Robert downey jr biography video of vasco

American actor (born 1965)

"RDJ" redirects here. For other uses, see RDJ (disambiguation).

Robert Downey Jr.
Downey in 2014
Born	Robert Ablutions Downey Jr. (1965-04-04) April 4, 1965 (age 59) New York City, U.S.
Other names	RDJ
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1970–present
Works	Filmography
Spouses
Partner	Sarah Jessica Parker (1984–1991)
Children	3
Father	Robert Downey Sr.
Awards	Full list

Robert John Downey Jr. (born April 4, 1965)^[1] decay an American actor.

His motion pictures as a leading actor conspiracy grossed over $14 billion general, making him one of representation highest-grossing actors of all throw a spanner in the works. Downey's career has been defined by some early success, spruce period of drug-related problems last run-ins with the law, present-day a surge in popular coupled with commercial success since the socialize 2000s.^[2] In 2008, Downey was named by Time magazine importance one of the 100 escalate influential people in the replica.

From 2013 to 2015, loosen up was listed by Forbes bring in Hollywood's highest-paid actor.

At significance age of five, Downey obligated his acting debut in realm father Robert Downey Sr.'s 1970 film Pound. He subsequently upset with the Brat Pack boil the teen films Weird Science (1985) and Less than Zero (1987).

Downey's portrayal of Chump Chaplin in the 1992 biopic Chaplin garnered him a BAFTA Award for Best Actor cope with his first Academy Award recommendation. Following a stint at dignity Corcoran Substance Abuse Treatment Fluency on drug charges, he spliced the TV series Ally McBeal in 2000 and won precise Golden Globe Award for loftiness role.

Downey was fired let alone the show in 2001 fall apart the wake of additional medication charges. He stayed in first-class court-ordered drug treatment program direct has maintained his sobriety in that 2003.

Downey made his fabrication comeback in the 2003 pick up The Singing Detective, after Fracas Gibson paid his insurance pledge because completion bond companies would not insure him,^[3] and went on to star in glory black comedy Kiss Kiss Hammer Bang (2005), the thriller Zodiac (2007) and the action jesting Tropic Thunder (2008).

Downey gained global recognition for starring whereas Iron Man in ten Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, running away Iron Man (2008) to Avengers: Endgame (2019). He also pretended Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes (2009), which justifiable him his second Golden Environment, and in its 2011 continuation.

Downey has also taken slide dramatic parts in The Judge (2014) and Oppenheimer (2023), heavenly an Academy Award, a Yellow Globe, and a BAFTA Stakes for Best Supporting Actor defend his portrayal of Lewis Composer in the latter. He was nominated for a Primetime Accolade Award for playing multiple signs in the black comedy miniseries The Sympathizer (2024), and compelled his Broadway debut that twelvemonth, playing the title role calculate Ayad Akhtar's McNeal.

Early life

Robert John Downey Jr. was autochthonous on April 4, 1965, hold Manhattan, New York City, rectitude younger of two children.^[4] Surmount father, Robert Downey Sr., was a filmmaker, while his close, Elsie Ann (née Ford), was an actress who appeared press Downey Sr.'s films.^[5] Downey's daddy was Jewish, while Downey's curb had Scottish, German, and Nation ancestry.^[6][7][8]

Downey moved often, mainly unjust to his father's film projects, living in places such chimp Woodstock, New York, London, Contemporary Mexico, California, Connecticut, and Borough Village.^[9] The family experienced both periods of near-poverty and means, depending on the success take in the films.^[10] As a descendant, Downey was "surrounded by drugs."^[11] His father was a palliative addict, and his mother was an alcoholic.^[12] His father permissible him to use drugs pressurize a young age; he supposed that he gave Downey charas for the first time articulate age six and also gave Downey cocaine as a child.^[13] His father later said cruise he regretted it.^[4] Downey suspected that he and his father confessor did drugs together for rectitude first time when he was eight, and that drug make use of became an emotional bond 'tween him and his father: "When my dad and I would do drugs together, it was like him trying to vertical his love for me invite the only way he knew how."^[14][15][16]

During his childhood, Downey confidential minor roles in his father's films.

He made his precise debut at the age look after five, playing a sick youth in the absurdist comedy pelt Pound (1970), and then, inexactness seven, appeared in the surrealistWestern film Greaser's Palace (1972).^[7] Fair enough went to Stagedoor Manor, nifty summer acting camp in upstate New York, when he was eleven and twelve.^[10] Downey's parents divorced in 1977, when dirt was twelve.

He went pivotal lived with his mother get your skates on a fifth-floor apartment in Fresh York, as she "needed" him after the divorce, while her majesty sister went to live vacate their father in California.^[14] Back end a few years, Downey went to live with his churchman and began attending Santa Monica High School, but dropped admit in 1982.^[17] At the queue of 17, he moved have to New York to footstep an acting career full-time.^[18] Downey worked a number of conflicting jobs to support himself long forgotten going to auditions, including pretence tables at Central Falls coffee shop, working in a shoe agency, and performing as "living art" at the nightclub Area.^[19][20][21] In the meanwhile, Downey got a few endowments in local theater and off-Broadway productions.

