Robert Downey Jr Recounts His Time on Saturday Night Live

Robert Downey Jr wasn't on SNL for very long, but he sure had a blast.
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[@msauthor4989]

"It's all garbage unless I have a sense of it!", Ain't that the truth.

[@jamescarter3196]

That is certainly average base-level thinking and it was funny to see him make fun of it.

[@Wis_Dom]

That is like every person with a negative comment about something they have little-to-no experience in, lol!

[@stevemike2973]

Says every person who regularly watches Fox News

[@bowiesamir2516]

I dont mean to be off topic but does any of you know of a trick to log back into an instagram account? I was stupid lost the password. I appreciate any tricks you can offer me.

[@markusandrew8360]

@Bowie Samir instablaster :)

[@karidavis6929]

RDJ: I’m not really an impressions guy 2 seconds later... RDJ does a David Bowie impression

[@abrahammoya6913]

The voice was on point

[@jakegreen9728]

He improved as an actor lol he couldn’t do that in 20s

[@brettcooper3893]

Took the words out of my mouth.

[@tinytanks]

I came here to make that comment... well done.

[@planetboondock2383]

If by 2 seconds, you mean 56 seconds and 10 cuts.

[@jbaby362]

It's great hearing people who went through being in environments that they didn't fit into, and who then learned a respect of that as well as what their skills Aren't. It's so neat I love it so

[@joemckim1183]

It's a good learning experience in not wasting your time on things you're not really suited for and focus your time on your strengths.

[@richardlinares6314]

Yeah, or maybe he was just unprepared and was put off of something he had potential for. He's pretty good at ad libbing. I thought he would at least host SNL more. Maybe if he honed that improv skill "Dolittle" would have been... better.

[@rigsby1454]

Glad he talked about this. Always been curious about him on it

[@skycloud1947]

He ages like fine wine!!

[@caroltaylor9853]

Yes he does!

[@calisongbird]

Sky Cloud he sure does! He was cute as a young man, but positively smoking hot now!!!

[@jimhogarth9678]

"I guess I'm not good at impressions..." I guess it's his opinion. But, didn't this dude get an Oscar nomination for his Chaplin impersonation?

[@timjean9332]

Jim Hogarth Charlie Chaplin was a silent actor and RDJ can act so he can get someone’s mannerisms down. Vocal impressions are what he’s talking about, like he can’t do a good Christopher Walken.

[@kevinw712]

Very often when a performer IS more known for "good impressions", yes they're doing something recognizable enough so the typical outsider knows exactly who it is, but it's more that they're locking into one or two particular aspects of the target in a somewhat exaggerated way to make comedy out of it. Dana Carvey's George Bush Sr and Ross Perot are two of the most iconic impressions in SNL history, but both purposely over the top for the sake of the laugh. Also the fact that such impressions are often put into some kind of routine or sketch. Even if a person gets so good at mimicry of another figure as to blur the line between them and the target, sure it's interesting but not often very funny. Of course there's no absolutes, but it's generally a rule of thumb.

[@TheChach]

He was also once a dude, playing a dude, disguised as another dude.

[@mikearchibald744]

@@timjean9332 Anybody can do Christopher Walken...."More Cowbell!"

[@burntthetoast]

He seems very sensible, articulate, and self-aware. He's basically a better version of Iron Man.

[@meadahagain]

Aries shit

[@burntthetoast]

@@meadahagain What does that even mean.

[@cathevans9859]

Listening to him scratching his almost-beard....He's lovely

[@chalkbunt81]

cath evans , take a cold shower, babe.

[@kevinw712]

yeah well once Ant-Man got a good close up look and feel in there, he just hardly ever wants to come back out.

[@catsandlife2045]

@@kevinw712 I imagine Ant-Man "So fuzzy...itchy..."

[@austinahalliburton8933]

His uncle, Jim Downey, was a writer and producer on SNL for many years. I always assumed that had something to do with RDJ getting on the show.

