Robert Downey Jr. set out to make an objective portrait, a tribute to his father, the underground filmmaking maverick Robert Downey Sr. His dad had other plans.
“The key point in this is when he goes, ‘Ok, I think we should split into two camps: The (expletive) movie and the one I’m gonna make,’” recalls Downey Jr., laughing. “I just go, ’Man, hats off to you, Pops.”
“Sr.,” directed by Chris Smith, is a work of father-son harmony more than might be suggested by Downey Sr.’s typically brusque assertion of filmmaking independence. It’s a kind of home movie, mostly made by Downey Jr. but with his father’s own insertions peppered throughout. It’s a son’s loving reckoning with his iconoclast father, a freewheeling cult filmmaker whose experimental films gave Downey Jr. his entry into moviemaking and whose outsized personality did much to inform his son,...
“The key point in this is when he goes, ‘Ok, I think we should split into two camps: The (expletive) movie and the one I’m gonna make,’” recalls Downey Jr., laughing. “I just go, ’Man, hats off to you, Pops.”
“Sr.,” directed by Chris Smith, is a work of father-son harmony more than might be suggested by Downey Sr.’s typically brusque assertion of filmmaking independence. It’s a kind of home movie, mostly made by Downey Jr. but with his father’s own insertions peppered throughout. It’s a son’s loving reckoning with his iconoclast father, a freewheeling cult filmmaker whose experimental films gave Downey Jr. his entry into moviemaking and whose outsized personality did much to inform his son,...
- 12/2/2022
- by Corey Atad
- ET Canada
One year after Robert Downey Sr.’s death, a celebration of his life is coming to Netflix. The streamer released the official trailer for “Sr.,” a documentary about the final days of the director.
A prominent figure in the independent and counterculture film scene of the ’60s and ’70s, Downey Sr. is best known for his 1969 film “Putney Swope,” a vicious satire of the New York advertising world that has been cited as an influence from acclaimed directors like Paul Thomas Anderson and Jim Jarmusch. Of course, today, many probably know Downey Sr. better as the father of his son, Robert Downey Jr., who developed a much more mainstream level of fame through acting, particularly as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Filmed across the last three years of Downey Sr.’s life, “Sr.” profiles the filmmaker’s career and features extensive interviews between him and his son about...
A prominent figure in the independent and counterculture film scene of the ’60s and ’70s, Downey Sr. is best known for his 1969 film “Putney Swope,” a vicious satire of the New York advertising world that has been cited as an influence from acclaimed directors like Paul Thomas Anderson and Jim Jarmusch. Of course, today, many probably know Downey Sr. better as the father of his son, Robert Downey Jr., who developed a much more mainstream level of fame through acting, particularly as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Filmed across the last three years of Downey Sr.’s life, “Sr.” profiles the filmmaker’s career and features extensive interviews between him and his son about...
- 11/14/2022
- by Wilson Chapman
- Indiewire
Robert Downey Sr. died at the age of 85 on July 6. His son, actor Robert Downey Jr., confirmed the news in a touching Instagram tribute on July 7. "Rip Bob D. Sr. 1936-2021 . . . Last night, dad passed peacefully in his sleep after years of enduring the ravages of Parkinson's," the Marvel star shared alongside a black and white photo of his father. "He was a true maverick filmmaker, and remained remarkably optimistic throughout . . . According to my stepmoms calculations, they were happily married for just over 2000 years. Rosemary Rogers-Downey, you are a saint, and our thoughts and prayers are with you."
The actor and director, best known for writing and directing the satirical film Putney Swope, got his start in 1953 with the short film The American Road. During his career, Robert Sr. had roles in Boogie Nights, Magnolia, To Live and Die in L.A., and on The Twilight Zone. He directed his son,...
The actor and director, best known for writing and directing the satirical film Putney Swope, got his start in 1953 with the short film The American Road. During his career, Robert Sr. had roles in Boogie Nights, Magnolia, To Live and Die in L.A., and on The Twilight Zone. He directed his son,...
- 7/7/2021
- by Grayson Gilcrease
- Popsugar.com
Robert Downey Jr. is remembering his father Robert Downey Sr. In a post shared to Instagram on July 7, the Iron Man star revealed his dad passed away at the age of 85 following a battle with Parkinson's disease. "Rip Bob D. Sr. 1936-2021…" Downey Jr. wrote. "Last night, dad passed peacefully in his sleep after years of enduring the ravages of Parkinson's ..he was a true maverick filmmaker, and remained remarkably optimistic throughout..According to my stepmoms calculations, they were happily married for just over 2000 years. Rosemary Rogers-Downey, you are a saint, and our thoughts and prayers are with you." According to Variety, Downey Sr. was born in New York...
