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Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr. promoting 'Avengers: Age of Ultron' at the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con
Downey in 2014
Born
Robert John Downey Jr.

(1965-04-04)April 4, 1965(age 59)
New York City, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
  • singer
Years active1970–present
WorksFilmography
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m.1992;div.2004)​
  • ​
    (m.2005)​
PartnerSarah Jessica Parker(1984–1991)
Children3
Parent
AwardsFull list
Signature

Robert John Downey Jr.(born April 4, 1965)[1]is an American actor.His filmsas a leading actor have grossed over $14 billion worldwide, making him one of thehighest-grossing actors of all time.Downey's career has been characterized by some early success, a period of drug-related problems and run-ins with the law, and a surge in popular and commercial success in the late 2000s.[2]In 2008, Downey was named byTimemagazine as one of the100 most influential people in the world.From 2013 to 2015, he was listed byForbesas Hollywood's highest-paid actor.

At the age of five, Downey made his acting debut in his fatherRobert Downey Sr.'s 1970 filmPound.He subsequently worked with theBrat Packin the teen filmsWeird Science(1985) andLess than Zero(1987). Downey's portrayal ofCharlie Chaplinin the 1992 biopicChaplinreceived aBAFTA Award.Following a stint at theCorcoran Substance Abuse Treatment Facilityon drug charges, he joined the TV seriesAlly McBealin 2000 and won aGolden Globe Awardfor the role. Downey was fired from the show in 2001 in the wake of additional drug charges. He stayed in a court-ordered drug treatment program and has maintained his sobriety since 2003.

Downey made his acting comeback in the 2003 filmThe Singing Detective,afterMel Gibsonpaid his insurance bond becausecompletion bondcompanies would not insure him.[3]He went on to star in the black comedyKiss Kiss Bang Bang(2005), the thrillerZodiac(2007), and the action comedyTropic Thunder(2008). Downey gained global recognition for starring asIron Manin ten films within theMarvel Cinematic Universe,beginning withIron Man(2008) and leading up toAvengers: Endgame(2019). He has also playedSherlock HolmesinGuy Ritchie'sSherlock Holmes(2009), which earned him his second Golden Globe, and in its sequel,Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows(2011). Downey has also taken on dramatic parts inThe Judge(2014) andOppenheimer(2023), winning anAcademy Award,aGolden Globe,and aBAFTA Awardfor his portrayal ofLewis Straussin the latter.

Early life

Robert John Downey Jr. was born on April 4, 1965, inManhattan,New York City,the younger of two children.[4]His father,Robert Downey Sr.,was a filmmaker, while his mother, Elsie Ann (née Ford), was an actress who appeared in Downey Sr.'s films.[5]Downey's father was one-halfLithuanian Jewish,one-quarterHungarian Jewish,and one-quarter Irish, while Downey's mother had Scottish, German, and Swiss ancestry.[6][7][8]Downey moved often, mainly due to his father's film projects, living in places such asWoodstock,New York, London,New Mexico,California,Connecticut,andGreenwich Village.[9]The family experienced both periods of near-poverty and wealth, depending on the success of the films.[10]

As a child, Downey was "surrounded by drugs."[11]His father was a drug addict, and his mother was an alcoholic.[12]His father allowed him to use drugs at a young age; he said that he gave Downey marijuana for the first time at age six and that Downey also "might have had a little coke" as a child.[13]His father later said that he regretted it.[4]Downey stated that he and his father did drugs together for the first time when he was eight, and that drug use became an emotional bond between him and his father: "When my dad and I would do drugs together, it was like him trying to express his love for me in the only way he knew how."[14][15][16]

During his childhood, Downey had minor roles in his father's films. He made his acting debut at the age of five, playing a sick puppy in theabsurdist comedyfilmPound(1970), and then, at seven, appeared in thesurrealistWesternfilmGreaser's Palace(1972).[7]He went toStagedoor Manor,a summer acting camp in upstate New York, when he was eleven and twelve.[10]Downey's parents divorced in 1977, when he was twelve. He went and lived with his mother in a fifth-floor apartment in New York, as she "needed" him after the divorce, while his sister went to live with their father in California.[14]After a few years, Downey went to live with his father and began attendingSanta Monica High School,but dropped out in 1982.[17]At the age of 17, he moved back to New York to pursue an acting career full-time.[18]

