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Robert Downey Jr. is the Oscar-winning actor and three-time nominee who has had his share of ups-and-downs. He’s been more in demand than ever lately thanks in large part to the highly popular “Avengers” series, in which he played billionaire superhero Tony Stark (aka Iron Man) to great acclaim. Tour through our photo gallery of his 21 greatest films, ranked from worst to best.

The son of underground filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. and actress Elsie Downey, he made his acting debut at age five in his father’s film “Pound” (1970). He received his first Oscar nomination in 1992: Best Actor for his performance as silent movie legend Charles Chaplin in “Chaplin.” It took 16 years for him to return to the Oscar race: Best Supporting Actor for his role as an Australian actor who surgically alters himself to play an African-American platoon leader in “Tropic Thunder” (2008).

Both films also brought him Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations,...

It’s almost weird that there aren’t more documentaries about Robert Downey Jr. There’s a very good case for the Iron Man actor being the biggest movie star on the planet for the past decade. For all the opinion pieces you see about the “death of the A-lister”, Downey Jr is just about as big-time as it gets: a performer whose seemingly effortless onscreen charm made him a star twice over. By 2018, he was reportedly making as much as 75m (£61m) for a single Marvel movie. But dive into his past, and it’s not so rosy: pain; addiction; a career on the brink of total annihilation. So when filmmaker Chris Smith approached him about making him the focus of a new documentary, it surely seemed like a slam dunk. “Word came back, around two weeks later – ‘Absolutely not’. No interest,” Smith recalls. “But he thought somebody should film his dad.

What remains unsaid is often as important as what is said in “Sr.,” an emotional documentary directed by Chris Smith about the relationship between Robert Downey Jr. and his namesake father, a director of counterculture movies of the late 1960s and the 1970s.

Sr., who begins to physically decline due to Parkinson’s disease as this documentary progresses, is a quietly controlling sort of guy who deflects personal questions. When his son asks him about the title of this movie, Sr. says, “I like it, but we can do better,” in an offhand tone of voice that sounds a lot like Alan Arkin, who was a friend of Sr. and is interviewed here.

In Sr.’s office, there is a poster of Jean Renoir’s “La Grande Illusion” next to a poster of Charles Busch in “The Lady in Question,” and this reveals Sr.’s dedication to the spirit of downtown New York theater,...

Robert Downey Sr., the director of the innovative underground film “Putney Swope,” an actor and the father of actor Robert Downey Jr., has died. He was 85.

Robert Downey Jr. announced on his Instagram that “dad passed peacefully in his sleep after years of enduring the ravages of Parkinson’s” on Tuesday night.

“He was a true maverick filmmaker, and remained remarkably optimistic throughout..According to my stepmom’s calculations, they were happily married for just over 2000 years,” his son said.

Downey Sr. made his mark on the world of underground film in the ’60s with counterculture movies that were made on shoestring budgets and embraced the Absurdist movement of the day, with films like “Balls Bluff,” “Babo 73,” “Chafed Elbows” and “No More Excuses.” All of his films slowly gained a cult, underground following and were heralded for their take-no-prisoners mentality and daring challenges of censor codes.

But his 1969 film “Putney Swope...

Ten years after he first donned Iron Man’s suit of armor, Robert Downey Jr. has reprised his role as the billionaire superhero in the Marvel epic “Avengers: Infinity War.” The film finds the universe’s greatest heroes teaming up to stop the deadly Thanos (Josh Brolin) from gathering the infinity stones with the intention of wiping out half of the universe’s population. Downey Jr. first played the role in 2008’s “Iron Man,” and has appeared in eight subsequent Marvel movies. Of course, his career hasn’t been limited to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. So in honor of his latest big screen achievement, let’s take a look back on some of his best performances. Tour through our photo gallery above of Downey Jr.’s 20 greatest films, ranked from worst to best.

The son of underground filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. and actress Elsie Downey, Robert Downey Jr. made his...

Robert Downey Jr. suffered the loss of his mother this week and he subsequently decided that a "generic" obituary wouldn't do.

According to her son, Elsie Ann Downey died Monday night at the age of 80, and today the actor took to Facebook to pen a touching.and yet signaturely quirky.tribute to the woman to whom he owes so very much.

"As promotion for The Judge kicks off this weekend, I feel the need to run the risk of over sharing..." Downey's essay began as he delved into describing different stages of his mom's life, from her birth as Elsie Ann Ford near Pittsburgh in April 1934, through her short but turbulent marriage to Downy's father, filmmaker Robert Downey Sr., her unremarkable acting career and her struggle with addiction, and onto how she helped him battle his own demons when he was at his worst, how she bonded with her grandchildren...

Robert Downey Jr. suffered the loss of his mother this week and he subsequently decided that a "generic" obituary wouldn't do.

