Robert Downey Sr. (1936–2021) was an American filmmaker best known for directing "underground" and satirical films like Putney Swope (1969) . His career in writing and directing actually began in a stockade after he was arrested while serving in the Army. A sympathetic guard handed him a and told him to "write something," which led to his first play about two atomic missiles and eventually a lifelong obsession with filmmaking. Here is a short "paper" summary of his life and impact: Biography: Robert Downey Sr.