Downey handled himself very well considering the awkward situation.

Dave “So did you ever think about ending it?”- so sensitive with his questioning.

That marriage almost 20 years strong and we all know he got it together and delivered on his talent for many years. Inspirational

You can see why RDJ won’t talk about his addiction history in interviews anymore.

I love this man and he is graceful about what he did, I hope he gets his Oscar this year.

I've struggled with my addiction my whole life, I'm clean now and will never go back to that lifestyle. It takes a strong individual to just completely walk away. I respect that about him. He is a very strong man!!

It’s times like these where just being another statistic doesn’t seem so inevitable. Thank you Robert

Been a wild ride to see how far he's come from his early days, into these days, then helping launch the Marvel universe and becoming somewhat of an elderstatemen along the way.

RDJ was a great sport here. He's come a long, long way.

" Dave..funny you should ask.. this is not panning out for me." you gotta joke about even darkest things, then you own them.

I kinda feel bad for RDJ in this interview but he handled it well

Letterman, Leno, Stewart and Colbert, the Simpsons, and the list goes on.....made jokes about Downey's suffering, just to get laughs. Downey has a very strong spirit, to have survived not just the addiction but also the constant public humiliation. Respect 🙏

His situation is fascinating. I kicked the habbit 5 years ago, so I can have a reasonably good understanding of that part. But to have all that media attention at the same time, that has to make it a whole other ball game. Empathy is in large part taken from bits and pieces of ones own life, so that a person can reach understanding to what another person is going through. Nothing in my life even resembles having people like Letterman make fun of me, all the magazines, papers and papparazzi.. It is so alien to me, and that is very fascinating. Really cool that he prevailed in the end. One of the few celebs I am sincerely happy for.

Always been a likeable chap and an outstanding actor...glad for him that he's been sober for years...

I love him showing everyone he is not done by a million years. Super gifted and beyond talented. Funny😊

The ultimate depiction of recognizing your demons and turning that into fuel for success. RDJ is legendary and his achievements fortunately eclipse the wrong turns he took in his youth. It's hard to imagine being successful like that when you are young, in the prime of the glamorous drug scene, and not succumbing to temptation. I hate that people still ask him about those days even today, but his experience is proof that you can come back from such dark depths. RDJ is a class act and a legendary actor.

Yay to Robert’s recovery and life

Letterman was a real ass here. Bob handled it really well.

RDJ rocks! Such an inspiration. From rock bottom to the top of his profession! Amazing dude!

I just got a rush, watching him answer Dave's question about steering his son away from these same challenges, saying he doubted he'd made the drug scene look glamorous to his son. I have to imagine that son is pretty proud of him today.

This is so honest. Beautiful he allowed this line of questioning.

Robert Downey's real life achievements are just as fascinating as his super hit characters in movies. I remember back in the 90s tv shows and tabloids were full of his struggles almost on a daily basis. He is a prime example of how to go all the way down to hell and fight your way back up all the way to the top. What an amazing life story! Really Hope he wins the Oscar for Oppenheimer, that will be the icing on the cake.

He’s such a brilliant beautiful human. He’s saved lives through his example

I love this interview with Robert! This is sooooo funny, cool, intelligent and lovely! A true survivor!

A very interesting interview! Thanks Dave. Congratulations to Robert Downey Jr. for taking the decision to defeat his addictions, and to stay clean. It is a great personal achievement and will inspire others. 👏👏

This guys dad handed him a joint to smoke at the age of nine and rased him in the film industry. A life of getting into trouble with the law and publicly lectured for decades is pretty unfair yet inevitable.

If no one has seen the movie Less than Zero you will see a man whos demons are getting the best of him. Ive never seen a addict act like that in a movie. Should of one Best supporting actor for that potrayal of a rich, egotistical, addict going from the top to the absolute bottom. What a great freaking movie!!

