Robert Downey Jr. reflected on his early days in Hollywood, sharing details about his outsider experience during his debut in the 1970 film Pound—an unusual start that would shape his career. The star recounted how working on his father’s offbeat movie left a lasting impression, highlighting the unique environment he grew up in and the impact it had on his perspective as an actor.
Early Beginnings in an Unconventional Setting
Robert Downey Jr., now known globally for his portrayal of Iron Man, started his career under very different circumstances. In 1970, his father, Robert Downey Sr., who was a filmmaker albeit not widely recognized, cast him in Pound—a film where human actors played dogs waiting to be euthanized. At just five years old, Downey Jr. got an early introduction to acting and to the less ordinary side of the movie industry.
Pound, written and directed by Robert Downey Sr., was no typical Hollywood production. Instead, it offered roles to actors who would embody dogs in a shelter, discussing their fate. This imaginative project, though niche, gave the young Downey Jr. his first taste of film and its creative possibilities. As unconventional as the movie was, it became a key part of his childhood and his understanding of his father’s creative process.
Reflecting on these memories, Downey Jr. described the film’s production as surreal, with chaotic sets and a sense of unfamiliarity despite being surrounded by family. The experience of being part of his father‘s films set him apart from his peers, especially those who entered show business in more traditional ways.
“I think the investors thought he was making a documentary about pounds and animal shelters, and then he said, ‘No, no, it’s a live-action thing and I’m casting people to play the dogs’. Next thing you know, you’re shooting it, and these characters, actors of all shapes and sizes, are playing various dogs.” —Robert Downey Jr., Actor
Memories from those early years have stayed with him, as he remembers spending much of his childhood on sets and locations rather than in ordinary childhood settings.
“My earliest memories are of cameras being on sets, being on stages, being on location, to the point where it almost seemed like life was kind of making a movie and kind of being a kid.” —Robert Downey Jr., Actor
Comparisons with Hollywood Contemporaries
During the interview, Robert Downey Jr. spoke about how his Hollywood upbringing differed from others, such as Jason Bateman. Kent Bateman, Jason’s father, also worked in the film industry, allowing his son to begin acting at a young age. Despite these similarities, Downey Jr. felt that the environments were very different. While Bateman experienced the polished, mainstream aspects of Hollywood, Downey Jr.’s background was far more unconventional due to his father’s experimental filmmaking.
Downey Jr. emphasized that his upbringing with parents who worked in underground and counter-culture projects made him feel distinct from peers raised among high-profile productions and mainstream media. His father’s films were known for their unusual, offbeat quality, and this caused Downey Jr. to often feel like an outsider, even within the industry he would later come to dominate.
“My folks were mostly underground, kind of counter-culture. It was never like I saw later on, like my friends, like Jason Bateman, who literally grew up in the high end.” —Robert Downey Jr., Actor
This difference was further noted when Downey Jr. described the clear contrast between his father’s style and the more refined, conventional multi-camera TV productions that other child stars of his generation experienced.
“You know, multi-camera TV show stuff. Our stuff was really weird so there was always something that felt a little bit outsiderish about it.” —Robert Downey Jr., Actor
The Legacy of Pound and Its Lasting Impact
Today, Pound is recognized for its originality but remains obscure, with a modest rating of 5.7 on IMDb and 60% on Rotten Tomatoes. The film is currently unavailable for streaming or on DVD, preserving its status as a cult curiosity. For Robert Downey Jr., however, the movie holds deep personal meaning, representing the start of his unique journey in the industry and the beginning of his outsider experience during his Pound debut.
Despite these formative challenges, Downey Jr. persevered through a career marked by personal struggles and eventual global success. The early sense of not quite belonging shaped his resilience and adaptability, traits that have defined his roles and public persona. Looking back, it is clear that his unusual start—surrounded by underground filmmakers, oddball scripts, and counter-culture ideas—played a significant role in his development as a versatile and enduring figure in Hollywood.
The legacy of Pound, while unconventional, is a testament to the distinctive vision of Robert Downey Sr. and the formative years that would ultimately influence one of cinema’s most celebrated actors. For those who discover the rare film or learn about its backstory, it remains a fascinating piece of Hollywood history and a window into the roots of Robert Downey Jr.’s creative outlook.
