Report: Downey Jr. Signs `Ally' Deal

LOS ANGELES (AP) â€” The future of Robert Downey Jr. as a free man may be in question, but apparently not his TV career. <br><br>The actor, facing drug charges that could send him back to prison, has signed

Thursday, January 25th 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) â€” The future of Robert Downey Jr. as a free man may be in question, but apparently not his TV career.

The actor, facing drug charges that could send him back to prison, has signed a deal to appear in as many as 11 more episodes of ``Ally McBeal,'' The Hollywood Reporter reported Tuesday.

Downey already has shot 10 episodes of the show this season, playing actress Calista Flockhart's new love interest. The role won him a Golden Globe for supporting actor on Sunday.

The troubled actor, whose wife filed for divorce on Tuesday, is to return to work on the show next week, the Reporter said, citing confidential sources. Fox has yet to confirm Downey's deal with the David E. Kelley-produced show.

Downey's wife, Deborah Falconer, has cited irreconcilable differences in her divorce petition. The two have been separated since 1996.

The 35-year-old model seeks legal and physical custody of the couple's 7-year-old son, Indio, with supervised visitation for Downey. She also seeks unspecified spousal support payments, attorney fees and costs.

The two were married May 29, 1992.

Downey, 35, is due in court Jan. 29 in the city of Indio on drug charges stemming from his arrest Thanksgiving weekend at a Palm Springs resort.

He was released from prison in August after serving about a year for violating probation on previous drug arrests dating to 1996.