Robert Downey Jr. Says His Short-LivedSNLStint Taught Him ‘What I Wasn’t’

Mar. 15, 2025

Robert Downey Jr.Photo:Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter/Getty

Kevin Winter/GA/The Hollywood Reporter/Getty

Robert Downey Jr.is an actor who knows his limits.

TheIron Manstar, 59, is featured in the new four-part docuseriesSNL50: Beyond Saturday Night,which delves into the history and legacy of the iconic late-night sketch showSaturday Night Live.

Downey was a cast member on season 11 of the show, which ran from 1985 to 1986. The actor — who was just 20 years old at the time — said he was appreciative of his brief stint onSNLbecause it helped him better understand his lane as a performer.

“I learned so much in that year about what I wasn’t. But there’s not a more exciting 90 minutes you could have, whether you are any good or not,” he said.

From left: Dennis Miller, Robert Downey Jr. and Anthony Michael Hall appear in a Weekend Update segment on ‘SNL’ in 1986.Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

Alan Singer/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

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TheOppenheimeractor also shared that he got the gig on the iconic sketch series because of his good friendAnthony Michael Hall,who was also cast in the 1985-1986 season.

“Michael Hall said to me, ‘I’m gonna go doSNL.I’m gonna get you an audition and I bet you’re gonna get yourself on the show too,’ " Downey recalled.

Hall, who also appears in the docuseries — and was the youngest cast member ever hired on the show at just 17 years old — recounted his own challenging experience working on the comedy juggernaut.

“When I look back, I have some memories of it being difficult,” he said in his interview, while also admitting that, in hindsight, it was likely hard for the show’s writers to create material for someone so young.

“I think — for a lot of the writers to figure out how to write for this kid — I think it was a big challenge,” he said.

Members of the season 11 cast of ‘SNL’.NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty

While his time onSNLmay have been rocky, Downey’s career is no worse for wear.

The Oscar winner has received a number of awards and nominations for his work over the years and he is officially one of the top-grossing film actors of all time due to his role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, perCollider.

Robert Downey Jr.Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty

The actor has also become known as a beacon of support for others in the industry — especially young performers still finding their way.

“If he sees a performance he likes, he will go out of his way to get ahold of that person, especially anyone young and up and coming,” his wife, film producerSusan Downey, 51,told PEOPLE exclusively in 2024.

“If he knows somebody struggling, he’ll reach out, so much to the point that people know to send people towards him, because he will make that time. It’s just an appreciation for all he’s gone through, for all the people who were there and stuck around through some of his more difficult times,” she added.

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SNL50: Beyond Saturday Nightis currently streaming on Peacock.

source: people.com