Hollywood star Robert Downey Jr.'s father and filmmaker, Robert Downey Sr. has passed away. The director died aged 85, he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s for more than five years and died in his sleep at home in New York.
The news was confirmed by his son on social media. Mourning his father’s death, Robert Downey Jr. took to his Instagram and sharing a monochrome picture of his father, he wrote: "RIP Bob D. Sr. 1936-2021…Last night, dad passed peacefully in his sleep after years of enduring the ravages of Parkinson’s ..he was a true maverick filmmaker, and remained remarkably optimistic throughout.."
He added, "According to my stepmoms calculations, they were happily married for just over 2000 years. Rosemary Rogers-Downey, you are a saint, and our thoughts and prayers are with you."
Downey Sr’s most celebrated work was the 1969 film Putney Swope, which starred Arnold Johnson as the only black man on the executive board of an advertising firm.It was praised for its progressive satire on race in America and corporate culture.
Downey Sr also appeared as an actor in small roles in Boogie Nights, The Family Man and Tower Heist.
Born in New York City in 1936 as Robert Elias Jr., he later changed his surname to Downey - his stepfather's name - in order to enlist in the army early. After the army, he got into filmmaking by chance while living in New York with his sister.
The late filmmaker is survived by children Allyson Downey and Robert Downey Jr and wife Rosemary Rogers.