- While in the Army, he pitched against Yogi Berra... and struck him out.
- Father of Robert Downey Jr..
- Mother was famed cover girl Betty McLoughlin.
- Changed his last name to Downey (after his stepfather) at age 15, when he joined the Army.
- Paul Thomas Anderson has cited Downey as one of his biggest influences.
- He directed one film that was selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Putney Swope (1969).
- Husband of Elsie Downey, who appeared on screen almost exclusively in his movies.
- Father of Allyson Downey.
- Born on exactly the same date as Paul L. Smith (of Dune (1984), Midnight Express (1978), and Return of the Tiger (1977) fame).
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