Hope he wins the academy award.He was great in oppenheimer

Conquering his inner demon to conquering the hearts of billions and becoming a role model for young generation, that's RDJ for you

We all fall, but we all don't feel the need to keep kicking someone when their down. He's human he learned from his mistakes and he's better now.

This was before Letterman said much about his own struggles with addiction. I'm surprised he took so many shots at him in his monologues.

Hearing him talk about Woody and knowing he just thanked him during his SAG AFTRA speech this year is gold.

And now he just won an Oscar! It goes to show that: There is life after addiction! And it can be amazing!!!

Agreed. Admire him greatly. We do have a choice the helplessness only comes after we choose to consume. I’m powerless at that point as well

I wish I had 15% of the charm that this man has, incredible.

Robert always says that Susan saved his life and she absolutely did.

Love how authentic he is

I got 2 years clean in April

Within the first three minutes he already turned the question around and gave lil something back. You love to see it haha

As someone who’s struggled with heroin addiction off and on for a couple decades, those questions are so uncomfortable.

Love him! Also something about him in this interview reminds me of Kieran Culkin. Both such amazing talents!

It is great Robert is safe now. Many lost their lives to addiction and you can almost see that in his eyes that he could envision himself in the position of say someone like Kurt Cobain or Heath Ledger. By the way, I guess, at Golden Globes or Oscars 2008, he looked scared because he saw that what happened to Health could've happened to him. Again, great that he is doing good now.

The fact Iron Man 3 wasn't the 'Demon in a bottle' storyline still baffles me. They hired the perfect actor..!

Little did we know the great man he’d become

DAVIDS QUESTIONS BRO 💀💀

I've got over 2 years clean after 2 heart surgeries and aneurysms..one day at a time 🙏🙏🙏✌️♥️💪💪

The realness of this interview is rare. Letterman really picking at the scab, and RDJ answers it heads on.

the art of being a talk show host needs to be talked about

I'm sure Robert Downey Jr. had a good idea of what talking about his addictions was going to be like. I am so happy for him, especially now that he has a son. He has always been a great actor. His life must have been hell. I am proud of him.

Dave was not a gentle host, but that's what made him great.

Pretty unusual, because typically Dave Letterman only has guests that are currently super high on his show.

RD always handles interviews well.

Imagine a substance that makes you feel amazing, better than how it feels to be sobor. A lot more people would be addicts if they tried a substance like that it’s just most people don’t even try it to start with. So hard to kick it if you do happen to try it

I've had a crush on him since I have been a teenager. I love seeing him succeed. He made it!!!! His talent is so unique and special. I love you RDJr !!

I love how Robert Downey Jr handles this

To stay gorgeous despite having a long-term drug addiction is quite the achievement.

the grace is unfathomable.

Dave was ruthless on some occasions but that’s what made some of his interviews legendary!

I like how he does say you kinda have to take responsibility for what you put in your mouth with your hands. Too many act as if it's a "disease" when in reality it's a personal choice.

"I am IronMan!"

He truly is iron man…..💪💪

As an actor, it must be interesting to see videos of yourself like this pop up, decades after the fact when you only thought it would ever be watched that one time and not re-released on the internet in 2024.

Robert you have come a long way I have been a fan since back in the day. I know you get a lot of compliments and bad stuff. I’m not one to judge and say anything but sure glad for the entertainment in your movie my family loves all your movies. May God take care of you and yours. 👍up to you

Dave Letterman FANTASTIC interviewer. I had a gentle crush on RDJr.😊

22 years ago! He looks so healthy these days!

I really REALLY hate Letterman’s questions and insensitivity… disgusting….😢

Both still in full throttle 20 years later.

people perceive these questions as disrespectful but you have to understand. this guy came back from the gutter, unscathed. He wants us to focus on the movie, but his life is way more interesting

American audiences are weird. There's a serious mature conversation underway and they're laughing at everything said. Crazy.

Jailhouse Bob...😂

Seeing him gracefully handle a pretty questionable joke from Kimmel last night is probably what got this recommended to me.