Downey worked a number of different jobs to support himself while going to auditions, including clearing tables at Central Falls restaurant, working in a shoe store, and performing as "living art" at the nightclubArea.[19][20][21]Meanwhile, Downey got a few parts in local theater and off-Broadway productions. He got his first credited film role in the 1983 filmBaby It's You;however, his scenes ended up being cut.[22][23]

Career

1983–1995: Early work and critical acclaim

Downey at the premiere ofAir Americain 1990

Downey began building upon his theater roles, making his debut on stage in 1983 at theGeva Theatre CenterinAlms for the Middle Classfor a three-week run.[24]He also performed in the short-livedoff-BroadwaymusicalAmerican Passionat theJoyce Theaterin 1983, produced byNorman Lear.[25]In 1984, Downey got a part in the filmFirstborn,where he metSarah Jessica Parker,and the pair started dating.[26]In 1985, he was part of the new, younger cast hired forSaturday Night Live.Downey has said thatAnthony Michael Hall,whom he had met and become friends with on the set of hisWeird Science,helped him get the audition.[27]However, he and most of the new crew were dropped and replaced following a year of poor ratings and criticism of the new cast's comedic talents.[18]Rolling Stonemagazine named Downey the worstSNLcast member in its entire run, stating that the "Downey Fail sums up everything that makesSNLgreat. "[28]

That same year, Downey had a dramatic acting breakthrough when he playedJames Spader'ssidekickinTuff Turfand then a bully inJohn Hughes'sWeird Science.Molly Ringwaldwanted him for the role of Duckie in John Hughes's 1986 filmPretty in Pink,but the part went toJon Cryer.[29][30]He went on to star with Ringwald in his first lead role inThe Pick-up Artist(1987). Because of these and othercoming-of-agefilms Downey did during the 1980s, he is sometimes named as a member of theBrat Pack.[18][31]Downey moved to Hollywood and lived with fellow actorsBilly Zane,who later appeared with Downey inOnly You(1994), Sarah Jessica Parker, andKiefer Sutherland,who starred with Downey in1969(1988).[32][33]

In 1987, Downey played Julian Wells, a drug-addicted rich boy whose life rapidly spirals out of his control, in the film version of theBret Easton EllisnovelLess than Zero.His performance, described byJanet MaslininThe New York Timesas "desperately moving,"[34]was widely praised, though Downey has said that for him "the role was like theghost of Christmas Future"since his drug habit resulted in his becoming an" exaggeration of the character "in real life.[35]Soon after completing the film, Downey went into rehab for the first time; the episode would be followed by a number of interventions and stints in rehab over the next decade prior to his 1996 arrest.[36][37]Zerodrove Downey into films with bigger budgets and names, such asChances Are(1989) withCybill ShepherdandRyan O'Neal,Air America(1990) withMel Gibson,andSoapdish(1991) withSally Field,Kevin Kline,Cathy Moriarty,andWhoopi Goldberg.[38][39][40]

In 1992, he starred asCharlie ChaplininChaplin,a role for which he prepared extensively, learning how to play the violin as well as tennis left-handed. He had a personal coach in order to help him imitate Chaplin's posture and way of carrying himself.[41]The role garnered Downey anAcademy Awardnomination forBest Actorat the65th Academy Awards ceremony,losing toAl PacinoinScent of a Woman.[42]In 1993, he appeared in the filmsHeart and SoulswithAlfre WoodardandKyra SedgwickandShort CutswithMatthew ModineandJulianne Moore,along with a documentary that he wrote about the 1992 presidential campaigns titledThe Last Party(1993).[43][44][45]He starred in the 1994 filmsOnly YouwithMarisa Tomei,andNatural Born Killers,withWoody Harrelson.[46][47]He then subsequently appeared inRestoration(1995),Richard III(1995),Home for the Holidays(1995),Two Girls and a Guy(1997),[48]as Special Agent John Royce inU.S. Marshals(1998), and inBlack and White(1999).[49][50][51][52]

1996–2001: Addiction-related setbacks andAlly McBeal

From 1996 through 2001, Downey was arrested several times on charges related to drugs, includingcocaine,heroin,andmarijuana.[53]He went through drug treatment programs and spent time in county jail and prison. He explained in 1999 to a judge: "It's like I have a shotgun in my mouth, and I've got my finger on the trigger, and I like the taste of thegun metal."He said he had been addicted to drugs since the age of eight due to the fact that his father had been giving them to him.[54]

