Institute for RDJ Studies ❱ Television Dept.
Robert Downey Jr on Ally McBeal
How Robert Downey Jr Ended Up on Ally McBeal
By the late 1990s, Robert Downey Jr was more famous for his drug addiction and run-ins with the law than for his acting career. By 1999, he was serving a year-long prison sentence. Following his release in 2000, it would be nearly 3 years before he took on his next film project. However, he was almost immediately offered a role on the TV show Ally McBeal, as a new love interest for the title character. He appeared as lawyer Larry Paul in 18 episodes throughout season 4. The dramedy served as a good showcase not just for his acting skills, but for his musical talents as well.
Leaving the Show
While on a break from Ally McBeal in November 2000, Robert Downey Jr was arrested for cocaine possession and temporarily written out of the show. He signed on to do more episodes, but in the spring of 2001, the night before he was scheduled to do an autograph signing in L.A. with co-star Vonda Shepard, he was arrested for drugs again. Due to his return to court-ordered rehab and David E. Kelley's dwindling patience, the Larry Paul character was abruptly written out of the show.
Originally, David E. Kelley intended for Larry and Ally to get married. Since they had not finished filming all of his scenes for the season, Robert Downey Jr's final episode was cut together using pieces of what was meant to be the episode where Larry proposes. The title of the season finale ("The Wedding") was never changed, even though it had to be completely rewritten following Downey's sudden departure from the show.
In His Own Words
"Do you know what it's like to come straight out of jail and onto Ally McBeal? I was still wondering if we were playing handball in the prison yard at lunch time. They asked me if I was going to be okay while offering $115,000 a week. I just nodded. There were others on the show in recovery and they knew I wasn't going to be okay. It just got out of hand. But I gave them a good run, seven or eight episodes before I got high again. Then all that goodwill went out the window and they asked me to take urine tests while someone watched. But who did they think they were messing with? They couldn't threaten me with a urine test after all I'd been through. I found some fake piss. I'm the green beret of liars! It doesn't matter what you say to me, I'm going to nod, smile and then go get loaded."
Critical Response and Awards
Despite his continuing problems and unhappiness working on the show, fans and critics responded very favorably to Robert Downey Jr. on Ally McBeal. For the role of Larry Paul, he won a Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award. He was also nominated for an Emmy, but, in a low-key ceremony that was nearly canceled following September 11, he lost out to Ally co-star Peter MacNicol.
Soundtracks
Robert Downey Jr appears on both soundtracks that were released while he was on Ally McBeal. Though he performed most of the songs on the show, the studio versions on these two albums are different. A cover of Bruce Springsteen's Sherry Darling is the only song Robert Downey Jr performed on the show that was not included in the albums.
Songs on For Once in My Life
Snakes, an original song never used on the show. Pieces of this song can be heard in the movie Two Girls and a Guy and on his solo album The Futurist.
Every Breath You Take, a duet with Sting. As a longtime fan of The Police, this was surely the highlight of Robert Downey Jr's time on Ally McBeal.
Chances Are, a duet with Ally McBeal's house musician Vonda Shepard. Also coincidentally the name of a movie he was in.
Songs on A Very Ally Christmas
River, a cover of the Joni Mitchell song.
White Christmas, a duet of the holiday standard with Vonda Shepard.
Episode List: Ally McBeal Season 4
01. Sex, Lies and Second Thoughts — First appearance
02. Girls' Night Out — Cameo only
03. Two's a Crowd — Not in episode
04. Without a Net — First of 4 episodes with Less Than Zero co-star Jami Gertz
05. The Last Virgin
06. 'Tis the Season — Sings River and White Christmas
07. Love on Holiday — Sings Sherry Darling
08. The Man with the Bag
09. Reasons to Believe
10. The Ex Files — Sings Chances Are
11. Mr. Bo
12. Hats Off to Larry
13. Reach Out and Touch — Not in episode
14. Boys Town — Not in episode
15. Falling Up
16. The Getaway — Not in episode
17. The Pursuit of Unhappiness
18. The Obstacle Course
19. In Search of Barry White — Dance routine with Taye Diggs and Peter MacNicol
20. Cloudy Skies, Chance of Parade — Sings Every Breath You Take with Sting
21. Queen Bee — Cameo only
22. Home Again — Final appearance
23. The Wedding — Not in episode
He also appears in flashbacks during season 5, but only in scenes that were shown during season 4.