- 7/7/2021
- E! Online
Sad news just coming in that Robert Downey Sr., director and father of actor Robert Downey Jr., died early today in his sleep at home in New York City. The director of the anti-establishment satirical film, Putney Swope, was 85. The news of his death was announced by his wife and author Rosemary Rogers in the "New York Daily News." Rogers revealed to the publication that…...
- 7/7/2021
- by Gaius Bolling
- JoBlo.com
Robert Downey Sr. has died at 85 years old after a battle with Parkinson’s disease. The father of Oscar-nominated actor Robert Downey Jr., Downey Sr. was a celebrated filmmaking in his own right thanks to his acclaimed 1969 counterculture satire “Putney Swope.” The film took aim at Madison Avenue and told the story of an African American activist who is given a free hand at an ad agency.
The younger Downey took to Instagram following the news of his father’s passing to post the following tribute: “Rip Bob D. Sr. 1936-2021…Last night, dad passed peacefully in his sleep after years of enduring the ravages of Parkinson’s. He was a true maverick filmmaker, and remained remarkably optimistic throughout..According to my stepmoms calculations, they were happily married for just over 2000 years. Rosemary Rogers-Downey, you are a saint, and our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
Among Downey Sr.
The younger Downey took to Instagram following the news of his father’s passing to post the following tribute: “Rip Bob D. Sr. 1936-2021…Last night, dad passed peacefully in his sleep after years of enduring the ravages of Parkinson’s. He was a true maverick filmmaker, and remained remarkably optimistic throughout..According to my stepmoms calculations, they were happily married for just over 2000 years. Rosemary Rogers-Downey, you are a saint, and our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
Among Downey Sr.
- 7/7/2021
- by Zack Sharf
- Indiewire
Shortly after the news broke on Wednesday that Robert Downey Sr., the director of the anti-establishment satirical classic Putney Swope had died, his son Robert Downey Jr., paid tribute to his father, calling him “a true maverick filmmaker.”
Downey Jr. went on to say that his father had suffered the ravages of Parkinson’s disease, but died in his sleep. He also added some levity in a tribute to his stepmother, Rosemary Rogers-Downey: “According to my stepmoms calculations, they were happily married for just over 2000 years. Rosemary Rogers-Downey, you are a saint, and our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
The Downey family scion also posted a black and white portrait of his father above the message.
Showbiz & Media Figures We’ve Lost In 2021 – Photo Gallery
Here is the full text of Rdj’s Instagram post:
Rip Bob D. Sr. 1936-2021…Last night, dad passed peacefully in his sleep...
Downey Jr. went on to say that his father had suffered the ravages of Parkinson’s disease, but died in his sleep. He also added some levity in a tribute to his stepmother, Rosemary Rogers-Downey: “According to my stepmoms calculations, they were happily married for just over 2000 years. Rosemary Rogers-Downey, you are a saint, and our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
The Downey family scion also posted a black and white portrait of his father above the message.
Showbiz & Media Figures We’ve Lost In 2021 – Photo Gallery
Here is the full text of Rdj’s Instagram post:
Rip Bob D. Sr. 1936-2021…Last night, dad passed peacefully in his sleep...
- 7/7/2021
- by Tom Tapp
- Deadline Film + TV
Robert Downey Sr., director of the countercultural satire “Putney Swope” and the father of actor Robert Downey Jr., died Wednesday in New York. He was 85.
Downey Jr. posted about his father on Instagram, writing “Last night, dad passed peacefully in his sleep after years of enduring the ravages of Parkinson’s…he was a true maverick filmmaker.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Robert Downey Jr. Official (@robertdowneyjr)
Downey Sr. also acted, and directed several other films that gained a cult following. But 1969’s “Putney Swope” was given a mainstream release and thus exposed his work to a wider audience, which was shocked (even appalled) by much of what they saw at the time. The devastating satire of Madison Avenue follows what happens when an African American activist is given a free hand at an ad agency.
“Putney Swope” made New York Magazine’s list of 10 top films of the year.
Downey Jr. posted about his father on Instagram, writing “Last night, dad passed peacefully in his sleep after years of enduring the ravages of Parkinson’s…he was a true maverick filmmaker.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Robert Downey Jr. Official (@robertdowneyjr)
Downey Sr. also acted, and directed several other films that gained a cult following. But 1969’s “Putney Swope” was given a mainstream release and thus exposed his work to a wider audience, which was shocked (even appalled) by much of what they saw at the time. The devastating satire of Madison Avenue follows what happens when an African American activist is given a free hand at an ad agency.
“Putney Swope” made New York Magazine’s list of 10 top films of the year.
- 7/7/2021
- by Carmel Dagan
- Variety Film + TV
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