RDJ is a great actor. I think in this interview he pretty much managed to ( ? deliberately?) parry every potentially serious question and somehow came across as unfocused and distracted as if he was keen to avoid Letterman getting too close to reopening a can of personal worms.

Bob is a class act

this interview was better than the entire movie gothika,

very big on dave to apologize to him and offer such positive words of encouragement!

This was when RJD was supposedly a washed-up, has-been, punchline of an actor. Surely the greatest second act in Hollywood in living memory.

LOVELY!!

Probably the first and last time a show host could have asked him those sensitive questions

Mel Gibson was 100% responsible for his recovery, both personally and his career....he totally saved him.....

I was 2 days old when this aired.

Hopefully, more uploads of the "Barbara Gaines Show" during 2024!

The best man in the world 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳 RDJ

I'm pretty sure RDJ knew those questions were coming and was ok with it. Those talkshows are pre planned. Not question for question necessarily, but the topics are agreed upon.

I've always been a huge Letterman fan and watched him from the 80's onward, but man he does not come across well here. None of us are perfect, but this was pretty bad. RD handled it very well, a courageous individual with a ton of poise not to get super irritated when it would have been justified.

Love this guy, I think he’s really kool😎

Some years later Robert's son was convicted of felony cocaine possession, as a consequence was sent to rehab, and because he did that had the conviction wiped from his record. I suppose that's what happens to everyone convicted of felony cocaine possession.

Jailhouse Bob has such a cool personality

His greatest movie is still Weird Science.

Coolest man ever !

He's literally one of the coolest dudes of all time

This was never the kind of program where people would have deep conversations, so I think they should not have bothered. I love this actor, by the way.

The way RDJ turned his life around is a way better story than the origin of Iron Man

Letterman should've tried to understand addiction before this interview. Hes not trying to be rude but he is ignorant to the fact that addiction is a disease that kills most and ruins families. How do we as a human race still not know the true causes and the damage it does. I am an addict and I have seen what it's done to me but also my loved ones who eventually leave because it must be so difficult seeing someone you love helpless, hopeless, dying. Its something we need to have more understanding about. Its embarrassing to be an addict as "normal" people look down on addicts. Theres no debate, 80% of people change towards people struggling with addiction and all it does is send someone further into a hole and makes them feel like they dont deserve a happy and healthy life. It really is the scariest thing. I think its worse than cancer as it sticks around for years and the person you knew is gone. Eyes have no soul and no color in the face. The devil takes over the body and the person is no longer there. It's not easy and people who constantly fight it and never give up are the strongest and most courage people on this earth because you fighting an enemy you cant see and who knows everything about you. It's a fight you shouldn't win on paper but love and support and God helps people find the strength. The look on the eyes of my mother when I became clean is something I'll never forget. Like she had her son back after years of being kidnapped and not knowing if I'll die or not. It kills the family and friends as well as the user. So Dave was out of line but it's the world we're in and we need to prioritize addiction as it's only going to get worse with the world we live in today. An addict is someone's child that made bad decisions and is being punished by living hell on earth. Nobody deserves to live life like that. I hope this is seen by people who understand and I pray for all that are suffering and the light is found in your life. I know how dark, cold and lonely it is.

Letterman asked some crazy questions

Mel Gibson was instrumental in his success.

This is how u twist life it's never a straight line they come in wormholes and black holes❤❤😂😂

We don't have to worry about Rush Limbaugh's addiction anymore. LOL.

Hearing him talk about Susan 🥲🥹🥹🥹🥹

Funny Dave mentioned his son because RDJ's son is in his iwn battle with addiction right now. So sad.

I get the feeling Robert REALLY does not want to talk about his addiction stuff, but does so because it's Dave. Both Dave as a person, and being on Dave's show. I remember when that one interviewer tried going this route with him, I think after Iron Man 2 or 3, and Robert was having NONE of it, and up and BAILED the interview.