Although most people now think of Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark, the actor has an extensive career that now includes upcoming drama "The Judge." The film got a decent amount of Oscar buzz during it's run at the Toronto International Festival. Now that it's headed toward a theatrical release on October 10th, the ‘Iron Man' actor has been candid about a few issues in his life, including his worries about old age and the possibility of ‘Iron Man 4' despite his earlier admonition that there were no plans for the film yet.

In an exclusive interview with Deadline, Robert Downey Jr. discussed his fears about getting too old to do the same stunts he used to when ‘Iron Man' was first filmed:

"Well, hearing the cracking of my own bones on ‘Iron Man 3,' I finally came out of what can only be described as a five year flight of fancy where I thought, if ‘Sherlock Holmes' can do this, it means I can," he admitted.

"If Tony can jump from one part of a scaffold to the other and not bust his ankle, well then let's do it two or three times and go to lunch. Looking back, I'm surprised and really embarrassed that some middle aged guy was thinking like that."

Robert Downey Jr., who will turn 50 next year, seems to be concerned with not only how age will play a factor with his career, but also how it plays a role in his personal life. He mentions that part of the reason he's not too eager to jump headfirst into ‘Iron Man 4' is that he's expecting to have a small child very soon. His wife Susan is now eight months pregnant, and Downey Jr. "recoils" from anything that might "threaten his seemingly mundane personal life."

For Robert Downey Jr., "Iron Man 4" could be a threat to that. Not to mention, with all the Oscar buzz floating around for his performance in "The Judge," perhaps his focus is shifting from the action heavy blockbusters back to the dramatic films that best showcased his knowledge of the craft previously. In fact, he briefly mentions feeling envious that Johnny Depp was able to make friends with "Pacino, Brando, Jack Nicholson," implying that he longs for the kind of acting prestige that would garner him a place among acting legends.

Whatever the case may be, the actor did somewhat jokingly admit that if Mel Gibson signed on to direct "Iron Man 4," he'd commit to the project wholeheartedly. Fans of Robert Downey Jr. can catch the actor in "The Judge" starting October 10th. Here's hoping for an Oscar nomination for the actor who will always have a place in comic book nerd hearts.