Robert Downey Jr. learned 'what he wasn't' as a performer thanks to Saturday Night Live stint

Robert Downey Jr. learned "what [he] wasn't" as a performer thanks to his brief stint on 'Saturday Night Live'.

The 59-year-old actor was cast on the show when he was just 20 years old and though he only spent one season on the programme because it wasn't the right fit for him, he appreciated the lessons he learned.

Speaking on new docuseries 'SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night', he said: “I learned so much in that year about what I wasn’t. But there’s not a more exciting 90 minutes you could have, whether you are any good or not."

The 'Oppenheimer' star got the job on the sketch show thanks to his good friend Anthony Michael Hall.

He said: “Michael Hall said to me, 'I’m gonna go do 'SNL'. I’m gonna get you an audition and I bet you’re gonna get yourself on the show too.' "

Anthony joked he's still waiting for his pal to "repay a favour" as a result.

He quipped: "I'm still waiting for that b****** to repay a favour, 40 years later. Come on Iron Man, you got it in ya.”