Robert Downey Sr., underground film legend, has died aged 85

Robert Downey Sr., a hero director amongst underground film, has passed away. He was 85.

Robert Downey Jr. was diagnosed with Parkinson’s over five years ago. He died in his sleep at his New York home on Wednesday, July 7th.

The filmmaker’s death was confirmed by his son, actor Robert Downey Jr., who paid tribute to him on Instagram.

“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 2,000 years,” he wrote. “Rosemary Rogers-Downey, you are a saint, and our thoughts and prayers are with you.”

Downey Sr., a provocative voice in the New York underground, earned cult status with a slew of critically-acclaimed film. His first film was 1964’s low-budget, 16mm, slapstick comedy Babo 73. 

His breakthrough came with the 1969 film, Putney Swope, an offbeat corporate satire that was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2016. A film that served as an inspiration to acclaimed directors Paul Thomas Anderson and Jim Jarmusch.

Throughout his career he’d direct a slew of uber-freaky, adored films including 1966’s deliciously bad-tasted Chafed Elbows, 1972’s surrealist acid western Greaser’s Palace and 1970’s Pound, a film that saw human actors portraying animals awaiting euthanasia at his pound. Robert Downey Jr. made his acting debut in the latter, playing a puppy.

Projects like 1969’s Putney Swope, a corporate satire that saw a Black board takeover an white-run advertising company, and 1970’s Pound, which saw human actors playing animals awaiting euthanasia in a pound, were some of his earliest classics. Downey Jr. made his acting debut in the latter, portraying a puppy.

Robert Downey Sr. also appeared as an actor in a number of films including Boogie Nights, The Family Man and Tower Heist.

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