Without a doubt, Robert Downey Jr. is one of the biggest stars in the world right now. He has a strong influence on the entertainment industry, in fact, he influenced a fellow actor during his stage acting debut. When Downey Jr. was performing in Alms for the Middle Class at Geva Theatre Center, a young Philip Seymour Hoffman was in the crowd completely blown away by his performance.
Later in his career, Hoffman credited Downey Jr’s performance for inspiring him to become an actor. Gradually, Hoffman developed an interest in acting applied for several drama degree programs, and was accepted to New York University’s (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts. With hopes of becoming like Downey Jr., Hoffman set out on his own journey to becoming an actor. Today, he is a well-known star in the industry, with one Best Actor Academy Award under his belt.
Robert Downey Jr’s stage acting debut inspired Philip Seymour Hoffman to become an actor
In the 1980s, actor Robert Downey Jr. made his stage acting debut in Alms for the Middle Class at Geva Theatre Center in Rochester, NY. The performance was certainly enchanting, particularly for young Philip Seymour Hoffman who was in the crowd watching it live. As per Democrat & Chronicle, Hoffman developed an interest in theatre because of his mother but Downey Jr.’s performance inspired him to pursue acting.
Hoffman eventually made his screen debut in 1991, in a Law & Order episode called “The Violence of Summer.” Today, he has successfully established himself as one of the best actors of this generation thanks to his performances in movies like Scent of a Woman (1992), Boogie Nights (1997), Happiness (1998), Doubt (2008), Magnolia (1999), Charlie Wilson’s War (2007), and Capote (2005), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Robert Downey Jr is one of the most influential actors of all time
It is no secret that Downey Jr.’s career was doomed by his controversies, but his acting skills indeed made up for it. After a period of substance abuse and legal trouble in his career, the actor bagged the role of Tony Stark / Iron Man in Iron Man (2008) and went on to become the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
His films have grossed over $14 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. The actor was named among the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in 2008 and like Hoffman, many aspiring actors are inspired by his work. With his remarkable filmography, he remains one of the best actors of all time.
