Robert John Elias Jr. took the surname of his stepfather, James Downey when enlisting in the army (at age 15). Downey Sr. was an actor and filmmaker best known for Putney Swope and Greaser’s Palace, and roles in Boogie Nights, Magnolia and To Live and Die in L.A.
| Movie | Babo 73 | 1964 |
| Movie | Balls Bluff | 1961 |
| Movie | Chafed Elbows | 1966 |
| Episode |
The Twilight Zone (1985) Children's Zoo |
1985 |
| Movie | Greaser's Palace | 1972 |
| Movie | Hugo Pool | 1997 |
| Movie | No More Excuses | 1968 |
| Movie | Pound | 1970 |
| Movie | Putney Swope | 1969 |
| Movie | Rented Lips | 1988 |
| Movie | Rittenhouse Square | 2005 |
| Movie | Sticks and Bones | 1973 |
| Movie | Sweet Smell of Sex | 1965 |
| Episode |
The Twilight Zone (1985) Teacher's Aide |
1985 |
| Movie | Too Much Sun | 1990 |
| Episode |
The Twilight Zone (1985) Tooth and Consequences |
1986 |
| Movie | Two Tons of Turquoise to Taos Tonight | 1975 |
| Movie | Up the Academy | 1980 |
| Movie | Babo 73 | 1964 |
| Movie | Balls Bluff | 1961 |
| Movie | Chafed Elbows | 1966 |
| Movie | Greaser's Palace | 1972 |
| Movie | Hugo Pool | 1997 |
| Movie | No More Excuses | 1968 |
| Movie | Pound | 1970 |
| Movie | Putney Swope | 1969 |
| Movie | Sticks and Bones | 1973 |
| Movie | The Gong Show Movie | 1980 |
| Movie | Too Much Sun | 1990 |
| Movie | Two Tons of Turquoise to Taos Tonight | 1975 |
| Movie | Two Tons of Turquoise to Taos Tonight | 1975 |
| Movie | Babo 73 | 1964 |
| Movie | Balls Bluff | 1961 |
| Movie | Chafed Elbows | 1966 |
| Movie | Putney Swope | 1969 |
| Movie | Balls Bluff | 1961 |
| Movie | Rittenhouse Square | 2005 |
| Movie | Sweet Smell of Sex | 1965 |
| Episode |
The Dick Cavett Show Robert Downey Sr., Garson Kanin, Gwen Verdon, Jimi Hendrix |
1969 |
| Episode |
Matlock The Annihilator |
1987 |
| Episode |
The Twilight Zone (1985) Wordplay |
1985 |