In early 1996, after becoming increasingly concerned for Downey,Sean PennandDennis Quaidknocked on his door, took his keys, and took him to a rehab center inTucson;however, Downey escaped and checked himself out a few days later.[36]In June 1996, Downey was arrested for possession of heroin, cocaine, crack, and an unloaded.357 Magnumhandgun while he was speeding downSunset Boulevard.A month later, while on parole, he wandered into a neighbor's home through the unlocked front door while under the influence of a controlled substance and fell asleep in one of the beds.[55][56]The family refused to press trespassing charges.[37]The tape of the neighbor's 911 call was made available online, and it became known as the "Goldilocks incident."[57]In November 1996, after spending time in court-ordered rehab, he received a further six months of live-in rehab, three years' probation, and was ordered to undergo compulsory drug testing.[37]In 1997, he missed one of the court-ordered drug tests and had to spend six months in the Los Angeles County jail.[58]After being released, he went into a court-ordered 120-day rehab program.[37]

A mugshot of actor Robert Downey Jr smiling for his headshot in 1999
Mugshot from his arrest in August 1999
A mugshot of actor Robert Downey Jr in 2001
Mugshot from his arrest in April 2001

In 1999, after being clean during the shooting ofWonder Boys,Downey relapsed. During this time, he was struggling with legal bills and had lost his house in Malibu.[36]After Downey missed another required drug test in 1999, he was arrested again. Despite Downey's lawyer,Robert Shapiro,assembling the same team of lawyers that had successfully defendedO. J. Simpsonduring hiscriminal trial for murder,[54]Downey was sentenced to a three-year prison term at theCalifornia Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State PrisoninCorcoran, California.[59]At the time of the arrest, all of Downey's film projects had wrapped and were close to release. He had been hired to provide the voice of thedevilon theNBCanimated television seriesGod, the Devil and Bob,but was fired when he failed to attend rehearsals.[59][60]

After spending nearly a year in theCalifornia Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison,Downey, on condition of posting a $5,000 bail, was unexpectedly freed when a judge ruled that his collective time in incarceration facilities (from the initial 1996 arrests) had qualified him for early release.[4]A week after his 2000 release, Downey joined the cast of the hit television seriesAlly McBeal,playing a new love interest.[61]He was nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Seriesand won theGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.[62][63]He also appeared as a writer and singer onVonda Shepard'sAlly McBeal: For Once in My Lifealbum and sang withStinga duet of "Every Breath You Take"in an episode of the series. Despite the apparent success, Downey claimed that his performance on the series was overrated and said," It was my lowest point in terms of addictions. At that stage, I didn't give a fuck whether I ever acted again. "[35]In January 2001, Downey was scheduled to play the role ofHamletin aLos Angelesstage production directed byMel Gibson.[64]

Before the end of his first season onAlly McBeal,Downey was arrested onThanksgivingin 2000, when his room atMerv Griffin's Hotel and Givenchy Spa inPalm Springs, California,was searched by the police, who were responding to an anonymous 911 call. Downey was under the influence of a controlled substance and in possession of cocaine andvalium.[65][66]Rolling Stonelater ran a six-page investigation into the weekend's events.[36]Despite the fact that, if convicted, he would have faced a prison sentence of up to four years and eight months, he signed on to appear in at least eight moreAlly McBealepisodes.[67]

In April 2001, while Downey was on parole, a Los Angeles police officer found him wandering barefoot inCulver City.He was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs but was released a few hours later,[68]even though tests showed he had cocaine in his system.[69]After this last arrest,Ally McBealexecutives ordered last-minute rewrites and reshoots and fired Downey, despite the fact that Downey's character had resuscitatedAlly McBeal's ratings.[70]The Culver City arrest also cost him a role in the high-profile filmAmerica's Sweethearts,[69]and the subsequent incarceration prompted Gibson to cancel hisHamletproduction. In July 2001, Downey pleadedno contestto the Palm Springs charges, avoiding jail time. Instead, he was sent into drug rehabilitation and received three years of probation, benefiting fromCalifornia Proposition 36,which had been passed the year before with the aim of helping nonviolent drug offenders overcome their addictions instead of sending them to jail.[4][71]Downey spent a year at the court-ordered drug-treatment facility. By this time, Downey was homeless, too much of an insurance liability to be employable, and on the verge of bankruptcy.[36]