According to her son, Elsie Ann Downey died Monday night at the age of 80, and today the actor took to Facebook to pen a touching.and yet signaturely quirky.tribute to the woman to whom he owes so very much.

"As promotion for The Judge kicks off this weekend, I feel the need to run the risk of over sharing..." Downey's essay began as he delved into describing different stages of his mom's life, from her birth as Elsie Ann Ford near Pittsburgh in April 1934, through her short but turbulent marriage to Downy's father, filmmaker Robert Downey Sr., her unremarkable acting career and her struggle with addiction, and onto how she helped him battle his own demons when he was at his worst, how she bonded with her grandchildren...

Robert Downey Jr. suffered the loss of his mother this week and he subsequently decided that a "generic" obituary wouldn't do.

According to her son, Elsie Ann Downey died Monday night at the age of 80, and today the actor took to Facebook to pen a touching.and yet signaturely quirky.tribute to the woman to whom he owes so very much.

"As promotion for The Judge kicks off this weekend, I feel the need to run the risk of over sharing..." Downey's essay began as he delved into describing different stages of his mom's life, from her birth as Elsie Ann Ford near Pittsburgh in April 1934, through her short but turbulent marriage to Downy's father, filmmaker Robert Downey Sr., her unremarkable acting career and her struggle with addiction, and onto how she helped him battle his own demons when he was at his worst, how she bonded with her grandchildren...

Robert Downey Jr. suffered the loss of his mother this week and he subsequently decided that a "generic" obituary wouldn't do.

According to her son, Elsie Ann Downey died Monday night at the age of 80, and today the actor took to Facebook to pen a touching.and yet signaturely quirky.tribute to the woman to whom he owes so very much.

"As promotion for The Judge kicks off this weekend, I feel the need to run the risk of over sharing..." Downey's essay began as he delved into describing different stages of his mom's life, from her birth as Elsie Ann Ford near Pittsburgh in April 1934, through her short but turbulent marriage to Downy's father, filmmaker Robert Downey Sr., her unremarkable acting career and her struggle with addiction, and onto how she helped him battle his own demons when he was at his worst, how she bonded with her grandchildren...

There was plenty of amore in the air this weekend as Hollywood's biggest former bachelor tied the knot in Italy, America's favorite political family welcomed its newest addition and celebrities lovingly remembers those they've lost. 5. Rdj Remembers His Mom Robert Downey Jr. posted a sweet tribute to his late mother, Elsie Ann Ford, on Facebook on Friday, honoring her huge impact on his life and acting career. Read his heartfelt message. 4. Honoring a Hollywood IconIn another loving testament to one of the industry's greats, stars gathered to celebrate Robin Williams on Saturday afternoon. "There was so much joy as well as tears,...

There was plenty of amore in the air this weekend as Hollywood's biggest former bachelor tied the knot in Italy, America's favorite political family welcomed its newest addition and celebrities lovingly remembers those they've lost. 5. Rdj Remembers His Mom Robert Downey Jr. posted a sweet tribute to his late mother, Elsie Ann Ford, on Facebook on Friday, honoring her huge impact on his life and acting career. Read his heartfelt message. 4. Honoring a Hollywood IconIn another loving testament to one of the industry's greats, stars gathered to celebrate Robin Williams on Saturday afternoon. "There was so much joy as well as tears,...

Star of superhero movies suggests forthcoming sequel Iron Man 3 may be his last, as novelty wears off

Robert Downey Jr has strongly hinted he may end his career-transforming stint as superhero Iron Man.

Speaking to GQ magazine, Downey Jr suggested the role, which made him an A-list superstar in his 40s, could become a bore if he were to continue too long, and noted that he was out of contract. He referenced an ankle injury suffered on the set of forthcoming sequel Iron Man 3 as a possible sign that he should consider a new career path.

"It got me thinking about how big the message from your cosmic sponsor needs to be before you pick it up," said Downey Jr. "How many genre movies can I do? How many follow-ups to a successful follow-up are actually fun?"

He added: "I come from a family of very innovative writers...

by Steve Dollar

Something like the Dead Sea Scrolls of 1960s (and '70s) underground comedies, the five films assembled in the new Criterion Collection Eclipse set Up All Night with Robert Downey Sr. have been out of sight for so long that their release this week marks a major rediscovery. Deliriously imaginative and madly subversive, black-and-white romps like Babo 73 and Two Tons of Turquoise to Taos Tonight deploy manic pacing and counter-cultural absurdity to critique Mad Men-era America while inhaling deeply on their own stoned grooviness. "I've paid my dues," exclaims one of Downey's impish observers, played by actor friends or maybe someone he met at a phone booth, "why should I pay my debts?"

The best-known feature, Putney Swope, achieved cult status for its outrageous satire of Madison Avenue, proposing what happens when a white, patrician agency is taken over by a black militant who renames it "Truth and Soul Inc.