appearing on screen for the first time
at the age of five you know he was good
you know but that's a kid I couldn't
seem to get close and persevering
through drug addictions and prison time
he's grown to become one of the
highest-paid Hollywood actors today
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we're
counting down our picks for the top 10
Robert Downey jr. performances and the
Oscar goes to
for this list we're taking a look at
those big screen and small screen
performances that show off this actor at
its finest and/or most memorable should
better be improving your acting
number ten Julian Wells less than zero
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one of his earliest acclaimed roles
Downey jr. grips us and doesn't let go
with his portrayal of a smart and
charming young graduate who becomes
enslaved by cocaine on his road to
success although he's urged by his two
best friends to quit the movie follows
his downward spiral as the addiction
takes over his life and ruins his health
and relationships
can't you tell a night when I'm telling
the truth
nope
though first known for his teen flicks
with the brat pack Downey Jr's painfully
real performance in this drama showcased
his maturity and talent even as a young
actor I don't know think about it you
start over clay I need to honey all
right I don't need a discussion on the
finer points of morality spare me number
nine
Ian weird science anybody who loves 80s
movies won't forget Downey Jr's turn as
Ian one of two school bullies who loves
antagonizing they're nerdy protagonists
of this 1985 teen flip check it out when
the two nerds managed to create the
perfect woman using their computer and a
Barbie doll however sweet started
messing around with her computer I
didn't even exist
by the way did an excellent job thank
you
Ian's focus shifts from terrorizing the
geeks to landing a date with the
gorgeous creation uh yeah you were
looking at it right yeah
though only a supporting actor in the
John Hughes sci-fi comedy Downey jr.
nevertheless made his mark as an
entertainer and all-around funny guy
number eight Wayne gale Natural Born
Killers
it is literally a candy lane of murder
and maim taking on the persona of a
conceited power-hungry journalist Downey
jr. holds his own in a movie that
features big names like Tommy Lee Jones
and Woody Harrelson about that crazy
mother Ted Bundy oh that crazy guy no
you gotta watch it Nielson [ __ ] yeah big
in Oliver Stone's satirical and
controversial crime flick Downey jr.
takes the hot seat as perhaps the prime
example of the media's obsession width
and veneration of criminals and serial
killers as the repulsive yet fascinating
Wayne gale Downey jr. proves that he can
be charismatic no matter what the role
may be Australian accent and all seven
Larry Paul Ally McBeal what's going on
who can forget Downey Jr's golden
globe-winning portrayal of Calista
Flockhart flame Larry Paul in this TV
comedy-drama humor
joining the cast in the fourth season
and appearing in more than a dozen
episodes Downey jr. stole the show
numerous times
though he's probably most remembered for
his duet with sting
unfortunately while his drug issues
during the early 2000s meant that Larry
Paul was written out of the show I beg
your pardon the character still want him
critical praise and the love of an
audience greater than ever before I'm
sorry your honor I anticipated a lot of
case law but I find myself totally
unprepared for it is to number six
Sherlock Holmes the Sherlock Holmes
franchise though many renowned actors
have played Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's
legendary detective none has played him
quite like this
I've never woken up in handcuffs before
I have naked donning a British accent
and a much more rumpled appearance than
previous Holmes interpretations Downey
jr. spends these movies making dry
remarks well now we have a firm grasp of
the obvious
fighting bad guys wearing women's
clothing luxury dog oh yeah
and doing some detective work give me
problems give me work his work in the
franchise was so well received that he
won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a
comedy for the first film the Metro
professor integrity no girl wants to
marry a doctor number five
Paul Avery zodiac I said Paul Avery from
the San Francisco Chronicle I'm looking
for someone to shed some light on the
letter e received based on the real-life
American police correspondent Paul Avery
Downey jr. channel's the journalists
persona flawlessly in this film Jesus
Harold Christ on rubber crutches Bobby
what are you doing working for the San
Francisco Chronicle he finds himself
investigating the murders in the Zodiac
case and trying to uncover the killer's
