“I didn’t give a f–k whether I ever acted again”: Robert Downey Jr. Derailed Harrison Ford’s Wife Calista Flockhart’s TV Show Because of His Real-Life Problems

Robert Downey Jr. has impressed the global audience with his Iron Man role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. While his international charm is still as strong as his influence, he continued to keep his portfolio sparkling by working on several projects with the new one being Oppenheimer. 

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Given that he is considered among the most talented actors in the world, there was a time when his real-life problems were very much impacting his professional life. It also indirectly affected Harrison Ford’s wife, Calista Flockhart’s TV show. 

Robert Downey Jr. Revealed His Time on TV Show, Ally McBeal

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Robert Downey Jr. is one of the best examples of a great comeback in Hollywood history. The now-internationally recognized star had faced rock bottom before he took a long jump on the positive side.

Back in the late 1990s, he got starred alongside Harrison Ford’s now-wife, Calista Flockhart who played the titular role in Fox TV show, Ally McBeal (1997–2002). He played the love interest of the main lead, Larry Paul who was introduced in Season 4. While the duo’s storyline enticed many hearts, he was let go by the end of the season.

His presence in the show came at a time when everyone was deeming him at his lowest point in addiction. After he won the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or Film for his role, he was overwhelmed by it.

In a 2003 interview, he addressed his time at the sitcom stating,

“Funny, isn’t it? For some people, that’s the litmus. Will he ever be as good again as he was on Ally McBeal? You put a Hugo Boss suit on a guy, clean him up a little, feed him his lines, and he manages to perform like he isn’t a drooling goo-goo.”

He continued to share that he was not the right person to ask about his experience working in the sitcom, “At that stage, I didn’t give a f–k whether I ever acted again.”

The actor has gone through some of the darkest times which includes landing in prison due to substance abuse.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Struggle With Addiction

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He has always been in the spotlight and has seen both the positive and negative side of it. In the 1980s, he rose to prominence as a young star. Things were going positive in his personal life until 1996 when he was arrested for heroin and cocaine possession. He has been arrested multiple times due to substance offenses which even landed him in jail.

Even his dismissal from the Fox TV show is quite related to his notorious behavior. Back in 2001, he was found barefoot, wandering on the streets of California which led to an arrest on suspicion of being under the influence. It cost him his role in the show in addition to other gigs associated with him at the time and was ordered to rehab. However, he decided to change his life and the rest is history!

Source: The Guardian