Going ‘Soloist’

Robert Downey Jr. on refusing advice and building a solid career

Robert Downey Jr. is famous for taking on challenges, whether professional or personal. In “The Soloist,” he faced the challenge of portraying a real, live person — L.A. Times columnist Steve Lopez — who could walk onto the set at any moment. Lopez himself suggested Downey not bother try to capture him, as he’s too boring. But Downey isn’t one for suggestions.

“It is funny when people try to instruct me on what I should and shouldn’t do,” Downey says, fidgeting with the tag on a hotel towel resting on the table.

“Historically, the minutes would reflect that has no bearing on what I decide to do.”

A New York native, Downey headed west to Los Angeles at an early age to pursue acting, making a big splash in ’80s fare such as “Weird Science” and “Less Than Zero.” After his addictions famously derailed his career in the ’90s, he was finally able to sober up and launch a much-celebrated comeback.

“I came out here at a certain age under the assumption that some big career was going to happen and, whatever. It happened,” Downey remembers.

“It just happened to happen 25 years later than I thought it would.”

Part of that big career finally happening was his underrated comeback in 2005’s “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang,” in which he portrayed Harry Lockhart, a petty NYC thief and conman adrift in L.A. — a character very close to his heart.

“Of all the parts I’ve played, the one I’m most like is Harry Lockhart,” Downey says. “I was just kind of a petty thief around Los Angeles, and then New York. I love shoplifting. I’m really good at it. But then I strived for something more, and it happened.”

And happen it certainly did. Soon after, Downey won the lead in “Iron Man,” which went on to make nearly $100 million in its opening weekend and launch a new superhero franchise. Next up is another possible franchise with Guy Ritchie’s revamped “Sherlock Holmes.”

With such a storied career and such an eclectic mix of characters under his belt, Downey could conceivably have his pick of parts to play going forward. So what character does he most want to take on? Edgar Allen Poe. And maybe we’ll see him as the infamously moody author before long.

“[Sylvester] Stallone wrote a great script that he wants to direct about Edgar Allen Poe,” Downey confides, grinning.