[@sifugurusensei]

Wasn't sure if they were related. I used to think that Brad Hall, Rich Hall, and Anthony Michael Hall were related.

[@episkopestudios]

@@sifugurusensei Jim Downey and RDJ are, in fact, related. Robert Downey Sr. and Jim Downey share a mother, with different fathers.

[@priyachoudhary9896]

Seeing it was an experimental year, it's not easy to think Jim might have helped him get this gig

[@doro626]

I don think Lorne lets you on that show, just because you know someone. Assuming that was the Lorne era.

[@raheemhamilton8624]

@@doro626 That was The Loren era that was his come back 1985-86 season.

[@MtlCstr]

And look at his comedic timing now. He's great at delivering the deadpan punchline.

[@imdjc4]

He's the living embodiment of the pheonix who rose from the ashes.

[@williamsebastian8415]

Downy is full of himself in a cool humble kind of way....Plus dude's been through a lot. I've followed his work, excellent actor, cool in interviews and such...

[@HailAnts]

The year he was hired was the year the new SNL producer wanted a lot of real actors on the show instead of just improv comedians. Along with Anthony Michael Hall & RDJ they also hired actors Randy Quaid and Joan Cusack. Wasn’t all bad, that year they also hired Dennis Miller, Phil Hartman, Jon Lovitz and Nora Dunn!

[@raheemhamilton8624]

Phil Hartman came on a year later.

[@raheemhamilton8624]

I would have kept Joan Cusack.

[@adolfopena7358]

As long as he doesn't end up a jerk, I'll be happy for whatever he does.

[@gayatripd270]

Honestly I think his jerk days are long past

[@MyBlackandRedCZ]

I doubt he’ll ever become a jerk.

[@echo6501]

he wasn't even a jerk anymore:/

[@vb8428]

@@echo6501 Lol, he's already a jerk as he has stated on this channel that he has no regard for the script

[@raptortart990]

@@vb8428 you'd be surprised how many big time oscar worthy actors freely go off script

[@stevenspenneberg7407]

I’ve been waiting 30 years to hear that story

[@debbiedoodiedandi]

It's great to hear that he looks back on that time fondly. It was a really weird period at SNL when they were really experimenting with the SNL formula, and trying to figure out what could work. He's obviously a very funny person who ad-libs like no other, but improve/sketch comedy work is a different beast.

[@priyachoudhary9896]

And honestly lots of young talents were fired during that time period, wonder what it would have been like if he did stay for long there

[@LILGHETTI]

RDJ is actually good at doing impressions!! He becomes the character like chaplin, Tony Stark & Kirk Lazarus!

[@Geeksmithing]

For not doing impressions his Bowie impression was good!

[@raexrockstar]

Geeksmithing it’s funny cause he says he doesn’t do them but that impression was impressive and he’s done a fantastic stan lee one as well. I think he just doesn’t realize he’s better at it then he believes

[@jamescarter3196]

It was two words, and it really didn’t sound much like Bowie.

[@allisonjones357]

James Carter thank you! Love him but

[@quinbrick8861]

James Carter where can I find this

[@quinbrick8861]

Allison Jones where can I find this impression?

[@hairfreak23]

That was a pretty good David Bowie impression

[@jamescarter3196]

Two words in the wrong voice and vague accent is enough for RDJ fans to say it’s ‘just like Bowie’ when it really isn’t.

[@CarSVernon]

lol truthfully when he was put on the list as the worst ever cast member, it was all about context. he had just become the highest selling actor of all time and they were ribbing him. if they made that list when he was still struggling with his demons, they'd've prob put him somewhere around the 5th from behind and managed some faint praise.

[@tarachoudhary1265]

True

[@ReevesTop]

love this man! One of thee best actors of our time! Kudos Downey Jr.!

