by Laurie Pielak

Created on: January 22, 2009   Last Updated: March 31, 2009

One of my favorite Actors had been Robert Downy Jnr., and then he got himself into a bit of trouble, and kind of went off the radar for a while. The only time I heard about him was when he was going back into Rehab, or coming out.

He had been associated with the "Brat Pack" in the 1980's, and played a drug-addicted teenager in "Less than Zero", where the statement life imitating art comes to mind. I am not sure if this role actually pushed his already troubled life to the next level, but as far as acting goes, he then took on roles in "Air America" and "Soapdish". Both films which I personally liked very much. It was those roles that led him to "Chaplin", for which he received a Academy Award Nomination for Best Actor.

It looked as if things were going well for him, but it seemed that when ever he got a little more successful in his Acting Career, the more he was unable to cope with success. He was in and out of jail, and entered rehab, but it turned out to be unsuccessful. He should of taken his cue there perhaps - being success full at acting, but a bit of a failure at drug rehabilitation. What a choice, but who knows exactly what was going on with him and his personal life or demons.

It was however in between prison stays that he did join the cast of "Ally McBeal, playing the new love interest of Ally McBeal. Poor fellow, what was he thinking. I was never a fan of Ally McBeal. I never trust anyone that is that slim. However, it was at this time that he was Nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and so he should of. He didn't win there, but won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a mini-series or TV Film. More success, more drugs seems to be his MO, and yes, his character was written off when arrested in 2000.

He finally saw the light perhaps, and started work again appearing is smaller films. He had supporting roles in bigger films such as "Gothika" in 2003, "Zodiac" in 2007. He even took a stab at singhing in 2004 and relased his debut album "The Futurist". I personally haven't heard it, so I cannot say if it's worth a listen to or not.

Alas, in 2006 he was cast as the title character in Iron Man, which premiered in the summer of 2008, and making almost $1000 million at the box office it's opening weekend. He received rave reviews, and went on in 2008 to act in Charlie Bartlett and Tropic Thunder. I thought that he was fabulous in this movie and made the character believable. I hope that this success doesn't follow his past M.O. and that he stays on track.

I missed him and am glad to see he's back. He has done more than what I have mentioned and to have a better look I would suggest going to: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000375/.

Ben Stiller who directed him in Tropic Thunder speaks very highly of him in a Time article, calling him an Actor Man. http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,288 04,1733748_1733752_1734629,00.html

Kudos to you Robert! Well done.

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