When Downey Sr.’s health waned, they moved the film’s editing suite into his bedroom. “I can relate to that, too, up until this current administration, the never-ending Susan Downey empire,” says Downey Jr. ascribes a metamorphosis in his father to his second wife, Laura Ernst, who died in 1994, and his third wife, Rosemary Rogers. He replies: “I would sure love to miss that discussion.”īut “Sr.” is in many ways a portrait of how both Downeys recovered, stabilized and found peace through family. raises in the film: “We would be remiss not to discuss its effect on me,” Downey Jr.

On those ’70s films, Downey Sr.’s cocaine use was rampant, an environment that surely had an influence on Downey Jr.’s own struggles later with drug addiction. There’s wonderful things that come with that, and then there’s probably avoidance patterns that are kept up because of that.” This is a secret power that you guys have. “And I think you deal with anything uncomfortable through humor. You’re hyper-aware of what’s going on around you and comment on it, much as Sr. “You absolutely have your observation of the world. “I would never necessarily marvel at the fact that a duck had baby ducks and those ducks got big.” “I did not get his wildly optimistic ongoing super-curiosity,” he says. is more hesitant to define what he inherited from his dad. Though it’s easy, as a viewer, to see how much alike they are, Downey Jr. sings that song, with panache, in the film. And he really liked that German song I sang when I was 15.”Īgain taking his father’s direction, Downey Jr. “I remember that he thought ‘Less Than Zero’ was good. He was like, ‘Cute.’ I did a bunch of the Marvel stuff and he goes, ‘Uh uh. Susan and I did a couple Sherlock movies. “I hate to say it, but he was a bit of a snob.

Robert downy