[@Noiseheads]

RDJ: "I'm not good at impressions." RDJ: 3:39

[@raexrockstar]

Noiseheads also he did a spot on stan lee impression during an interview as well lol

[@tkegal]

I remember seeing Robert & Anthony Michael Hall on SNL and thinking, "What?" Because I knew them as movie actors in movies for people my age. I remember one sketch they did that was really funny, they played to thieves selling things out of the back of their van, QVC style. Then when Robert did Iron Man, I thought to myself, "Did I imagine him on SNL?" (:

[@mikearchibald744]

Did Living Colour steal that?

[@LivingInTheKaliYogurt]

@@mikearchibald744 it's possible SNL stole it from Damon Wayans. He was on the show the same year and got fired by Lorne by playing a cop character as very gay. He kept submitting sketches and being shot down. A lot of those ended up as Living Color sketches later.

[@robertpadillosandiego2821]

And don't forget, Rolling Stone named him the worst cast member ever! I think RDJ and all of us got over it🤣

[@mikearchibald744]

I find that a little hard to believe. Not that they said it, but thats they'd know.

[@priyachoudhary9896]

I don't think rolling stone's cast rank list is accurate anyway, they labelled every 2014-2018 cast Members as new kids only

[@jasoncinema]

“You see how we have contempt for things that are out of our reach?” 🤣

[@philoctetes_wordsworth]

The Loneliest Suitcase was my very favorite sketch, ever. That episode was removed from the VHS and DVD collections. People told me I was crazy, and it was a dream. He looked very, very high, but even though he was struggling, he was funny. I have loved him forever, because of his time on SNL. Less Than Zero hit a nerve or two… 💐💐💐💐💐💐💐

[@evancortez2]

I remember those days with Anthony Michael Hall on SNL, then they did a movie together called "Johnny be Good" in '86 - good to know they're still good friends

[@unrulysimian3897]

evancortez2 RDJ - was the best part of that flick.

[@evancortez2]

He was just the sidekick in that movie - now he's the most bankable leading man in hollywood

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

He's amazing. I also think Mike Patton looks a hell of a lot like RDJ.

They need to invite him to host!

[@debbiedoodiedandi]

They have. He hosted in 1996

[@PlasmaCoolantLeak]

@@debbiedoodiedandi I just saw a clip of his monologue. I wish they'd invite him back now, given how he turned his life around, and his tremendous success.

[@debbiedoodiedandi]

@@PlasmaCoolantLeak he did say recently that he'd love to go back, so maybe it'll happen the next time he has a movie to promote

[@PlasmaCoolantLeak]

@@debbiedoodiedandi Oh, very cool! Thanks, Debbie!

[@pirojfmifhghek566]

You know, I've been slowly going through all of the videos you've uploaded here and I just gotta say this is probably one of the best celebrity interview shows on the web right now. You're asking the right questions and you're getting the stories that most interview shows just kinda graze over for the sake of a quick laugh and a cheap movie advertisement. You're like James Lipton, man. Keep it up. It's hard to find good celebrity/actor interview shows these days. The other one I really like is Sean Evans Hot Ones interviews. Making people eat hot sauce is a fun vehicle, but the content is insanely compelling. He comes out of left field with some shit that often surprises his guests. But I like that this show you've got is a bit more low key while still getting to the meat on the bone.

[@mylobage]

“Do you see how we have contempt for things out of our reach” lmfao

[@destiny-theseries]

2K people liked this video and only 13 disliked it. Do you know how rare it is that everyone on KZbin like something? THAT is RDJ.

[@johnathonhaney8291]

What can I say? We love him 3000.

[@thereisalwaysarainbowafter1364]

Rdj fanboying over David Bowie is what I need to see more of

[@jorgevaldez9257]

Great topic... little is known about this. It's cool when people like him gets asked about obscure and long gone experiences. I also liked how Howard Stern asked RDJ about acting with Rodney Dangerfield in Back To School. You forget RDJ has been in showbusiness since he was literally a kid. Not the most wholesome environment though...

[@MidSpecBenchmarks]

That single dislike is obviously Thanos'.

