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Robert Downey Jr. made his movie debut as a child actor in the 1970 film directed by his father Robert Downey Sr.,Pound. Downey Jr. started off as a Broadway actor in his teen years, while also trying to break into mainstream films. TheIron Manactor had been pursuing roles since 1983, landing only in small parts in a handful of movies. His first lead role came only in 1987 with the movieThe Pick-up Artist.
During this period, Downey Jr. auditioned for several major roles unsuccessfully. His influential background also did not provide much help, and he was even fired fromSaturday Night Livedue to his poor comedic talent. Interestingly,The Avengersactor lost roles twice to another fan-favorite franchise actor during that time.
Also Read:“All that for a drop of blood”: Robert Downey Jr.’s Iron Man Drawing Blood From Thanos is Not the Most Powerful Moment of Tony Stark in MCU
Robert Downey Jr. LostThe Karate KidRole To Ralph Macchio
It is a lesser-known fact thatRobert Downey Jr.auditioned for the role of Daniel LaRusso inThe Karate Kidin 1984. In fact, many well-known actors auditioned for the role, most of whom belonged to the Brat Pack, a group of young actors who appeared together in teen-oriented films in the 1980s. The Brat Pack actors who auditioned for the role included Downey Jr.,Sean Penn, Emilio Estevez,Tom Cruise, andNicolas Cage.
However, the role went toRalph Macchiowho received critical acclaim for his performance and reprised the role in two sequel films and a series,Cobra Kai. Macchio made an appearance onThe Tonight Showin 2021, where hostJimmy FallonaskedThe Deuceactor to reveal the truth about certain fan theories and rumors surrounding theKarate Kidmovies.
When asked about other famous stars who auditioned forThe Karate Kidrole, Machhio was quick to recallCharlie Sheenand Downey Jr. TheMy Cousin Vinnyactor shared withJimmy Fallon:
“It was like one of those test deals where you’re not in yet. And I remember walking by and seeing Charlie Sheen hanging outside Jerry Weintraub’s bungalow. [I was like] ‘Good to see you [Charlie]. What are you doing here? You don’t look like an Italian guy from Jersey.’ […] Robert Downey Jr. also did the workshop of the part I did in The Outsiders. So I was doing pretty good with Downey Jr. at that point, and then it just, like Iron Man, it took off.”
It is hard to imagine Daniel LaRusso played by any other actor. Macchio also shared great on-screen chemistry with Pat Morita, who played LaRusso’s mentor Mr. Miyagi.
Also Read:“I’m casting people to play the dogs”: Robert Downey Jr Played a Puppy on His Acting Debut When He Was 5 Years Old Thanks to His Late Father Robert Downey Sr
BeforeThe Karate Kid, Ralph Macchio Also Beat Robert Downey Jr. For Another Role
As Ralph Macchio disclosed to Jimmy Fallon, Robert Downey Jr. also auditioned for the 1983 teen crime drama,The Outsiders. Macchio eventually secured the role of Johnny Cade in theFrancis Ford Coppolafilm, earning critical acclaim for his performance.The Outsidersalso starred C. Thomas Howell, Matt Dillon, and Tom Cruise, among others.
According to Macchio, Coppola made all the actors read for different roles, and it remains unclear which roles in the movie Downey Jr. auditioned for. TheSpider-Man: Homecomingactor had to wait a little longer to get his breakthrough in the industry. However, his fame was short-lived as theSherlock Holmesactor faced multiple arrests on drug charges, a habit instigated by his drug-addicted father.
However, theChaplinactor managed to break free from his addiction and return even stronger with successful movies, especially within the MCU. Recently, Downey Jr. also proved his acting talents in theChristopher Nolanbiopic,Oppenheimer, playing the real-life character, Lewis Strauss.
Also Read:“It’s got to be Robert or no one”: Top Gun Star Val Kilmer’s Kiss With Robert Downey Jr. Made Him Doubt His Sexuality, Badly Wanted To Be in a Relationship With the Marvel Actor
Ralph Macchio’sKarate Kidfranchise is available for streaming on Netflix.The Outsidersis available for streaming on Max.
Source:The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon – YouTube
Hashim Asraff
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3018
Hashim Asraff is a Senior Entertainment Writer at FandomWire, with over 2,800 articles published on celebrity culture, comic book movies, and major TV franchises. With a background in Sociology and a keen interest in pop culture, Hashim brings a unique lens to breaking news stories, character deep-dives, film rankings, and fan-driven perspectives.His coverage often includes the MCU, DCU, hit network shows, and celebrity profiles, giving readers a rich blend of entertainment and analysis. A longtime fan of crime and investigative series, Hashim has watched thousands of episodes of NCIS, Criminal Minds, Law & Order: SVU, Bones, Blue Bloods, and The RookieA passionate storyteller and wordsmith, Hashim has also worked as a ghostwriter and managed multiple social media handles. He brought his writing expertise to FandomWire to also pursue his lifelong love for cinema and television.