identity Hey bullying been a year and a
half catches Dyer not however when the
killer takes a personal interest in
Avery and threatens him with his life
it's been a windfall
since the potion
we feel a breeze dread and downy
Junior's transformation from a once
confident and skilled reporter believe
this to a paranoiac who uses drugs and
alcohol to cope is powerful sweetest of
Templeton's if at any time you feel my
excellent work is no longer in step of
this trashy provincial Ragan all I need
number four Kirk Lazarus Tropic Thunder
five-time Academy Award winner Kirk
Lazarus it's not often that the Academy
honors actors and comedies but even the
Academy couldn't refrain from nominating
downey jr. for his portrayal of an
Australian method actor who has his skin
surgically dyed to portray a black men
for 400 years don't worry it's kept us
down remaining in character for almost
the entire film man I don't drop
character to that done a DVD commentary
his character becomes the brains and
mentor of a group of actors that finds
themselves in the jungle along with a
menacing gang of drug lords everybody
knows you never go full [ __ ]
although Tropic Thunder is ultimately a
parody County Junior plays the character
deadpan and that's why we love him you
more shredded in a julienne salad man
thanks what's the secret do the dyers
Diamond because I'm trying to come up a
little but it's just it's tough number
three
Harold Harry Lockhart Kiss Kiss Bang
Bang that's me there my name is Harry
Lockhart I'll be your narrator and yet
another role as an actor Downey jr.
shines as the crook turned thespian
turned detective in this crime comedy
that parodies the literary detective
genre I'm a private detective with a
witty script and fantastic chemistry
with fellow actor Val Kilmer detective
lessons tomorrow
forget downey jr. brings life and laughs
to this multi-layered role though he
isn't very effective as a detective 29
he is effective at playing fast-talking
slightly neurotic characters and thus is
perfectly cast in this Shane Black
director you these lessons suck I quit
this is not being a detective corpses
floating in lakes people kissing people
this is wrong this is every shade of
wrong number two Tony Stark Iron Man the
Marvel Cinematic Universe I am Iron Man
in perhaps his most beloved role and
certainly his most memorable one Downey
jr. becomes Tony Stark and a super hero
Iron Man so completely that the line
between character and actor blurs oh man
that's kind of catchy it's got a nice
ring to it I mean it's not technically
accurate the suits a gold titanium alloy
but it's kind of evocative to amateur in
any way the series of films follows
Downey Jr's character through thick and
thin while he plays a self-absorbed
playboy inventor and billionaire
visionary genius American patriot who
creates a suit of armor that will
eventually enable him to fight evil
let's face it this is not the worst
thing you've got me done we watch as his
concepts of life love and self change
evolve as he matures and later becomes
part of a new team of superheroes you
have no idea what you're dealing with
Shakespeare in the Park although he
remains lovably conceited genius
billionaire playboy philanthropist
before we unveil our top pick here are a
few honorable mentions it's only one
thing we can do just worth the plot of
these albino shape-shifting lizard
[ __ ] we are gonna take this bike
outside ask the first person we see
we're going to introduce some novelty
then we begin an objective viewpoint
[Music]
ever seen any spy films you don't just
hand me a classified folder supposed to
slip in my briefcase for a night can you
just get off of me yeah I'm sorry that
was it's emotional time for us all go to
sleep oh don't don't don't talk
come on dream number one Charlie Chaplin
Chaplin good evening on Titan Lima
Chaplin no one would disagree the Downey
jr. is uncanny in the way he interprets
the famous actor and director in this
biopic the similarity in appearance is
remarkable and the way he captures the
spirit of the man and the famed Little
[ __ ] character Charlie Chaplin played
is even more extraordinary the film
follows the English actors beginnings
his inspirations his career his love
life and his struggles and throughout
Downey juniors portrayal is convincing
and even moving I want to run my own
show me or his efforts he won a BAFTA
and was nominated for an Oscar and a
Golden Globe I've got to give it a try
otherwise what have I been doing these
yes do you agree with our list which is
the most memorable Robert Downey jr.
performance in your book I think I might
be my buddy
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that's not possible
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