Downey handled himself very well considering the awkward situation.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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!!

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 🙏

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

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.

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

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.

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. 👏👏

So true. Talking about our demons, does make one feel better. In some way, we are all in hell. We need more empathy amongst us. We deserve it.

Love how authentic he is

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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!!

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

RD always handles interviews well.

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

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

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

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

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

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 !!

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

He truly is iron man…..💪💪

DAVIDS QUESTIONS BRO 💀💀

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.

Little did we know the great man he’d become

the grace is unfathomable.

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

I got 2 years clean in April

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

The best man in the world 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳 RDJ

"I am IronMan!"

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

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

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.

Both still in full throttle 20 years later.

LOVELY!!

Letterman asked some crazy questions

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

this interview was better than the entire movie gothika,

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

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

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

Roberto Abajao Junior es mi favorito mexicano

When was this interview done?

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.

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.

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

Coolest man ever !

22 years ago! He looks so healthy these days!

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

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.

RDJ is a genious.

I was 2 days old when this aired.

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

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

His greatest movie is still Weird Science.

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

Jailhouse Bob has such a cool personality

Hearing him talk about Susan 🥲🥹🥹🥹🥹

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

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

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

1 Very .. Very Good Actor .. :)

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.

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.

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

RIP

What year was this interview?

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

Jailhouse Bob...😂

❤

In a word Spiritual

I can't imagine how tired he is answering questions about this subject.

Everyone is higher than a kite

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.

21 yrs ago...