Robert Downey, Jr. Opens up About Heavy Drug Use

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Oct. 24, 2020 – In a new interview on Netflix’s My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, the now-sober Iron Man actor recalls being in a “near-coma” at points before being revived in order to start working. He confirmed to Letterman that he used heroin and cocaine and drank heavily, as well. He claims this substance abuse issues began when he was 8 years old and did not stop until age 38. “Back then, when I was a kid, doing that, you could say that it was ‘fun’, but it was pretty stressful too,” he said, per the Hindustan Times.

He recalled one instance while filming 1995’s Home for the Holidays, which Jodie Foster directed and produced. She noted his abuse during the production and advised him not to “try this again.”

“There was a single crossover, and I call it the most relaxed performance in the history of cinema,” Downey said. “She was really critical of just being like, ‘Well, looks like you’re getting away with it on this one. I wouldn’t try this again because we’re kind of a forgiving group.’ I was like, ‘Wasn’t that last take great?’ She’s like, ‘Yeah, you’re great. It’s going great.’”