Photo:Tibrina Hobson/Getty
Tibrina Hobson/Getty
Robert Downey Jr.has accepted another award on his way to the Oscars.
At the 2024Santa Barbara Film Festival, theOppenheimerstar, 58, was feted with the Maltin Modern Master Award in a ceremony on Friday, celebrated during the night with speeches fromRob Loweand,Oppenheimercostar,Cillian Murphy.
Per the festival, the accolade is named after film historian Leonard Maltin and was first created in 1995 “to honor an individual who has enriched our culture through accomplishments in the motion picture industry.”
Taking the stage, Downey Jr. thanked the audience as well as Matlin himself, paying tribute to his “significance in our culture and what you’ve done from being a scholar to a writer, to critic to a host,” adding, “your approval means the world to me.”
Next, the actor described Lowe — who had shared a heartfelt speech in tribute to the actor — as “someone who has demonstrated so much to me.”
Next, Downey Jr. turned his attention to Murphy, who had earlier in the night described himself as “Robert Downey Jr.’s straight man slash loyal wing man.”
Cillian Murphy, honoree Robert Downey Jr., and Rob Lowe pose with the Maltin Modern Master Award during the 39th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at The Arlington Theatre on February 09, 2024 in Santa Barbara, California.Rebecca Sapp/Getty
Rebecca Sapp/Getty
However, Downey Jr. reserved the end of his speech for a special message to his wife.
“And as always, I will never finish any thank you, even though she’s probably just getting ready to put the kids to bed soon, without thanking my dearest associate, Susan Downey,” he concluded.
Maltin himself joined theIron Manstar onstage for a conversation covering the actor’s five-decade career, which includes Oscar nominations for 1992’sChaplin, 2008’sTropic Thunderand, at the upcomingAcademy Awardsceremony March 10,Oppenheimer.
InOppenheimerDowney Jr. plays the real-life Lewis Strauss, a founding commissioner of the Atomic Energy Commission. The film stars Murphy in the title role, along withEmily Blunt,Matt Damon,Gary Oldman,Josh Hartnett,Florence PughandRami Malek.
The wide-ranging conversation between Matlin and Downey Jr. covered the actor’s first role in the moviePoundat age 5, whether he had considered an alternative career — to which the actor revealed that he had “worked at a sandwich shop. I worked at a shoe store, but I had sticky fingers and I got fired after two weeks,” and worked in other jobs including as a bus boy, but due to his lack of skill at those roles, he joked he “had to resort to theater.”
Rob Lowe, honoree Robert Downey Jr., and Cillian Murphy attend the Maltin Modern Master Award ceremony during the 39th Annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival at The Arlington Theatre on February 09, 2024 in Santa Barbara, California.Rebecca Sapp/Getty
The pair discussed the actor’s recentdocumentarySr.about his late father, Robert Downey Sr., as well as Downey Jr.’s son’s appearance in the film, before Lowe gave a speech about his school days with Downey Jr. and their long friendship, describing theSherlock Holmesstar as “a once-in-a-generation charm, talent, intelligence, empathy, and courageous performer.”
While discussing movies includingIron Man,Tropic Thunder,Chaplin,Less Than ZeroandTrue Believerwith Matlin,Downey Jr. even revealed a time the late actorRyan O’Neal, his costar on the 1987 movieChances Are, had given him a somewhat fierce warning when he was late for a read-through.
“I remember even on the first day of rehearsals, for chances are I’d met some friends. We were in Washington, D.C. I met some friends, went out back at the hotel, we ordered some champagne. One thing led to another, and then the read-through was at 11:00 AM and it was about 2:45 PM and I was just sleeping it off and the door came off the hinges and it was Ryan O’Neal. And it was like, ‘If I’m here telling you, you’re f—— up. Oh my God, you’re f—— up.’ And I was like, ‘Wow. People seem pretty uptight.’ Not that I knew I was late, but it was a bit of a warning sign there. But I remember loving shooting the movie, it seemed really sweet,” he told Matlin.
(Left to right:) Cillian Murphy and Robert Downey Jr. in “Oppenheimer”.Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures
Melinda Sue Gordon/Universal Pictures
As well as discussing working withOppenheimerdirector Nolan, meeting his wife and whether his kids watch his movies (“they’ll see them in passing,” the actor shared), Downey Jr.’s conversation with Matlin was also punctuated with second heartfelt speech, this time from Murphy, who described Downey Jr. as “one of the kindest, funniest, most generous actors I’ve ever worked with.”
In a press release from the Santa Barbara Film Festival, Maltin said, “Robert Downey Jr. has staged one of the most spectacular second acts in show business history…and we in the audience are the beneficiaries. He commands the screen without any visible effort, which is perhaps the greatest feat of all.”
Nolan added, “It’s thrilling to see audiences responding not just to Robert Downey Jr.’s incredible charisma, but to a performance which, stripped of any movie star trappings, shows once again that he is one of the greatest actors.”
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Also receiving honors at the 39th iteration of the Santa Barbara Film Festival, which runs from Feb. 7 to 17, areDanielle BrooksforThe Color Purple,Colman DomingoforRustinandThe Color Purple,America FerreraforBarbie,Lily GladstoneforKillers of the Flower Moon, Greta Lee forPast Lives, Charles Melton forMay December,Da’Vine Joy RandolphforThe HoldoversandAndrew ScottforAll of Us Strangers, all receiving the Virtuosos Awards Feb. 10.
BarbiestarRyan GoslingandMaestrowriter-director-starBradley Cooperhave alreadyaccepted prizesfrom the fest, which is a major awards season stepping stone.Mark Ruffalo,Martin Scorsese, Justine Triet,Paul Giamatti,Jeffrey WrightandAnnette Beningwill each receive accolades of their own as well.
Last year’s recipient of the Maltin Award wasJamie Lee Curtis, who went on to win an Oscar forEverything Everywhere All at Once. Past honorees also includeJodie Foster,George Clooney,Will Smith,Ben Affleck,Johnny Depp,Denzel Washington,Nicole Kidmanand Nolan.
Downey Jr.’s list of upcoming projects includes the HBO miniseriesThe Sympathizer.
source: people.com