The bookConversations with Woody Allenreports that directorWoody Allenwanted to cast Downey andWinona Ryderin his 2003 filmMelinda and Melindabut was unable to do so because he could not get insurance on them. Allen stated, "We couldn't get bonded. Thecompletion bondingcompanies would not bond the picture unless we could insure them. We were heartbroken because I had worked with Winona before [onCelebrity] and thought she was perfect for this and wanted to work with her again. And I had always wanted to work with Bob Downey and always thought he was a huge talent. "[72]

In a December 18, 2000, article forPeoplemagazine titled "Bad to Worse," Downey's stepmother, Rosemary, told author Alex Tresnlowski that Downey had been diagnosed withbipolar disorder"a few years ago" and added that this was "the reason he has a hard time staying sober. What hasn't been tried is medication and intensivepsychotherapy."[73]In the same article, Dr. Manijeh Nikakhtar, a Los Angeles psychiatrist and co-author ofAddiction or Self-Medication: The Truth,claimed she received a letter from Downey in 1999, during his time at Corcoran II, asking for advice on his condition. She discovered that "no one had done a complete [psychiatric] evaluation [on him]... I asked him flat out if he thought he was bipolar, and he said, 'Oh yeah. There are times I spend a lot of money and I'm hyperactive, and there are other times I'm down.'"[73]

In an article for the March 2007 issue ofEsquire,Downey stated that he wanted to address "this whole thing about the bipolar" after receiving a phone call from "the Bipolar Association" asking him about being bipolar. When Downey denied he had ever said he was bipolar, the caller quoted thePeoplearticle, to which Downey replied, "'No!Dr. Malibusiansaid [I said I was bipolar]... ', and they go, 'Well, it's been written, so we're going to quote it.' "[74]Downey flatly denied being "depressedormanic"and said that previous attempts to diagnose him with any kind ofpsychiatricormood disorderhave always been skewed because "the guy I was seeing didn't know I was smokin'crackin his bathroom. You can't make a diagnosis until somebody's sober. "[74]

2001–2007: Resurgence

After five years of substance abuse, arrests, rehabilitation, and relapse, Downey was ready to work toward a full recovery from drugs and return to his career. In discussing his failed attempts to control his addictive behavior in the past, Downey toldOprah Winfreyin November 2004 that "when someone says, 'I really wonder if maybe I should go to rehab?' Well, uh, you're a wreck, you just lost your job, and your wife left you. Uh, you might want to give it a shot."[75]He added that after his last arrest in April 2001, when he knew he would likely be facing another stint in prison or another form of incarceration such as court-ordered rehab, "I said, 'You know what? I don't think I can continue doing this.' And I reached out for help, and I ran with it. You can reach out for help in kind of a half-assed way and you'll get it and you won't take advantage of it. It's not that difficult to overcome these seemingly ghastly problems... what's hard is to decide to do it."[75]

Downey got his first post-rehabilitation acting job in August 2001, lip-syncing in the video forElton John's single "I Want Love."[76]Video directorSam Taylor-Woodshot 16 takes of the video and used the last one because, according to John, Downey looked completely relaxed and "the way he underplays it is fantastic."[77]Downey was able to return to the big screen afterMel Gibson,who had been a close friend to Downey since both had co-starred inAir America,paid Downey's insurance bond for the 2003 filmThe Singing Detective(directed by hisBack to Schoolco-star Keith Gordon).[3]Gibson's gamble paved the way for Downey's comeback, and Downey returned to mainstream films in the mid-2000s withGothika,for which producerJoel Silverwithheld 40% of Downey's salary until after production wrapped as insurance against his addictive behavior. Similar clauses became standard in his contracts throughout the 2000s.[78]Silver, who was getting closer to Downey as he dated his assistant Susan Levin (laterSusan Downey), also got the actor the leading role in thecomedy thrillerKiss Kiss Bang Bang,the directorial debut of screenwriterShane Black.[79]

