He not only played Tony Stark in Iron Man, I can't look look at Tony Stark without thinking Robert Downey Jr. now and vice versa. And seeing him in Tropic Thunder was amazing and hilarious. Too bad Heath Ledger was the nominee for an Oscar he was up against, cause he deserves one.

A wonderfully talented actor. I can't believe he is still alive after all the chaos of his personal life. I figured he'd end up like Belushi, Chris Farley, and many other talented people who let drugs rule their lives.

I can't wait to see him in Iron Man!

  Celebrities don't have to be role models for anyone. That's entirely up to them. In Downey Jrs case, yes he struggled with drugs, but so what? Its a shame he's so notorious for his drug problems, because it overshadows his tremendous acting abilities. He is very versatile, expressive and believable. One of the best contemporary actors.

Remember that PSA that went this is your brain....this is your brain on drugs? He doesn't. I can overlook a problem once or twice but after that, you become a dangerous rolemodel and I gotta boot ya. I have kids and I don't want them to think that you can use drugs and be a success, because that only happens in Hollywood.

Great actor. Too bad he's such a loser. He's the kind of guy that your gut tells you not to date...but you get involved with him anyway because he's so charming...and then six months later you're broke, in jail etc.

The first time I saw Robert Downey, Jr in a movie was when my brother brought a film called TUFF TURF home from the video store. It was a real B-Rated number starring James Spader, and Robert Downey, Jr starred as his new best friend in the new city he moved to. He did an excellent job as a supporting actor in that flick, and then I had the opportunity to see him in LESS THAN ZERO, which of course was an excellent movie made from the book by Bret Easton Ellis. His superb performance in LESS THAN ZERO cannot be denied, and the same goes for most of the other movies he has been in since. I am just amazed everytime I see him do something different on the big screen...EXCELLENT !

He's a walkin, talkin, rectum.

Robert Downey Jr. has always impressed me as an actor. He has a unique presence as an actor- he's simply phenominal. I first caught wind of him when I saw the independent film "Tuff Turf" (1984), in which he played a supporting role. However, my favorite role of Rob's was in "Chances Are". I'm a guy, but I really, really enjoyed that movie, and it probably would not have been so good had Robert Downey Jr. not been in it. I was totally shocked when he turned out to be the "crooked cop" in "U.S. Marshalls"- it was a total 180 degree turn for him, and I thought that he played that role VERY, VERY well. He has a unique intensity and dedication to all of his roles and he is a great actor whose once promising career is being thrown away. Get your life together man!!!!

He's a great actor and has had some problems, but he's only human. Everyone deserves a second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, ...... chance. Get this mother f*cker out of here!

He is a great actor and I think he deserves some more and better attention.

for sure talented!

he clicked well with calista - too bad he does drugs

From Charlie Chaplin to Wonder Boys, this guy delivers. He's one of the greatest actors of our time.

Gorgeous and talented.

I am not quite sure when my attraction to Robert Downey Jr. began..I guess when I was in Junior High School and first saw "Less Than Zero." He was riveting, in "Chances Are,"..well he made that movie which wouldn't have been much without him. "Soap Dish" was another great showcase for his comedic acting. "Wonder Boys" is probably my favorite, he was hilarious as Douglas' flamboyant literary agent. For some reason, I have not yet seen "Chaplin." His range is truly amazing. Not to mention his appearance..I am drawn to him, something about his eyes..ok, I don't want to gush here, I am no longer a teenage girl with his picture plastered on my wall..but I am still a bit smitten. That new Elton John video with him ..man, I just can't turn it off (and I am not a big MTV or VH1 watcher, but I have found myself flipping it on, hoping to see that video). Hopefully, he will overcome his personal demons so that we can enjoy his acting for years to come. One more testament to his acting; I actually started watching "Ally McBeal" again when he came on the show.

yes, yes, yes he is a BRILLIANT ACTOR, he should watch out for his drug problems tho, or else they'll destroy his career and judging from his previous works, oh what an illustrious career it could be.

He's very intelligent, hilariously funny, and incredibly talented. He has the rare ability to make you laugh one minute and cry the next. There's a vulnerability to him that makes you care about him as a person, not just an actor. Aside from his acting, I also love his singing voice. There's a soulfulness to his voice that touches me everytime I hear him sing. He plays the piano beautifully as well. Robert is truly exceptional.

It has all been said time and time again, he is a great actor, this cannot be denied by anyone with an ounce of intelligence. He can make us laugh, and he can make us cry. He can send your mind reeling, your heart soaring, and bring you back down to earth in the same breath. He is a natural, it was born in him to do these things. It seems to come very easy for him, and is portrayed in this manner, that is the reason he is loved so by his many fans. From the beginning of time, there has always been for every negative, a positive. It is clear that Robert's positives most definitely out weigh his negatives. I wonder if when WE stand before the Great I AM, will he be able to say "your positives out weigh you negatives" ENTER IN...

the best of the best, talented, funny, very sexy, gotta love him!!!!!

