Robert Downey, Jr. on Letterman, August 1, 1990

[@billslocum9819]

Robert Downey's father, RD Sr., did the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson three times in 1968-69. He wasn't a big name at the time, a director of underground films few saw, but Carson liked him and didn't care.

[@civlyzed]

There's an interesting interview with Robert Downey, Sr. from Allan Havey's "Night after Night", available on the internets, if you're interested.

[@billslocum9819]

@@civlyzed Thanks! I heard Downey tell the story of doing Carson on his commentary track for his movie "Putney Swope." Next to his name in movie credits is "A Prince," which dates back to a joke he used on one of his Carson appearances.

[@crakamann]

RDJ on letterman now is pretty interesting too, quite revealing.

[@Bringos76]

Robert Downey Sr was good in To Live & Die in L.A.

[@rhysoto90]

I was born on this exact day. August 1st, 1990.

[@relrel1996]

August 1 is my birthday too but I was born in 1996

[@johnphantom]

I was 21 and my dad died from extensive alcohol and cocaine use exactly one month before your birthday.

[@Meinenun]

Happy birthday 🎂

[@GrandJediMaster7860]

I was born in 1990 too - though April 6th - like RDJ's Avengers' alum, Paul Rudd (though he's a full 21 years older than me). I also share my birthday with Billy Dee Williams (he was born a full 53 years before me).

[@Greyman-x6d]

Robert Downey Jr is a very talented actor. I've seen him in on Letterman twice and he can be hilarious, I think he should have moonlighted as a stand up comic.

[@KILL_THE_HIVE_MIND]

Did you see the infamous one in 95?

[@gallery7596]

When Downey was heavy into the drugs and nobody wanted to work with him, Mel Gibson was the only one who would give him a job ("The Singing Detective") which helped keep his career afloat until things turned around for him.

[@johnphantom]

Yeah watching just the first few seconds already I can tell he is high. I wonder if he rubs his nose...

[@SeanMelendez-df3zg]

And then he became Iron Man a few years later in May of 2008. RDJ has become one of the most highest paid actors in Hollywood! Robert Downey Junior Love 3,000 ❤️

[@johnphantom]

yeah I like the guy, his 1987 movie Less Than Zero came out when I was 18 leaving high school and had just started cocaine. The movie is disturbing to me for a good reason, the subject matter should be disturbing.

[@SeanMelendez-df3zg]

@@gallery7596 I know because he really lived through that it's tragic but he survived it Mel Gibson helped him recover he got “Sober” and redeemed himself that truly was his redemption arc Less Than Zero (1987) changed him and the even us for life that movie scared me from never doing *DRUGS* and I'm so proud of that I am mostly proud of Robert of how he fought his addiction Tony Stark A.K.A. *“IRON MAN!”* is a beautiful tempting man made from God for a reason that reason is love beauty strength and forgiveness Robert John Downey Jr. Came to life from being a B-list Actor to a A-list Actor God Bless Him and everyone around him in his life Thank you Elton John Mel Gibson for helping him get his life and career back on track and making him the cocky, but one of the most humble dudes ever on the planet God Bless You Robert Downey Jr. 🥰♥️♥️♥️

[@mm9016]

It's so weird to have RDJ's voice come out of this young man :D

[@Mirabboss5]

He won oscar🎉

[@christopherramon-reid2000]

I love how Dave always called us "kids"

[@624radicalham]

All sincere laughs from Dave when Downey does voices to give examples and do asides. He was killing him. On some level, with differences of course, doing those voices of SNL executives and other people as he's telling a story is really Dave's sense of humor if you think about it. Especially the Hammered Iranian which Letterman had surely never heard about and you can tell he loved. Gotta admit if it was Coke, it made RDJ a hell of a story teller. He also had a strong Cali (Valley) accent coming through.

[@SMDAHL]

Miami SWL Radio that’s weho not valley

[@jeffrey-k5y]

carte blanche what’s weho?

[@RzVids]

Man I’m only 20 and It never crosses my mind these people were actually young in the past lol look at Ironman

[@Bruschi354]

We should put this guy in a iron suit that can fly...

[@jjsky180]

He's pretty subdued here actually, if you've seen other interviews during the 90's, televised or magazine articles. He's so adorable here. He totally got Letterman too, censors had fun with that one. 😂

[@LordFartamor]

What a nice fellow

[@goldenappleamp8718]

He too good to be real.

[@SeanMelendez-df3zg]

Young "Robert Downey" So Cute 😍

[@douglaskalberg8899]

His SNL character sounded like Tommy Wiseau.

[@LivLaRaj]

I was hoping this included Dave's guest intros after the monologue: (paraphrased): "On the show tonight... Robert Downey Jr is here... and later I'll ask him how his father's been doing since his talk show was cancelled..."

[@ridakhan4790]

Oooh Downey looking so hot🔥

[@muneebahussain5444]

you from Pakistan?

[@AT-cy7im]

And totally hammered af

[@wowmachineradio]

Those SNL years with him, AMH, Dennis Quaid, and Terry Sweeny are some of the hardest episodes to re-watch. I'd rather watch every episode with Gail Mathias and Denny Dillon before rewatching the year RDjr was on.

[@ericthatsme]

Christopher B. King HA! I concur. Lotta talent....but also a lotta Not Funny.

[@timmcelroy2188]

"I'll take you out by the beach. My name's Todd and I'm into it"

[@Tr0nzoid]

I remember watching this episode and NBC interrupted with a Special Report that Iraq invaded Kuwait.

[@tam568]

1990 😁😁😁

[@Charleybones]

Robert seems stoned in this interview. He has a somewhat blank look on his face the whole time, and seems to be a step slower than his normal hyperactive self. Glad he made it thru this dark time in his life.

[@AT-cy7im]

He was totally hammered

[@Orlak3lly]

Why does he sound a lot like Seth MacFarlane? Crazy

[@moealn]

He talks like Packie from GTA IV

[@OhanaFilms]

No walk out music? That was weird.

[@dongiller]

Very common.

[@OhanaFilms]

@@dongiller Really? I guess I never noticed.

[@JM91x]

You expecting him to get in the ring?

[@theoldanarchist]

He's coked to the gills.

[@michaelcovel3793]

Well, I certainly hope so!

[@SaintMartins]

no.

[@lynxminx4]

Not his gills.

[@ChiralityPracticality]

You should see the interview from 96' that was to the gill's, drunk and coked out HARD

[@julietiquette1169]

He looks like a 50’s crooner here.