Robert Downey, Sr. served in the Army, played minor league baseball, was a Golden Gloves champion and off-off Broadway playwright, all before he was 22-years-old. In 1960, he began writing and directing basement-budgeted, absurdist films which gained an underground following: Balls Bluff (1961), Babo 73 (1963), Chafed Elbows (1965) and No More Excuses (1968).

Putney Swope (1969) was the first Downey-directed film to earn a mainstream release. A devastating satire of Madison Avenue, Putney explored what happens when an African-American activist is given carte blanche at an advertising agency. The film was Year's Top 10 Films in New York Magazine. The writer/director thrived in the laissez-faire film world of the 70s with such irreverent films as Pound (1970), wherein humans play dogs waiting to be adopted. Around this time, he worked on projects for Joseph Papp and the New York Public Theatre, directing David Raab's play, Sticks and Bones for CBS. The strong anti-war sentiments expressed in this live broadcast resulted in a major controversy when its sponsors pulled out at the last minute. His film, Greaser's Palace (1972), is Downey's outrageous restaging of the life of Christ in "spaghetti western" terms. TIME put this film on list of the year's Top 10 Movies. His take-no-prisoners sense of humor is also apparent in Two Tons of Turquoise to Taos Tonight and Hugo Pool (World Premier, Sundance 1997), a film that examines a day in the life of a female pool cleaner in Hollywood. Rittenhouse Square (2005) feature presentation of the Galway Film Festival is his second teaming with Max Raab, having been a consultant on Raab's award-winning Strut! (2003). From time to time, he acts (badly, according to him) and can be seen in films such as Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999) and Family Man (2000).

He has appeared on twice on the Tonight Show, Dick Cavett, IFC's "At the Angelika", Sundance Channel and countless other TV and radio shows.In addition, Downey has been a guest speaker at film festivals and universities throughout the country. Currently, he is developing an update of Putney Swope. He lives in New York City with his wife, Rosemary Rogers.


Father of Robert Downey Jr. Changed his last name to Downey, after his stepfather, at age 15, when he joined the army. Downey's mother was famed cover girl, Betty McLoughlin.