[@manjusihag8289]

Now its Thanos from 2014 & 2019

[@imaginebreaker]

@@manjusihag8289 Its slowly gonna be the rest of the Black Order and then the Chitauri and the Outriders XD

[@andrewnibbi]

It needs 675 more dislikes. So it can be perfectly balanced As all things should be

[@johnathonhaney8291]

@@josephr9930 You first, Mr. Hipster.

[@seaninness334]

now up to 17 (7/17/19) - It must be the Marvel multiverse Thanos'

[@eme.261]

Yes... we learn more about ourselves from our failures than we do our successes. The things you learn you aren't good at help you to fine-tune your skills in what you can do well.

[@HelloThere...]

Is it just me, or does he sound completely different in this interview? He no longer sounds like iron man like he did in all his earlier interviews. Was he going full method with those?

[@csmith65]

Andrew Conrad this interviewer is very good at making his guests feel comfortable and as if it’s just 2 friends having a conversation. maybe he sounds different because he’s more relaxed and actually enjoying the conversation?

[@ahyaok100]

Thats the way to look at it. You get something out of everything you try to do, so you might as well go for it no matter what happens.

[@leftyspade]

inspirational guy! Great interview- His interaction with Tom Holland and we all know he's protective, is super great!

[@CarlosBenjamin]

Isha M I’m assuming the way he played opposite him as Ironman mentoring spidey.

[@highoncaffeine]

"He was in a way my first Jon favreau" ;)

[@heleel6052]

I just love this man

[@andreaandrea6716]

Can't do impressions? WHO DID CHARLIE CHAPLIN?????????? Jesus... that was just pure fabulous genius. That was EXTRAORDINARY. R.D. jr ... CHAPLIN. (!!!)

[@cozyjuni]

LMAO for real.

[@AM99884]

The most refreshing part of this video is to get a glimpse of RDJ geeking out over David bowie ... the Robert Downey Junior can get Star Struck too 😂

[@TerryTrowbridge]

The West Side Story sketch with Norm Macdonald is one of my favorite sketches.

[@powerswish]

It may have been just one year for RDJ and Hall, but a to this day I still remember loving that chemistry they had doing Simon & Garfunkel.

[@daniquev8459]

Tony stark plays the rol of rbj so good!! Don’t you agree??

[@ardentlyyearning]

That mini fanboy moment with david bowie is so cuteee

[@OneBirdAllStoned]

"I wasnt gonna be the one to come up with a catch phrase" 2019 "And....i....am...Ironman."

[@daniellefernandes7510]

this guy is incredible!

[@Botwin66]

I saw an SNL where RDJ did a brief impression of George Michael giving a statement to Entertainment Tonight. At the end he abruptly looked into the camera and struck the pouting, Zoolander-esque pose that Was GM’s go-to. The studio audience dug it.

[@mcsuibhne005]

His Uncle is the man behind most of the humour of the show. Look him up- Jim Downey

[@ironvlogger9712]

God i hope he guest stars on SNL again someday, he'd be fucking hilarious and as for that catchphrase I LOVE YOU 3000.💞

[@noellenn2122]

This is the first time I managed to hack through RDJ's usual verbosity and actually understand what he was saying. 😶

[@DarkTalesProduction]

Good for you. Here's a cookie 🍪

[@umainebearman]

So you just discovered the word "verbosity" and this is where you decided to use it. That's kind of sad.

[@CreationSGame01]

Dark Tales Production 🤣

[@johnathonhaney8291]

No disrespect but what is so hard to understand about how he puts things?

[@kapeklaw4799]

Damn, you can't speak your mind without comment vultures pecking at you

[@doro626]

He did ONE great impression of the guy, pretending to be the guy, pretending to be the other guy.

[@matthewdunham1689]

His interviews are as good as most TV shows and movies. 🤣😀❤

[@giareneeble]

The way he describes SNL is the exact reason I’ve been a fan for so long and have such respect for the show and everyone involved!!