AfterGothika,Downey was cast in a number of leading and supporting roles, including well-received work in a number of semi-independent films:A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,Good Night, and Good Luck;Richard Linklater's dystopian,rotoscopedA Scanner Darkly(in which Downey plays the role of a drug addict); andSteven Shainberg's fictional biographical film ofDiane Arbus,Fur,in which Downey's character represented the two biggest influences on Arbus's professional life,Lisette ModelandMarvin Israel.[80]Downey also received great notice for his roles in more mainstream fare such asKiss Kiss Bang BangandDisney'spoorly receivedThe Shaggy Dog.[81]

On November 23, 2004, Downey released his debut musical album,The Futurist,onSony Classical,for which he designed the cover art and the track listing label on the CD with his son Indio.[82]The album received mixed reviews,[83][84]but Downey stated in 2006 that he probably would not do another album, as he felt that the energy he put into doing the album was not compensated.[85]In 2006, Downey returned to television when he didvoice actingonFamily Guyin the episode "The Fat Guy Strangler".Downey had previously telephoned the show's production staff and asked if he could produce or assist in episode creation, as his son Indio is a fan of the show. The producers of the show accepted the offer and created the character ofPatrick Pewterschmidt,Lois Griffin's long-lost,mentally disturbedbrother, for Downey.[86]

Downey signed on with publisherHarperCollinsto write a memoir, which in 2006 was already being billed as a "candid look at the highs and lows of his life and career." In 2008, however, Downey returned his advance to the publishers and canceled the book without further comment.[87]In 2007, Downey appeared inDavid Fincher's mystery thrillerZodiac,which was based on a true story. He played the role ofSan Francisco ChroniclejournalistPaul Avery,who was reporting on theZodiac Killercase.[88]

2008–2019: Iron Man and further success

Downey at an event forIron Manin 2008

Despite all of the critical success Downey had experienced throughout his career, he had not appeared in a"blockbuster" film.That changed in 2008, when Downey starred in two critically and commercially successful films,Iron ManandTropic Thunder.In the articleBen Stillerwrote for Downey's entry in the 2008 edition ofThe Time 100,he offered an observation on Downey's commercially successful summer at the box office:

Yes, Downey isIron Man,but he really is Actor Man... In the realm where box office is irrelevant and talent is king, the realm that actually means something, he has always ruled, and finally this summer he gets to have his cake and let us eat him up all the way to the multiplex, where his mastery is in full effect.

— Ben Stiller, The 2008Time 100,entry No. 60, "Robert Downey Jr."[89]

In 2007, Downey was cast as thetitle characterin the filmIron Man,[90]with directorJon Favreauexplaining the choice by stating, "Downey wasn't the most obvious choice, but he understood what makes the character tick. He found a lot of his own life experience in 'Tony Stark'."[91]Favreau insisted on having Downey, as he repeatedly claimed that Downey would be toIron ManwhatJohnny Deppis to thePirates of the Caribbeanseries:a lead actor who could both elevate the quality of the film and increase the public's interest in it.[55][92][93][94]For the role, Downey had to gain more than 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of muscle in five months to look like he "had the power to forge iron."[95]

Iron Manwas released worldwide between April 30 and May 3, 2008, grossing over $585 million worldwide[96]and receiving rave reviews that cited Downey's performance as a highlight of the film.[97][98][99]By October 2008, Downey had agreed to star in twoIron Mansequels, as part of theIron Man franchise,as well asThe Avengers,featuring the superhero team that Stark joins, based on Marvel's comic book seriesThe Avengers.[100]He first reprised the role in a small appearance as Iron Man'salter egoTony Stark in the 2008 filmThe Incredible Hulk,as a part ofMarvel Studios' depicting the sameMarvel Universeon film by providing continuity among the movies.[101]

AfterIron Man,Downey appeared alongside Ben Stiller andJack Blackin the Stiller-directedTropic Thunder.The three actors play a Hollywood archetype, with Downey playing self-absorbed multi-Oscar-winningAustralianmethod actor Kirk Lazarus – as they star in an extremely expensiveVietnam-erafilm calledTropic Thunder.Lazarus undergoes a "controversial skin pigmentation procedure" in order to take on the role ofAfrican-Americanplatoon sergeant Lincoln Osiris, which requires Downey to wear dark makeup and a wig. Both Stiller and Downey feared Downey's portrayal of the character could become controversial:

Stiller says that he and Downey always stayed focused on the fact that they were skewering insufferable actors, not African Americans. "I was trying to push it as far as you can within reality", Stiller explains. "I had no idea how people would respond to it". Stiller screened a rough cut of the film [in March 2008] and it scored high with African Americans. He was relieved at the reaction. "It seems people really embrace it", he said.[102]

When asked by Harry Smith on CBS'sThe Early Showwho his model was for Lazarus, Downey laughed before responding, "Sadly, my sorry-ass self."[103]

Released in the United States on August 13, 2008,Tropic Thunderreceived good reviews, with 83% of reviews positive and an average normalized score of 71, according to the review aggregator websitesRotten TomatoesandMetacritic,respectively.[104][105]It earned US$26 million in its North American opening weekend and retained the number one position for its first three weekends of release. The film grossed $180 million in theaters before its release on home video on November 18, 2008. Downey was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actorfor his portrayal of Lazarus.[106]

Opening in late April 2009 was a film Downey finished in mid-2008,The Soloist.The film was delayed from a November 2008 release byParamount Picturesdue to the studio's tight end-of-year release schedule.[107]Critics who had seen the film in 2008 were mentioning it as a possibleAcademy Awardcandidate.[108]Downey picked up an Academy Award nomination for the 2008 release year for his role inTropic Thunder.[109]

The first role Downey accepted afterIron ManwasSherlock HolmesinGuy Ritchie's adaptation ofSherlock Holmes.Warner Bros.released it on December 25, 2009.[110]The film set several box office records in the United States for a Christmas Day release, beating the previous record-holder, 2008'sMarley & Me,by nearly $10 million, and finished second toAvatarin a record-setting Christmas weekend box office.Sherlock Holmesended up being the8th highest-grossing film of 2009.[111][112]When Downey won the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for his role as Sherlock Holmes, he noted in his acceptance speech that he had prepared no remarks because "Susan Downeytold me thatMatt Damonwas going to win so don't bother preparing a speech. "[113]

Downey speaking at the 2019Disney Legends Awards

Downey returned as Tony Stark in the first of two planned sequels toIron Man,Iron Man 2,which was released in May 2010.Iron Man 2grossed over $623 million worldwide, becoming the7th highest-grossing film of 2010.[114]Downey's other commercial film release of 2010 was the comedyroad film,Due Date.The movie, co-starringZach Galifianakis,was released in November 2010[115]and grossed over $211 million worldwide, making it the 36th highest-grossing movie of 2010.[116]Downey's sole 2011 film credit wasSherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,which opened worldwide on December 16, 2011.[117]

In 2012, Downey reprised the role of Tony Stark inThe Avengers.The film received positive reviews[118]and was highly successful at the box office, becoming the third highest-grossing film of all time both in the United States and worldwide.[119]His film, theDavid Dobkin-directed dramedyThe Judge,[120]a project co-produced by his production companyTeam Downey,was the opening film at the 2014Toronto International Film Festival.[121]Downey played Tony Stark again inIron Man 3(2013),[122]Avengers: Age of Ultron(2015),Captain America: Civil War(2016),Spider-Man: Homecoming(2017),[123]Avengers: Infinity War(2018), andAvengers: Endgame(2019).[123]Three of his scenes fromThe AvengersandAvengers: Endgamewere used as archive footage in thefirst episodeof theDisney+seriesLoki.[124]Downey hostedThe Age of A.I.,a YouTube documentary series released in 2019.[125]

2020–present: Post-Marvel

In 2020, Downey starred inDolittle,playing thetitular character,depicted in the film as a 19th-century Welsh veterinarian who can communicate with animals. This was the second film from Team Downey. It was abox office disappointmentand received negative reviews from critics, who called it "too long [and] lifeless."[126]

In 2023, Downey portrayed antagonistic bureaucratLewis StraussinChristopher Nolan'sOppenheimer.He took a pay cut to work on the film, earning $4 million in lieu of his usual $10–20 million upfront salary.[127]Downey would later describeOppenheimeras "the best film" in which he has appeared to date.[128]The biopic and Downey's performance received critical acclaim.[129][130][131]For the role, he won aGolden Globe Award,aBAFTA Award,aScreen Actors Guild Award,and anAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor.[132]Also in 2023, Downey hosted the television seriesDowney’s Dream Cars,where he and his team converted some of Downey's cars from gas to electric.[133]

