In his earlier career he worked with Robert Downey, Sr. in the extraordinary movies “Putney Swope” and “Greaser’s Palace”.
Putney Swope (1969) is a bizarre comedy of how a token black leftist executive is accidentally propelled to the presidency of a major advertising agency, and takes it fully leftist retard to the point where the US government considers it a threat to national security.
Gee, now what does that remind you of?
Greaser’s Palace (1972) is almost beyond description, of Arbus as Jesus in a Zoot Suit, descending by parachute into an old West mining town ruled by a constipated ruthless brute. It goes surreal so hard and fast that you really cannot grasp it on the first viewing. Most people who see it hate it, because they have no clue what is going on.
Trying to draw parallels from it to the story of Jesus is the key, but extremely hard, yet you realize that there is something there, some real brilliance.
In the case of either movie, alcohol is a big help in seeing the big picture. Growing up around this must have really had an impact on Robert Downey, Jr.