[@cozyjuni]

:) he's such a gem.

[@redpat8832]

Robert is a creative genius.👏

[@ChrisBrooksGuitar]

His Russell Crowe impression in Tropic Thunder was pretty good

[@Notturnoir]

Weird Science love!!! Sometimes it’s good to learn what you’re not great at! and yet now he’s a great Sherlock!

[@dinoatcharterdotnet]

I'm sad that he's gone. I can't help but feel like the golden age of the MCU is over.

[@AlexMoudgil]

RDJ: "I was not somebody who was gonna come up with a catchphrase" RDJ Ad-libbing in 2009: "ok we rolling... okay yeah.... I am Iron Man"

[@keithlauderjr1691]

Tropic Thunder will always be his masterpiece ( ;;

[@vassa1972]

Loved Robert Downey Jr especially as Iron man lol

[@MichaelHattem]

“I don’t do impressions.” Nails Bowie.

[@FormerHumanX]

That 85-86 season was so uneven and easily forgettable. I have no idea why Lorne Michaels decided to forgo comedians and improv performers and instead stack the show with Gen X actors. Compare that to the following year when Dana Carvey, Phil Hartman, and Kevin Nealon joined the show. The difference in quality is impossible to ignore.

[@efan2012]

Lorne was trying his hardest to copy Dick Ebersol's formula of the season before with Billy Crystal and the all star cast. It was all out of pettiness as they were feuding then. Dick's season was successful because everyone on that season knew comedy and at least had a background in it. Lorne's failed because he hired younger actor types trying to be young and hip as Lorne even said "I wanted to go young but I went too young." Getting Quaid and especially Hall was a smart business choice because both were popular and brought an audience in. However in Hall's detriment especially they knew nothing about sketch comedy and couldn't mesh with the writers who were very solid during, and after the show. Damon Wayans even told a story once that when they were rehearsing early in the season he improvised a line and one of the actors scream "Cut!" and had a fit over it. That was when he knew the year was in trouble.

[@dasupertramp5855]

Robert says that he can't do impressions, but I've heard him do an excellent Rodney Dangerfield on the Howard Stern show.

[@fevantiquera782]

I love you Tony Stark! From. Phillippines! 😍

[@davidmckesey7119]

Rapid fire yet, he was amazing in kiss kiss bang bang

[@TRJ2241987]

He's doing an incredible Beck Bennett impression

[@kennyoconnor6564]

I'd love to see RDJ star in a retelling of The Stand.

[@tyrannosaurusburke]

It is funny that Rolling Stone magazine declared Robert Downey, Jr. as the worst SNL cast member of all time. I think being Hollywood's highest paid actor and having two Academy Award nominations must soften the blow quite a bit.

[@bluecollarmenproductions]

Yea they probably just say that because he’s a known name, I’m sure there’s been members who were on it for one Saturday and they were like nope

[@fountainsofmike]

Not once does he mention his uncle is Jim Downey, longtime writer on SNL. It's a well-known story that that is how he got on the show. Just admit you had an 'in.' And don't claim you got in on your 'audition.' Talented actor, yes. But he had connections too...

[@johnathonhaney8291]

A lot of years ago, I got a seasonal job through a personal connection. I wasn't happy about that...I believed in getting such things on merit and this just felt wrong. So one day, I spelled that out to the owner and he told me that while my connect might have gotten me in, my hard work and showing up every day kept me there. Moral of the story: connections only go so far, something that was definitely true in RDJ's case on SNL.

[@Anonymous18531]

Go watch Robert’s earlier interview on this very channel talking about auditioning for Chaplin and check out his Richard Attenborough impression. He says here that he’s not good at impressions. That’s a straight up lie

[@SR-kc9fj]

He's a fast talker in "The Pick Up Artist"

[@jenniealarid1421]

What a cool guy

[@devinmichaelroberts9954]

your entire role in chapiln was an impression

[@mrdapp3r]

I love your content!

