An Ultimate Hollywood Comeback of Robert Downey Jr - Coursework Example

ROBERT DOWNEY JR: An Ultimate Hollywood Comeback Due INTRODUCTION To every kid in the United States in the last decade who has been to the movies to see any of the “Iron Man” saga or the current “Avengers” franchise have come to believe that Robert Downey Jr. is Tony Stark, aka Iron Man. However, the actor behind the red mask has walked a long but, often bumpy and not always glamorous road to Hollywood success. From a child performer to his first film in the early 1970s Robert Downey Jr. has known early stardom, gained fame, dealt with substance abuse, overcame addiction, and reinvented and salvaged a career to a point that it is better than ever. Many in the “business” admit that most Hollywood personalities that fall out of favor of the industry seldom work their way back in; this is testament to his talents (Heath 1). However, regardless of his personal issues he continued to make many films, of varying successes and public appeal. The best way to learn more about this talented, Oscar nominated, and Golden Globe winning actor is to start at the beginning. BACKGROUND Robert Downey Jr. was born in Manhattan, New York on April 4, 1965 to Robert Downey Senior, a director and filmographer, and his wife Elsie Downey, an actress. Young Robert and his sister were literally immersed in the arts, film, and performance. In 1970, at the age of 5, he starred in his first film, directed by his father, titled, “Pound.” Unfortunately by the late 1970s his parents had divorced and he moved to California with his father. He would ultimately drop out of high school altogether in order to pursue his hopes of a professional acting career. Sadly Robert Downey Sr. had a long and troubled history with addiction and introduced his young son to mind-altering drugs at 8 years old; which would have a profound effect on his sons life for decades (Internet Movie Database). However, his career would start to take off through the 1980s, which included titles like “Tuff Tuff” and “Weird Science,” both in 1985 and “True Believer” in 1987 (Internet Movie Data Base). However, there are three other films that solidified his Tuff Tuff 1985 Weird Science 1985 True Believer 1987 talents in multiple film genres. In 1992 Natural Born Killers was released, a dark “Bonnie-and-Clyde-esque,” which has a cult following, where Downey portrays the journalist, seen below, reporting on the crime and murder spree committed by the killers. In1993 he starred in the light-hearted comedy-drama, “Heart and Souls,” where he portrayed a man being haunted by four ghosts, who really only have his best interests at heart. Finally in 1994 a film was released that received varying criticisms drew attention to Downey’s talent. “Chaplin,” seen below in character, was the biographical account of famous silent film star Charles Chaplin, from his origins in Britain to his Hollywood success, and the all of the troubles that plagued the silent film star (Boucher 2). In 1995, he starred in a “period piece,” or costumed drama, “Restoration,” where Downey portrays a 17th century medical student who finds himself at odds with the royals (Internet Movie Data Base). Each of Downey’s early works showed his versatility and potential. DISCUSSION Unfortunately, Downey’s substance abuse issue was becoming more and more severe. They were beginning to negatively affect his career, his marketability, and his ability to do his job as an actor. From 1996 to 2001 was arrested a number of times, enter a number of rehab programs, and lost his job on the television series Ally McBeal in 1997. This included a very public incident where he entered, while under the influence, his neighbor’s house and fell asleep in the woman’s son’s bed, believing that he was actually at his home (Scott 1).This event did serious damage to Downey’s reputation and effectively contributed to the end of his first marriage. By 2003 he reintroduced himself as clean and sober, however, it was the wedding to second wife, producer Susan Levin, who has helped him to maintain his sobriety. He began a period of new prosperity appearing in films such as, in 2003 “Gothika,” in 2005 “Good Night and Good Luck,’ and “Scanner Darkly” in 2006. Not all of his works received box office praise or pulled in the big dollars that all involved would have hoped. However, regardless of the film itself, Downey’s performance were often noticed as stand-out among many other respected Hollywood successes, like George Clooney, Val Kilmer, Ian McKellen, and Jake Gyllenhaal in titles including “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” and “Due Date.” In 2008 “Tropic Thunder” became a box office hit, a rather irreverent comedy by Ben Stiller that featured Robert Downey Jr. as actor who is playing black man in a war movie. However, Downey’s would achieve his greatest popularity as he overtook two coveted roles (Internet Movie Data Base). In 2008 Downey would win the role of Iron Man in the film, of course, of the same name. This introduced Downey to a whole new fan base. The realms of science fiction junkies and children who look up to the comic book super heroes. The following year he would also take on a modernized interpretation of Sherlock Holmes, with a humorous flare and steam-punk mentality (Boucher 1). “Iron Man 2” was released to great success in 2010 and the 3rd installment debuted in 2013. He also portrayed Iron Man in the another Marvel Comics franchise, “The Avengers,” which debuted in 2012, putting Iron Man at the side of Captain America, Thor, and the Incredible Hulk; all of which also have their own namesake franchises being marketed and produced at the same time (Internet Movie Data Base). There was time period when the name Robert Downey Jr. was a poison in Hollywood circles, not for lack of talent, but because, due to his addiction and lifestyle at the time, he was unreliable, too great a risk, even a “laughing-stock, and too much trouble to bother with (Scott 1). In fact, he had to fight to even get a screen test, or on-camera audition, with director John Favreau, he nor Disney, the producers, were interested in casting him as the lead superhero in their film (Health 1). However, Downey was persistent in efforts and determination to achieve this role. Of course, his effort ultimately, earned him the role and he proved himself the best choice, in fact he is scheduled to reprise the role of Sherlock Holmes and but, also, recently agreed to a $100 million dollar salary for next two installments in the “Iron Man” franchise (Scott 1). CONCLUSION Robert Downey has reinvented his image, restored his career, and has overcome his difficult relationship with addiction. This is not an easy thing to do in Hollywood where reputation and image is so important. Many Hollywood personalities never beat addiction and never successfully revive their careers. Many Hollywood stories are often sad, but Robert Downey Jr. has began a path too a far happier ending. He is healthy and sober, a respected actor, a marketable commodity, a talented performer, and today an icon to millions of children as the embodiment of Iron Man; His experience is the reflection of a life that has come full circle. WORK CITED Boucher, Geoff. "Robert Downey Jr. revisits his film career." Los Angeles Times 9 October 2009, 1-3. Web. 30 May. 2014. . Heath, Chris. "RD3." GQ Magazine. Apr 2013: 1-6. Web. 30 May. 2014. . Scott, Paul. "From washed-up drug addict to the $100m man: How Iron Man star Robert Downey Jr turned his life around from prison and cocaine." Mail online. 24 May 2013: 1. Web. 30 May. 2014. . Internet Movie Database, . "Robert Downey Junior Biography." Internet Movie Data Base. Amazon.com Company, n.d. Web. 30 May 2014. . Read More