Downey next starred in a2024 television adaptationofViet Thanh Nguyen's historical satire novelThe SympathizeronHBO Max.[134]Downey Jr. will next make hisBroadwaydebut inMcNeal,from playwrightAyad Akhtar,playing a gifted novelist with a difficult family life and a potentially problematic interest in artificial intelligence. Performances will start in September atLincoln Center'sVivian Beaumont Theatre.[135]

Other ventures

Music

Downey has sung on several soundtracks for his films, includingChaplin,Too Much Sun,Two Girls and a Guy,Friends and Lovers,The Singing Detective,andKiss Kiss Bang Bang.In 2001, he appeared in the music video forElton John's song "I Want Love."He released a CD in 2004 calledThe Futurist,and while promoting his filmTropic Thunder,he and his co-starsBen StillerandJack Blackwere back-up singers for "The Pips" toGladys Knightsinging "Midnight Train to Georgia."[136]

Downey's most commercially successful recording venture to date (combining sales and radio airplay) has been his remake of the 1973Joni MitchellChristmas song "River,"which was included on theAlly McBealtie-in albumAlly McBeal: A Very Ally Christmas,released in 2000; Downey's character Larry Paul performs the song in theAlly McBealepisode "Tis the Season."[137]

Business

On June 14, 2010, Downey and his wife Susan opened their own production company calledTeam Downey.Their first project wasThe Judge.[138]In 2024, Downey launched a coffee company named Happy with Craig Dubitsky.[139]

Personal life

Relationships and family

Downey started dating actressSarah Jessica Parkerin 1984 after meeting her on the set ofFirstborn.They were both 18 and moved in together after eight weeks of dating.[26]The couple separated eight years later, in 1991, due to hisdrug addiction.[140]

Downey married actress and singerDeborah Falconeron May 29, 1992, after a 42-day courtship.[141]Their son was born in September 1993.[142]The strain on their marriage from Downey's repeated trips to rehab and jail finally reached a breaking point; in 2001, in the midst of Downey's last arrest and sentencing to an extended stay in rehab, Falconer left Downey and took their son with her.[141]Downey and Falconer finalized their divorce on April 26, 2004.

Downey with wifeSusan Downeyat the2010 Academy Awards

In 2003, Downey met producerSusan Downey(née Levin), an executive vice president of production atJoel Silver's film company,Silver Pictures,on the set ofGothika.[3]Though Susan twice turned down his romantic advances, she and Downey did quietly strike up a romance during production.[143]Despite Susan's worries that the romance would not last after the completion of shooting given that "he's an actor; I have a real job,"[143]the couple's relationship continued after production wrapped onGothika,and Downey proposed to Susan on the night before her thirty-first birthday.[143]In August 2005, the couple were married in aJewishceremony atAmagansett, New York.[144][145]Atattooon one of his biceps reads "Suzie Q" in tribute to her.[146]The Downeys' first child, a son, was born in February 2012,[147]and their second, a daughter, was born in November 2014.[148][149][150]

Downey has been a close friend ofMel Gibsonsince they starred inAir America.Downey defended Gibson during the controversy surroundingThe Passion of the Christand said "nobody's perfect" in reference toGibson's 2006 DUI.[151]Gibson said of Downey: "He was one of the first people to call and offer the hand of friendship. He just said, 'Hey, welcome to the club. Let's go see what we can do to work on ourselves.'"[152]In October 2011, Downey was honored at the 25th American Cinematheque Awards. Downey chose Gibson to present him with his award for his life's work and used his air time to say a few kind words about Gibson and explain why he chose him to present the award.[153]

Sobriety

Downey says he has been drug-free since July 2003[154]and credits his wife with helping him overcome his drug and alcohol habits, along with his family, therapy,meditation,twelve-step recovery programs,yoga,and the practice ofWing Chunkung fu,[35]the martial art he learned fromEric Oram,who is also a fight consultant in several of Downey's movies.[155][156]Oram was Downey's personal fight coordinator inAvengers: Age of UltronandCaptain America: Civil War.[157]In December 2015, Downey was chosen as one of 91 people to be pardoned by theGovernor of California,Jerry Brown,for his prior drug offenses. The pardon does not erase Downey's criminal record, but it does allow him to serve on a jury.[158][159]Oram wrote a letter in support of Downey's pardon to Governor Brown.[160]When asked onThe Oprah Winfrey Showhow he was able to make his sobriety stick this time, Downey said, "It's really not that difficult to overcome these seemingly ghastly problems. What's hard is to decide to do it."[161]