[@justmyluck1890]

I never understand what he’s saying. Maybe it’s just me though. Maybe I’m dumb.

[@Sab_MJsMama]

Nah, he's one of those people that uses word salad but effectively to analyze and articulate EVERYTHING. I notice some recovering addicts are like this...something in them craves attention even as they are still in recovery and constantly checking their own egos/narcissism. Celebs in recovery are something else...

[@johnathonhaney8291]

Maybe it's just the way my brain is wired but I understand him better than I do most other people.

[@Sab_MJsMama]

@@johnathonhaney8291 😁😁😁😁

[@udo7_85]

sab walkswithpurpose literally Tony Stark

[@chrismorrison4200]

Johnathon Haney Exactly. I have the same communication style and have been accused of being wordy or self indulgent with my speech. In my mind, I’m just trying to be thorough and clear.

[@ChristopherHillman]

YeaH If you find clips thAt was a really creative time at SNL ...my favourite is Biff And Selena with John Luvitz

[@wizardofOz33]

You're the best rdj and your tony stark

[@randolphsavage9760]

They really hit the nail on the head for saying that SNL has a legacy of bringing in comedians that were experienced in stand-up, sketch or improv comedy. The flaw with RDJ's time there was SNL felt the need to cast established actors (not ones in those kinds of comedy) and it really just did not work well for their format. Not a knock against RDJ or anything just it wasn't a good fit for him or anyone else cast around this time.

[@jondunmore4268]

Now I wanna surf the web for RDJ on SNL!

[@autumnmeadows4079]

Robert, You are so talented. I hope that you are truly happy. We have a family member that is addicted to alcohol, any advice.

[@maharishikashyap8995]

Some random kid will watch this video 30-40 years later and realise that what a man RDJ was and the legacy he created.

[@garymcaleer6112]

The key to Bob's success was his self-deprecation. Christ and His Apostles always said that success comes through humility. This is why I will always love Bob, Mel, Clint, and a few others. He is among my dearest friends on the screen, having never met! :^)

[@PM-pe5tg]

Anthony Michael Hall got him an audition? 💭 and, …Robert Downey’s uncle was a head writer on SNL 🖊

[@hobbi1]

so RDJ is trendsetter I see

[@jeebs621]

He needs to host again!

[@eleonoramaciel6273]

"you see how we have contempt for things that are out of our reach?" ufff

[@Alexander-me9zu]

The season RDJ was on is severely under-rated. A lot of good comedy in that year. They experimented with long-form comedy that they never did again, such as a sketch that starred Downey and Hall as a young, unknown Simon & Garunkle, which led into a couple of later sketches in which Paul Simon played himself, but with a continuing narrative thread. As far as I know, this was also the only season that ever featured an episode with an actual plot. (In the Francis Ford Coppola/ George Wendt episode, Coppola is given creative control over the show, and the running gag is that the master filmmaker is a complete incompetent when it comes to directing sketch comedy; he keeps screwing up in different ways in his misguided attempts to make the show "more real !")

[@JustBleedGaming]

hes wearing heels again....

[@CreationSGame01]

He likes to be tall.

[@cumikgamik530]

I dont think he he ever stopped wearing them

[@UnAlliedGaming]

those are not heels those are balenciaga triple S

[@JamesDavis-sh9gh]

SNL , you should have had him as a guest host. There's still time.

[@philipvaarskov3225]

What brand Is Roberts shirt?

[@mikekorzek9056]

It was pretty cool saying Iron Man trough a fan........

[@plsdontbeahero]

Those dislikes are Thanos, and his army

[@DunmoresMovieMania]

2:27 -- Well, thank fucken CHRIST he didn't have Chevy Chase's career...

[@kennyoconnor6564]

Groundhog Day sequel with RDJ!

[@jollyca]

Pause at 1:17, I swear he looks like Sylvester Stallone

[@joshuapeterson6072]

Interviewer stepped on his 1st response. Sam usually doesn't do that.