Editing Robert Downey Jr. (section)

===1983–1995: Early work and critical acclaim===
[[File:Robert Downey Jr.jpg|thumb|upright|left|Downey at the premiere of ''[[Air America (film)|Air America]]'' in 1990]]

Downey began building upon his theater roles, making his debut on stage in 1983 at the [[Geva Theatre Center]] in ''Alms for the Middle Class'' for a three-week run.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Greenwood |first=Marcia |title=TBT: Robert Downey Jr. makes stage acting debut at Geva |url=https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/lifestyle/entertainment/2016/02/18/tbt-robert-downey-jr-makes-stage-acting-debut-geva/80556338/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=Democrat and Chronicle |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308061728/https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/lifestyle/entertainment/2016/02/18/tbt-robert-downey-jr-makes-stage-acting-debut-geva/80556338/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He also performed in the short-lived [[off-Broadway]] musical ''American Passion'' at the [[Joyce Theater]] in 1983, produced by [[Norman Lear]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Actor Robert Downey, Jr. in a scene fr. the Off-Broadway musical "American Passion." (New York) |url=https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/880898f0-4a42-0131-e947-58d385a7b928 |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=NYPL Digital Collections |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308061728/https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/880898f0-4a42-0131-e947-58d385a7b928 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1984, Downey got a part in the film ''[[Firstborn (1984 film)|Firstborn]]'', where he met [[Sarah Jessica Parker]], and the pair started dating.<ref name="instyle.com">{{Cite web |title=Sarah Jessica Parker and Robert Downey Jr. Used to Throw Water Balloons at Their Hollywood Neighbors |url=https://www.instyle.com/news/tbt-sarah-jessica-parker-robert-downey-jr-relationship |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=InStyle |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308061728/https://www.instyle.com/news/tbt-sarah-jessica-parker-robert-downey-jr-relationship |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1985, he was part of the new, younger cast hired for ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''. Downey has said that [[Anthony Michael Hall]], whom he had met and become friends with on the set of his ''[[Weird Science (film)|Weird Science]]'', helped him get the audition.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Moor |first=Ashley |date=October 28, 2021 |title=Inside Anthony Michael Hall's Relationship With Robert Downey Jr |url=https://www.thelist.com/645747/inside-anthony-michael-halls-relationship-with-robert-downey-jr/ |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=The List |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308061728/https://www.thelist.com/645747/inside-anthony-michael-halls-relationship-with-robert-downey-jr/ |url-status=live }}</ref> However, he and most of the new crew were dropped and replaced following a year of poor ratings and criticism of the new cast's comedic talents.<ref name="CNN profile" /> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine named Downey the worst ''SNL'' cast member in its entire run, stating that the "Downey Fail sums up everything that makes ''SNL'' great."<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/lists/saturday-night-live-all-141-cast-members-ranked-20150211/141-robert-downey-jr-20150211 |title=145. Robert Downey Jr. &#124; 'Saturday Night Live': All 145 Cast Members Ranked |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=February 11, 2015 |access-date=March 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170219004334/http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/lists/saturday-night-live-all-141-cast-members-ranked-20150211/141-robert-downey-jr-20150211 |archive-date=February 19, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

That same year, Downey had a dramatic acting breakthrough when he played [[James Spader]]'s [[sidekick]] in ''[[Tuff Turf]]'' and then a bully in [[John Hughes (filmmaker)|John Hughes]]'s ''Weird Science''. [[Molly Ringwald]] wanted him for the role of Duckie in John Hughes's 1986 film ''[[Pretty in Pink]]'', but the part went to [[Jon Cryer]].<ref name="Kirk Honeycutt">{{cite book |author=Kirk Honeycutt |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7NyrBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA102 |title=John Hughes: A Life in Film The Genius Behind Ferris Bueller, The Breakfast Club, Home Alone, and More |publisher=Race Point Publishing |year=2015 |isbn=978-1-63106-022-9 |pages=102 |access-date=March 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302233127/https://books.google.com/books?id=7NyrBwAAQBAJ&pg=PA102 |archive-date=March 2, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=March 3, 2021 |title=Molly Ringwald Revisits The Crazy Fashion (& Sexual Politics) Of 'Pretty In Pink', 35 Years On |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/molly-ringwald-interview |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=British Vogue |archive-date=April 11, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411054512/https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/molly-ringwald-interview |url-status=live }}</ref> He went on to star with Ringwald in his first lead role in ''[[The Pick-up Artist (1987 film)|The Pick-up Artist]]'' (1987). Because of these and other [[Coming-of-age film|coming-of-age]] films Downey did during the 1980s, he is sometimes named as a member of the [[Brat Pack (actors)|Brat Pack]].