Robert Downey Sr. was a man of many talents and accomplishments, having served in the army, played minor-league baseball, and even won a Golden Gloves championship before the age of 22. Born in New York City to a model mother and a hotel/restaurant management father, he took the surname of his stepfather, James Downey, when enlisting in the army.
His father was of Lithuanian Jewish descent, while his mother was of half-Irish and half-Hungarian Jewish ancestry. Before pursuing a career in film, Downey began writing and directing basement-budgeted, absurdist films that gained an underground following in the early 1960s. These films included "Balls Bluff", "Babo 73", "Chafed Elbows", and "No More Excuses".
In 1969, Downey's film "Putney Swope" received a mainstream release, becoming the first of his films to do so. A satire of Madison Avenue, it explored what happens when an African-American activist is given carte blanche at an advertising agency. The film was among the year's Top 10 Films in New York Magazine.
Throughout the 1970s, Downey thrived in the laissez-faire film world, creating irreverent films such as "Pound", where humans play dogs waiting to be adopted, and "Greaser's Palace", an outrageous restaging of the life of Christ in "spaghetti western" terms. His film "Sticks and Bones" for CBS, a live broadcast of David Rabe's play, resulted in a major controversy when its sponsors pulled out at the last minute.
Downey's work continued to push boundaries, with films such as "Two Tons of Turquoise to Taos Tonight" and "Hugo Pool", which examines a day in the life of a female pool cleaner in Hollywood. He also acted in films like "Boogie Nights", "Magnolia", and "The Family Man", and appeared on numerous TV and radio shows.
In addition to his work in film, Downey was a guest speaker at film festivals and universities throughout the country, and developed an update of his film "Putney Swope". He lived in New York City with his wife, Rosemary Rogers, and was the father of actors Robert Downey Jr. and Allyson Downey.
