissistic actress bends over to get more time in front of the camera.”
After his boast beforehand, it was the ultimate humiliation of watching the movie with his friends who had fun teasing the young actor. “(…) My friends kept saying, ‘Hey Robert, maybe that’s you,’” the Marvel star said. “Now I don’t tell anyone I’m in a movie until I see it on videotape myself.” [Das Interview stammt aus dem Jahr 1988, Anm. d. Red.]
However, his career soon took off: he landed several bigger supporting roles that actually remained in film (including in the John Hughes comedy “LISA – The Hell of Madness”) before appearing as “Jack, the Pick-Up ” (1987). ) played his first leading role. The rest is history!
By the way: Downey Jr. was also with his later film roles. not always happy. If you want to know which ’90s action movie he really hates, read on here: