Robert Downey Jr.'s quirkiest characters

Charlie Chaplin in "Chaplin" (1992)

Downey had been a consistent presence on film since the early '80s but playing a real life Hollywood icon brought him his first Oscar nomination. He's said that matching the look and physicality of the great comedian made Chaplin his most difficult role, but the effort was well worth it. Going beyond mere mimicry, Downey embodied the great actor, breathing life into “The Tramp” and salvaging an otherwise dull biopic. His performance startled critics and captivated studio execs who saw something promising in this young, peppy star.