<ref name="CNN profile" /><ref>{{cite news |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2002575504_downey23.html |title=Downey riding high on the comeback trail |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |first=David |last=Germain |access-date=May 2, 2008 |date=October 23, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629054425/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2002575504_downey23.html |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> Downey moved to Hollywood and lived with fellow actors [[Billy Zane]], who later appeared with Downey in ''[[Only You (1994 film)|Only You]]'' (1994); Sarah Jessica Parker; and [[Kiefer Sutherland]], who starred with Downey in ''[[1969 (film)|1969]]'' (1988).<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 29, 2022 |title=Kiefer Sutherland: 'When the FBI comes running through your house, you remember it' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/kiefer-sutherland-interview-2022-bloor-street-24-b1997413.html |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=The Independent|archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308061728/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/kiefer-sutherland-interview-2022-bloor-street-24-b1997413.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Manzoor |first=Sarfraz |date=March 8, 2024 |title=Kiefer Sutherland: 'I have regrets, but I had a great time' |newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/kiefer-sutherland-i-have-regrets-but-i-had-a-great-time-38gd3t67j |access-date=March 8, 2024 |issn=0140-0460 |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308070236/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/kiefer-sutherland-i-have-regrets-but-i-had-a-great-time-38gd3t67j |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 1987, Downey played Julian Wells, a drug-addicted rich boy whose life rapidly spirals out of his control, in the film version of the [[Bret Easton Ellis]] novel ''[[Less than Zero (novel)|Less than Zero]]''. His performance, described by [[Janet Maslin]] in ''The New York Times'' as "desperately moving,"<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE4DA1239F935A35752C1A961948260&sec=&spon= |title=Film: 'Less Than Zero', Young Lives |work=[[The New York Times]] |last=Maslin |first=Janet |access-date=May 2, 2008 |date=November 6, 1987 |author-link=Janet Maslin |archive-date=July 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729141559/https://www.nytimes.com/1987/11/06/movies/film-less-than-zero-young-lives.html |url-status=live }}</ref> was widely praised, though Downey has said that for him "the role was like the [[Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come|ghost of Christmas Future]]" since his drug habit resulted in his becoming an "exaggeration of the character" in real life.<ref name="skin deep">{{cite news |url=http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,6737,1080388,00.html |title=More than skin deep |work=The Guardian |location=UK |date=November 8, 2003 |first=Jon |last=Wilde |access-date=May 2, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828193924/http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,6737,1080388,00.html |archive-date=August 28, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> Soon after completing the film, Downey went into rehab for the first time; the episode would be followed by a number of interventions and stints in rehab over the next decade prior to his 1996 arrest.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2008 |title=Robert Downey Jr: return of the hero |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3672926/Robert-Downey-Jr-return-of-the-hero.html |access-date=March 8, 2024 |website=The Telegraph |archive-date=March 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240308055522/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/3672926/Robert-Downey-Jr-return-of-the-hero.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1"/> ''Zero'' drove Downey into films with bigger budgets and names, such as ''[[Chances Are (film)|Chances Are]]'' (1989) with [[Cybill Shepherd]] and [[Ryan O'Neal]], ''[[Air America (film)|Air America]]'' (1990) with [[Mel Gibson]], and ''[[Soapdish]]'' (1991) with [[Sally Field]], [[Kevin Kline]], [[Cathy Moriarty]], and [[Whoopi Goldberg]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Roger|last=Ebert|title=''Chances Are'' Movie Review & Film Summary|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/chances-are-1989|publisher=Roger Ebert Online|access-date=July 10, 2014|date=March 10, 1989|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709042249/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/chances-are-1989|archive-date=July 9, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Ben|last=Child|title=Robert Downey Jr: Hollywood should forgive Mel Gibson|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/oct/17/robert-downey-jr-mel-gibson|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=July 10, 2014|date=October 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106021918/http://www.theguardian.com/film/2011/oct/17/robert-downey-jr-mel-gibson|archive-date=November 6, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Roger|last=Ebert|title=''Soapdish'' Movie Review & Film Summary|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/soapdish-1991|publisher=Roger Ebert Online|access-date=July 10, 2014|date=May 31, 1991|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709004549/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/soapdish-1991|archive-date=July 9, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1992, he starred as [[Charlie Chaplin]] in ''[[Chaplin (film)|Chaplin]]'', a role for which he prepared extensively, learning how to play the violin as well as tennis left-handed. He had a personal coach in order to help him imitate Chaplin's posture and way of carrying himself.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0CE3D91E3EF932A25757C0A965958260 |title=Film: Once Again The Clowning Gets Physical |work=The New York Times |last=Hornaday |first=Anne |access-date=August 1, 2008 |date=April 11, 1993 |archive-date=July 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180729141715/https://www.nytimes.com/1993/04/11/movies/film-once-again-the-clowning-gets-physical.