Downey Sr. died Wednesday at the age of 85.
"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," Downey Jr. wrote.
Robert Downey Jr. poses with his father at TIME's 100 Most Influential People in the World gala in New York in 2008.Robert Downey Sr. was best known for writing and directing the 1969 comedy “Putney Swope," which told the story of a Black activist who's accidentally put in charge at a Madison Avenue advertising agency.
Downey Sr. directed many other films over the years, including 1961's"Balls Bluff," 1964's"Babo 73," 1968's"No More Excuses," 1970's"Pound" and 1972's"Greaser's Palace." He also acted in a handful of movies directed by others, including 1997's “Boogie Nights," 1999's “Magnolia” and 2000's “The Family Man.