Robert Downey Jr. has been called the greatest actor of his generation for a reason. He's so multi-talented. He's an incredible actor and can easily do a variety of roles from drama to comedy to action, from the movie screen to a TV screen. His voice as a singer is truly beautiful, soulfull and heartfelt. He played his own piano composition in Two Girls and a Guy. He also sang in the movie and did a little preview of Hamlet. And who can forget the amazing mirror scene. And all the amazing singing on Ally McBeal: River, Chances Are, Sherry Darling, his duet with Sting on Every Breath You Take. His own song Snakes on the Ally McBeal CD is breathless. He's played Chaplin the little Tramp, he's cracked us up as Tommy in Home for the Holidays, he made us cry in Less Than Zero, he made us fall in love with him in Only You, he was adorable in Chances Are, he emerged himself in 4 different characters in Heart and Souls, he took us to the Land of Mar in Restoration and he made us belive in that once in a lifetime love on Ally McBeal. He's an incredible presence in every movie he's in and he lights up the screen and steals every scene so flawlessly. He's a true pleasure to watch. I believe in him and I support him all the way, always and forever.

he is simply the best!!!

He is the most talented actor of his generation and he is absolutely gorgeous. Probably the most handsome man in the world. C'mon LP, vote, vote, vote!

He is an extraodinary actor! There are no limits for this guy! He is excellent in what ever roll he plays. After seeing "Chaplin", nobody compairs!

Robert is a great actor - one of the very best - who deserves better than to be put down by people who doesn't care about him. What does his personal life matter in this context - it's his work we're rating, isn't it? If you should mention his addiction at all, it should be to show your support and faith in him. Besides, what do we really know about the personal lives of all the other actors in this poll, and why doesn't anyone comment on them?

robert downey jr. is a true positive talent in the acting field. the one thing that i love about his work is that he can ake the most DRAB character and pump it full of life. do you know anyone else who can do that?! i don't. being an aspiring actress my self, watching him on the screen, is like taking a class in acting every single day. he truly is an inspiration and i wish that those of you who only see him for his drug problems would get past that and see, truly see, his acting skills. peace&love heather

he's ok but has had too many chances. They should give those jobs to some one who deserves them.

Hey, I like the guy too. Talented in the extreme though he has sometimes gone a tad over the top, some very well done excellent film roles to his credit, not to mention a pair of gorgeous brown eyes with enough intensity to melt ice. I also wish him well and hope he takes this current opportunity to straighten out. But let's face it, I don't think there was much "acting" going on in "Less than Zero". Probably closer to the docu-drama category than originally intended.

How could the greatest actor of our generation be listed as number 47!? He is amazing, both as an actor and as a musician. He is a renaissance man who also paints and writes. How can he not be at the top of this list. Have you ever seen Less Than Zero? He's absolutely heartbreaking in that movie. He is the best!

RDJ should not be judged by his serious health problems. He should be judged on his merits as an actor. He is a gifted, talented actor that has been acknowledged with many awards.

Beautiful person

Robert Downey, Jr is an extremely talented and gifted actor. I pray he overcomes his demons and has the chance to shine in Hollywood as this star truly should.

He has been called accomplished, audacious, brilliant, convincing, delicious, forceful, impish, impressive, incredibly funny, intuitive, remarkable, riveting, scene-stealing, spectacular, talented, transfixing, versatile... He's an incredible artist, actor, writer, person and individual. Who else could have single-handedly saved Ally McBeal? Who else could have helped the soundtrack albums become best-sellers? Who else deserved the SAG award and the Golden Globe? Who else deserves to win the Emmy? NO ONE!!! Judge him on his professional abilities (he has several, just pick one) not his personal life. Robert has the ability to say more with a single look, a smirk, an eyebrow lift than other actors can say with a whole monologue. His acting speaks for itself.

Robert Downey Jr. is the greatest actor of all time. He can play the romantic lead (Two Girls and a guy, Only You), span a lifetime for a character (Chaplin), the guy you love to hate (Soapdish), and play them equally as convincing as the other. When Robert is onscreen he is just ten time larger then everyone around him. He lets you see into his soul and that is what makes him such a one of a kind actor. And those who have worked with him have nothing but good to say. He is professional, not a prima donna. He has more talent than anyone i have ever encountered. He also has a beautiful, amazing, honest singing voice, and also composes beautiful music. He is an artist in every sense. There is only one Robert Downey Jr. in this world, and I think we are very lucky to be able to share in the magic he brings to the big or small screen, or anywhere else for that matter.