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The role garnered Downey an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]] nomination for [[Academy Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] at the [[65th Academy Awards|65th Academy Awards ceremony]], losing to [[Al Pacino]] in ''[[Scent of a Woman (1992 film)|Scent of a Woman]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/blogs/traverstake/2008/03/the-strange-case-of-iron-man-r.php |title=The Strange Case of Iron Man Robert Downey Jr. |magazine=Rolling Stone |last=Travers |first=Peter |access-date=August 1, 2008 |date=March 13, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080619105209/http://www.rollingstone.com/blogs/traverstake/2008/03/the-strange-case-of-iron-man-r.php |archive-date=June 19, 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1993, he appeared in the films ''[[Heart and Souls]]'' with [[Alfre Woodard]] and [[Kyra Sedgwick]] and ''[[Short Cuts]]'' with [[Matthew Modine]] and [[Julianne Moore]], along with a documentary that he wrote about the 1992 presidential campaigns titled ''[[The Last Party (film)|The Last Party]]'' (1993).<ref>{{cite web|first=Janet|last=Maslin|title=Heart and Souls (1993) Reviews/Film: A Yuppie Haunted (Really) By Other People's Problems|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F0CE1DF1F38F930A2575BC0A965958260|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=July 10, 2014|date=August 13, 1993|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907192823/http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F0CE1DF1F38F930A2575BC0A965958260|archive-date=September 7, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|first=Peter|last=Travers|title=Short Cuts {{!}} Movie Review|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/short-cuts-19931003|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|access-date=July 10, 2014|date=October 3, 1993|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715085201/http://www.rollingstone.com/movies/reviews/short-cuts-19931003|archive-date=July 15, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Chris|last=Heath|title=Robert Downey Jr: 21 Years Ago|url=https://www.gq.com/entertainment/movies-and-tv/201305/robert-downey-jr-in-1992|work=[[GQ]]|access-date=July 10, 2014|date=April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714220218/http://www.gq.com/entertainment/movies-and-tv/201305/robert-downey-jr-in-1992|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> He starred in the 1994 films ''[[Only You (1994 film)|Only You]]'' with [[Marisa Tomei]], and ''[[Natural Born Killers]],'' with [[Woody Harrelson]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Roger|last=Ebert|title=''Only You'' Movie Review & Film Summary|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/only-you-1994|publisher=Roger Ebert Online|access-date=July 10, 2014|date=October 7, 1994|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708231109/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/only-you-1994|archive-date=July 8, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Britt|last=Hayes|title=See the Cast of 'Natural Born Killers' Then and Now|date=January 11, 2014 |url=https://screencrush.com/natural-born-killers-then-and-now/|publisher=Screen Crush|access-date=July 10, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140717050018/http://screencrush.com/natural-born-killers-then-and-now/|archive-date=July 17, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> He then subsequently appeared in ''[[Restoration (1995 film)|Restoration]]'' (1995), ''[[Richard III (1995 film)|Richard III]]'' (1995), ''[[Home for the Holidays (1995 film)|Home for the Holidays]]'' (1995), ''[[Two Girls and a Guy]]'' (1997),<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/two-girls-and-a-guy-1998|author=Ebert, Roger|title=Two Girls and a Guy|website=RogerEbert.com|publisher=Chicago Sun-Times|date=April 24, 1998|access-date=November 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226102959/https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/two-girls-and-a-guy-1998|archive-date=December 26, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> as Special Agent John Royce in ''[[U.S. Marshals (film)|U.S. Marshals]]'' (1998), and in ''[[Black and White (1999 drama film)|Black and White]]'' (1999).<ref>{{cite web|first=Janet|last=Maslin|title=Restoration (1994) Film Review: The King's Vet, Beard and Cuckolder|url=https://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9904EEDC1239F93AA15751C1A963958260|work=The New York Times|access-date=July 10, 2014|date=December 29, 1995|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716121405/http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9904EEDC1239F93AA15751C1A963958260|archive-date=July 16, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ian McKellen's Richard III {{!}} Notes |url=http://www.mckellen.com/cinema/richard/notes.htm |publisher=McKellen.com |access-date=July 10, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430075105/http://www.mckellen.com/cinema/richard/notes.htm |archive-date=April 30, 2009 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Robert Downey Jr. Turned Down Heather Graham|url=http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/41729/robert-downey-jr-turned-down-heather-graham|publisher=Entertainment Wise|access-date=July 10, 2014|date=April 15, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714153216/http://www.entertainmentwise.com/news/41729/robert-downey-jr-turned-down-heather-graham|archive-date=July 14, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Roger|last=Ebert|title=''Black and White'' Movie Review & Film Summary|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/black-and-white-2000|publisher=Roger Ebert Online|access-date=July 10, 2014|date=April 5, 2000|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140709003938/http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/black-and-white-2000|archive-date=July 9, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>