Key Takeaways:
– Robert Downey Jr. started his career in Broadway and his first lead role was in 1987 in the film “The Pick-up Artist”.
– Despite SNL being recognized as a stepping stone for many artists, Downey Jr.'s season was ranked one of the worst.
– The actor credits his SNL experience for giving him a taste of what it meant to be an in-demand actor.
– Downey Jr. won an Oscar and is the first SNL cast member to do so.
Humble Beginnings: From Broadway to Hollywood
Robert Downey Jr. might be a celebrated Hollywood star today, but his journey began modestly. He started as a teenage actor on Broadway, actively pursuing a mainstream film role from 1983 before bagging his first lead role in “The Pick-up Artist” in 1987. Around this time, he also became a part of the newer, younger cast on Saturday Night Live (SNL).
SNL Experience: A Career-defining Moment
SNL is known as a launching pad for several talented artists, but Downey Jr.'s stint on the show frequently gets side-lined in discussions. The ‘Downey Jr. season', unfortunately, is infamous as one of SNL's worst seasons leading to most of the cast, Downey Jr. included, being replaced.
Rolling Stone even ranked Robert Downey Jr. as the worst among 145 cast members in 2015, stating his failure encapsulates what makes SNL great. Despite this, the Iron Man actor gave credit to the very same experience for defining his career.
Understanding His Craft: An In-Demand Actor Emerges
During an interview with Awards Chatter, a podcast from THR, Downey Jr. opened up about his time on SNL. The actor cherished the exposure the show provided him, emphasizing how the SNL stint taught him about a whole different medium.
While working on the comedy show and the film Back to School simultaneously, Downey Jr. had his first realization of being an in-demand actor. At only 20, he expressed his feeling of having two jobs requiring his services in their variety show or film.
Interestingly, despite his shaky SNL experience, Downey Jr. emerged as the first cast member to win an Academy Award for his role in the movie “Oppenheimer”.
Self-Introspection Post-SNL
While Downey Jr. never made a return to SNL, he used his time away from the comedy show for self-introspection. In talks with Sam Jones on The Off-Camera Show, the Oppenheimer actor acknowledged the lessons he learned and what he wasn't. He admitted not being a spontaneous comedian, one with a knack for catchphrases or perfect impressions.
He confessed being out of his depth with rapid-fire sketch comedy, owing to his lack of experience in improv. This forced the actor to admit that he found the show quite hard and a lot of work.
Speculations are rife that the Tony Stark humor fans love could be a relic from his brief time on SNL. It would be intriguing to see if the actor maintains his humorous flair while reprising his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) as Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday.
Despite the rocky start, Robert Downey Jr.'s journey and his recent Oscar win stand testament to his tenacity and how he turned his failures into stepping stones. From Broadway and SNL to the Oscars, Downey Jr.'s journey is proof that a humble beginning can lead to stellar success.