RDJ is an amazingly talented actor, musician and artist. Anything that happens in his personal life has no bearing on his professional talents. We are lucky to have been able to enjoy his performances thus far and I personally cannot wait to see more of him in the future. My thought and prayers are with him for a successful recovery!

Robert is an amazing person! I believe he is the greatest actor of our generation and he is a fabulouse singer as well along with heaps of other talents he has. I really do believe he will get over his addiction, it will take a while obviously sence he has been on them for 30 years (Started when he was six) but he will definatly get there. I believe if you want things bad enough you will get it and Robert wants to stop with the drugs more then ANYTHING so don't diss him, he is doing the best he can!

Must of you must be crazy! Robert Downey Jr. is one of the most talented people of our time! Its not just me speaking; his directors are also saying it. This part about rating at adding comments are supposed to be about his acting skills, not his "drug" life. Which at the moment he is getting much needed help for! If you think hes a bad actor then rate him on that, not drugs.

Drugs ruin another life.

DESPITE ROBERT DOWNEY JR. PROBLEMS HE IS FANTASTIC , A GREAT ACTOR AND I TRULY HOPE TO SEE HIM ON ALLY MC BEAL AGAIN AFTER HE DEALS WITH HIS PROBLEMS AND SUCCESSFULLY THIS TIME I HOPE...

I really don't understand why he can't seem to get his act together. He's a good actor but a person can only have so many second chances.

Trifling! Pitiful! The truth hurts.

Robert, What you need is someone to stand behind you 100% to let you know that it's ok to do the things you are doing, just as long you understand the consequences! Man, no one deserves to go to jail for a chronic drug use. Obviously it's not the answer! You made some relatively poor choices in life, but that's no reason to condemn you! I stand behind you all the way, and if you need more people like myself to give you support, man just find the light! Drug abuse is something we all understand, and some of us more than others, but I tell you If there's anybody listening, Robert your story is the one that's making folks realize that it's real, and you are real along with the choices you make concerning your life and your career! Please everybody, before judgement is passed, make sure you understand the addiction! And if you think that it is just the drugs, then you are sadly mistaken! Read more, and study the foundation of the problems. And in closing, it really has me dumb-founded to imagine that not a single psychologist, or close friend hasn't pin pointed the root of the problem! If anybody wants the truth, take a deeper look into Robert's eyes, and come up with healthy things to say, rather than trying to kick a man while he's down! Because by gholly he will get up, and then what? Keep The Faith Robert!!! In Vitro, Vampire Eyes Vampire Eyes --- twingreenecho@earthlink.net The Blood Co., Inc.

Robert may have his problems in his personal life, but his talent as an actor cannot be denied. He has almost singlehandedly saved Ally Mcbeal this year, and has proven his skills in almost 40 movies. Not to mention the fact that he's incredibly gorgeous!

Anyone affiliated with both Weird Science and Back to School is a 5 in my book.

DRUGGIE!

An extremely gifted and multi-dimensional actor. I hope he gets his life together.

I've always fetl that Robert Downey Jr. because he's a brilliant actor, to me he's handsome, but it's a shame that he's in drugs because he's an excelleny performer

If everyone could get past the media induced frenzy over whether Robert Downey Jr. is clean or not, and focus in on the fact that this man has such talent it can't even be described. He has such range that you can love him and hate him all in one moment, he can take a heartless character and make you feel for him, he can play a lonely soul looking for the love of his life, or he can play tortured characters that are searching for the answer. I can't compare him to any other actor, years from now, people will look back and reflect of his talent, his torture as a human being, but it won't be forgotten the time, energy, and emotion that he put into his characters.

I will never stand back when it comes to helping enhance his well being.He is one of the greatest actors I have ever seen.The majority of EDUCATED people will stand behind me in saying that ,"You can't judge a person until you've walked a mile in their moccassins. I have heard some horrible things said about this amazing actor on the comments list(all of which have innumerable grammatical errors,.. hint)and I do believe nobody knows what he is going through, and you can't until you've experienced it.The press is hounding him at every nimble twist and turn, he is self-medicating his bipolar disorder throughout his impossible schedule, he is battling to stay alive through the horrid rumors that he has been subjected to.I have chosen my side and I will struggle with every last ounce of strength that I have to protect his pure spirit and I give him a round of applause, maybe even two, for living in each moment optimistically and for making it known that he will never give up, not even in the toughest stages of his life. Hooray and long live one of the most enlightening and enthusiastic actors of our time, Robert Downey Jr.!

A GREAT actor, whose career is tainted unfortunately by its shortness... .....