Can You Imagine Robert Downey Jr., Who Earns $100M for a Role, Playing a Corpse in Ryan Gosling’s Movie: The Nice Guys Was Iconic for This Cameo

SUMMARY

• Known for playing Marvel superheroes Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. has risen to become a huge name in the industry.
• However, despite his A-list status, he played the corpse of an adult film producer in Ryan Gosling's The Nice Guys.
• Downey Jr.'s uncredited cameo is surprising given his stature as one of the highest-paid actors in the industry.

Known for playing one of the most popular and beloved Marvel superheroes Iron Man, Robert Downey Jr. has risen to become a huge name in the industry. With his popularity and acclaim as an actor, it’s not a surprise that he is reported to receive a massive paycheck worth $100 million for his return to the MCU in the upcoming Avengers movies.

Robert Downey Jr. in Avengers: Endgame | Credit: Marvel Studios

However, considering the hefty amount he is expected to get for his return to the MCU, it is surprising to learn that the actor once had a brief and unconventional role as a corpse in Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe’s 2016 buddy action comedy, The Nice Guys.

Robert Downey Jr. had an uncredited cameo as a corpse in Ryan Gosling’s The Nice Guys

Directed by Shane Black and starring Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe, The Nice Guys follows two very different private detectives working together to solve a missing person case. However, what begins as a routine investigation quickly escalates into the unraveling of a much larger conspiracy.

A still from The Nice Guys | Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

In addition to Gosling and Crowe, the film also featured an unexpected cameo from another major Hollywood star, Robert Downey Jr. The Oscar-winning actor, however, plays an unconventional and uncredited cameo with no dialogue.

The detectives’ investigation in the movie leads them to a Hollywood party in search of an adult film producer, Sid Shattuck. However, they don’t find Shattuck until March Holland, played by Gosling, drunkenly falls from a balcony and discovers a badly mangled corpse of Shattuck.

The bloodied and nearly unrecognizable corpse in the scene is actually played by the Avengers star, as per ScreenRant. While the character did not have much screen time, Sid Shattuck still has a backstory.

Robert Downey Jr. played a corpse in The Nice Guys | Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures

He was revealed to be a wealthy photographer who was believed to be involved with the missing girl. However, Downey Jr.’s cameo is surprising given his stature as one of the highest-paid actors in the industry.

And while neither the actor nor the filmmakers discussed it in detail, the actor’s history with the film’s director Shane Black is believed to be the reason behind his surprising cameo.

Robert Downey Jr.’s professional relationships with Shane Black

Robert Downey Jr. is an actor who has experienced various highs and lows throughout his career and life. Initially emerging as a rising star, his trajectory was disrupted by struggles with addiction and legal troubles.

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang | Credit: Warner Bros.

However, he was able to overcome his past and rebuild his career, and one of the films that is credited with reigniting his career before his MCU venture is the 2005 black comedy, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Starring alongside Val Kilmer, Downey Jr. portrayed the role of a thief turned actor, who gets involved in a murder investigation after teaming up with a private detective. The film also marked the directorial debut of screenwriter Shane Black.

Though the movie had a modest box-office performance, the actor later credited the film as a crucial turning point in his career. He told The Hollywood Reporter in a later interview, “It ended up being my calling card to Iron Man.”

Iron Man | Credit: Marvel Studios

Shane and Downey Jr. have since collaborated on Iron Man 3. The duo was reportedly set to reunite in Shane Black’s adaptation of Donald E. Westlake’s Parker crime novel series for Amazon Studios. However, he was later replaced by Mark Wahlberg, as per Deadline.

The Nice Guys is available to rent or buy on Apple TV.

Written by Laxmi Rajput

Articles Published: 2861

Laxmi Rajput is a writer at Fandomwire. She finished her Post Graduation in Broadcast Journalism and worked as a Business News writer for a year. But her interest in entertainment and pop culture compelled her to find a way towards Entertainment Journalism. She has worked across various fields and has 2 years of experience in content writing. She likes reading, music, movies, and traveling. She aspires to become a fiction writer in the future.