Chris Evans credits his Marvel Cinematic Universe costar, Robert Downey Jr., as the actor he's learned the most from. After finding critical success early in his career with movies like Chaplin, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award, he endured a brief fall from grace before helping to revolutionize comic book movies. In 2008, Downey made his debut as the genius, billionaire, playboy, and philanthropist Tony Stark A.k.a. Iron Man—a role that fit him like a glove and that he has become synonymous with. As the first pillar of Marvel Studios' MCU, Downey went on to reprise his role in two Iron Man sequels, numerous crossovers, and Spider-Man: Homecoming.
Alongside Downey's Tony Stark, Evans is best known for playing Steve Rogers/Captain America for over a decade in the MCU. The pair first shared the screen in 2012's The Avengers, in which their characters' differing world views first became a point of contention before Captain America: Civil War. That said, Iron Man and Captain America's relationship is one of the universe's most fascinating, with them coming back together in Avengers: Endgame and ending their stories opposite of where the other began. The superheroes learned a lot from one another, and so did the actors.
In a recent edition of BuzzFeed Celeb's puppy interviews, Evans sat down with puppies while trying to promote Lightyear and answer questions about past roles. When asked which of his costars he's learned the most from, the actor said RDJ. Read the full quote below:
“Probably Downey. You know, he’s seen a lot, been through a lot, and he’s so talented—you’d be a fool to not listen.”
Following his beautiful bookend in Endgame, Evans subverted his Cap image in Rian Johnson's murder-mystery Knives Out and made a hilarious cameo in Free Guy. Outside of Lightyear, Evans can be seen next in Joe and Anthony Russo's (Endgame) The Gray Man. As for Downey, he's set to star in Christopher Nolan's upcoming Oppenheimer biopic and Sherlock Holmes 3. Whether either of these iconic actors ever reprisal their MCU roles remains to be seen. If they ever do, it'll be tough top to what they did together.
Before Marvel Studios became the powerhouse that it is today, the inclusion of talent like Downey aided a lot of credibility to the MCU. On and off screen, he was very much a founding father of the MCU, helping people like Mark Ruffalo, Tom Holland, and Evans to play a part in the universe. Evans has said in the past that he turned down the role of Captain America multiple times before getting a phone call from Downey. The veteran actor's support went a long way in getting Evans to accept the role and, undoubtedly, make himself synonymous with it.
Source: BuzzFeed Celeb/YouTube