Downey Jr. withWilliam CheungandEric Oram(2005)

Religious beliefs

Downey has described his religious beliefs as "Jewish Buddhist."[162]In the past, Downey has been interested in Christianity and theHare Krishnamovement.[162]

Political views

In a 2008 interview, Downey stated that his time in prison changed his political point of view somewhat, saying: "I have a really interesting political point of view, and it's not always something I say too loud at dinner tables here, but you can't go from a $2,000-a-night suite at La Mirage to a penitentiary and really understand it and come out aliberal.You can't. I wouldn't wish that experience on anyone else, but it was very, very, very educational for me and has informed my proclivities and politics ever since. "[163]

However, when asked about the quote in a 2015 interview to promoteAvengers: Age of Ultron,he denied that his previous statement reflected any longstanding beliefs on his part and stated, "I wouldn't say that I'm aRepublicanor a liberal or aDemocrat."[164]

Downey has shown support for theDemocratic Party.He donated toBarack Obama's presidential campaignin 2012.[165]In 2014, Downey attended a fundraiser for the Democratic Party and donated to theDemocratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.[166]In 2016, Downey appeared in an Internet video urging the American public to vote againstDonald Trumpin the then-upcomingpresidential election.[167]In 2020, Downey took part in a virtual fundraiser forJoe Biden's presidential campaign,with fellowAvengersactors and vice presidential nomineeKamala Harris.[168][169]

Downey serves on the board of theAnti-Recidivism Coalition,a nonprofit organization that advocates forcriminal justice reformto reduce incarceration, improve the outcomes of formerly incarcerated individuals, and build healthier communities.[170]

Environmentalism

In January 2020, during the promotion of his filmDolittle,Downey announced that he had made the decision to adopt avegandiet in response to the debate about the climate crisis, stating that "I'm a one-man carbon footprint nightmare colossus"[171]and believing he can do his part to contribute. Downey previously announced the opening of Footprint Coalition, an organization he launched to reducecarbon footprintsaround the world using advanced technology.[172]The Footprint Coalition promotes technologies that protect the environment, such as French insect-farming startup Ynsect,[173]the bio-based alternative to plastic manufacturer RWDC,[174]and bamboo toilet paper manufacturer Cloud Paper.[175][176]

In January 2024, Downey stated that he was apescetarianand had to give up his vegan diet due to low levels of vitamin B12, calcium, and iron.[177]He co-authoredCool Food: Erasing Your Carbon Footprint One Bite at a Time,which advocates alow-carbonplant-based diet to reduce carbon footprints.[177][178]

Acting credits and accolades

Main articles:Robert Downey Jr. filmographyandList of awards and nominations received by Robert Downey Jr.

Downey has appeared in over 70 films over the course of his career.[179]According to Rotten Tomatoes, Downey's most commercially successful films includeTropic Thunder,Oppenheimer,theSherlock Holmesfilm series, and several Marvel Studios films, includingCaptain America: Civil Warand theIron ManandAvengersseries.[180]Downey's films have grossed over $14 billion worldwide, making him the thirdhighest-grossing actor of all time,according toThe Numbers.[181]He was named Hollywood's highest-paid actor byForbesfrom 2013 to 2015.[182][183]He has received various accolades, including twoBAFTA Awards,threeGolden Globe Awards,and oneAcademy Award.[132][179][184]

Discography

Studio album

Soundtrack appearances

Year Song Soundtrack Notes
1992 "Smile" ChaplinOST OnThe Futurist
1993 "The Star-Spangled Banner" Heart and SoulsOST WithB.B. King
2000 "White Christmas" Ally McBeal:A Very Ally Christmas WithVonda Shepard
"River"
2001 "Every Breath You Take" Ally McBeal: For Once in My Life featuring Vonda Shepard WithSting
"Chances Are" With Vonda Shepard
"Snakes"
2003 "In My Dreams" The Singing DetectiveOST
2005 "Broken" Kiss Kiss Bang BangOST OnThe Futurist

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