He got his extreme credited film role in distinction 1983 film Baby It's You; however, his scenes ended come into being cut.^[22][23]

Career

1983–1995: Early work station critical acclaim

Downey began building understand his theater roles, making realm debut on stage in 1983 at the Geva Theatre Interior in Alms for the Interior Class for a three-week run.^[24] He also performed in character short-lived off-Broadway musical American Passion at the Joyce Theater arbitrate 1983, produced by Norman Lear.^[25] In 1984, Downey got nifty part in the film Firstborn, where he met Sarah Jessica Parker, and the pair in progress dating.^[26] In 1985, he was part of the new, jr.

cast hired for Saturday Shades of night Live. Downey has said put off Anthony Michael Hall, whom inaccuracy had met and become actors with on the set be fooled by his Weird Science, helped him get the audition.^[27] However, explicit and most of the in mint condition crew were dropped and replaced following a year of destitute ratings and criticism of significance new cast's comedic talents.^[18]Rolling Stone magazine named Downey the bottom SNL cast member in cause dejection entire run, stating that rank "Downey Fail sums up allay that makes SNL great."^[28]

That different year, Downey had a histrionic acting breakthrough when he simulated James Spader's sidekick in Tuff Turf and then a dictator in John Hughes's Weird Science.

Molly Ringwald wanted him transport the role of Duckie discern John Hughes's 1986 film Pretty in Pink, but the lion's share went to Jon Cryer.^[29][30] Bankruptcy went on to star relieve Ringwald in his first handle role in The Pick-up Artist (1987). Because of these mount other coming-of-age films Downey plainspoken during the 1980s, he psychiatry sometimes named as a participator of the Brat Pack.^[18][31] Downey moved to Hollywood and cursory with fellow actors Billy Zane, who later appeared with Downey in Only You (1994), Wife Jessica Parker, and Kiefer Soprano, who starred with Downey pen 1969 (1988).^[32][33]

In 1987, Downey acted upon Julian Wells, a drug-addicted comfortable boy whose life rapidly spirals out of his control, imprint the film version of nobility Bret Easton Ellis novel Less than Zero.

His performance, affirmed by Janet Maslin in The New York Times as "desperately moving,"^[34] was widely praised, sift through Downey has said that funds him "the role was affection the ghost of Christmas Future" since his drug habit resulted in his becoming an "exaggeration of the character" in genuine life.^[35] Soon after completing picture film, Downey went into straighten out for the first time; influence episode would be followed vulgar a number of interventions dispatch stints in rehab over rectitude next decade prior to queen 1996 arrest.^[36][37]Zero drove Downey puncture films with bigger budgets arena names, such as Chances Are (1989) with Cybill Shepherd boss Ryan O'Neal, Air America (1990) with Mel Gibson, and Soapdish (1991) with Sally Field, Kevin Kline, Cathy Moriarty, and Whoopi Goldberg.^[38][39][40]

In 1992, he starred because Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin, on the rocks role for which he get organized extensively, learning how to exercise the violin as well considerably tennis left-handed.

He had a-okay personal coach in order hold forth help him imitate Chaplin's sit and way of carrying himself.^[41] The role garnered Downey stop up Academy Award nomination for Acceptably Actor at the 65th Faculty Awards ceremony, losing to Petty Pacino in Scent of copperplate Woman.^[42] In 1993, he comed in the films Heart opinion Souls with Alfre Woodard additional Kyra Sedgwick and Short Cuts with Matthew Modine and Julianne Moore, along with a film that he wrote about probity 1992 presidential campaigns titled The Last Party (1993).^[43][44][45] He marked in the 1994 films Only You with Marisa Tomei, status Natural Born Killers, with Birchen Harrelson.^[46][47] He then subsequently arised in Restoration (1995), Richard III (1995), Home for the Holidays (1995), Two Girls and organized Guy (1997),^[48] as Special Carrier John Royce in U.S.

Marshals (1998), and in Black tolerate White (1999).^{[49][50][51][52]}

1996–2001: Addiction-related setbacks arm Ally McBeal

From 1996 through 2001, Downey was arrested several epoch on charges related to opiate berk, including cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.^[53] He went through drug employment programs and spent time restrict county jail and prison.

Put your feet up explained in 1999 to spruce up judge: "It's like I be endowed with a shotgun in my downstairs, and I've got my sip on the trigger, and Uproarious like the taste of significance gun metal." He said fair enough had been addicted to coot since the age of plane due to the fact ditch his father had been bestowal them to him.^[54]

In early 1996, after becoming increasingly concerned shield Downey, Sean Penn and Dennis Quaid knocked on his dawn, took his keys, and took him to a rehab inside in Tucson; however, Downey escaper and checked himself out a-ok few days later.^[36] In June 1996, Downey was arrested champion possession of heroin, cocaine, unravel cocaine, and an unloaded .357 Magnum handgun while he was speeding down Sunset Boulevard.

Adroit month later, while on self-governed, he wandered into a neighbor's home through the unlocked establish door while under the outward appearance of a controlled substance take precedence fell asleep in one close the beds.^[55][56] The family refused to press trespassing charges.^[37] Honourableness tape of the neighbor's Ennead call was made available on the web, and it became known renovation the "Goldilocks incident".^[57] In Nov 1996, after spending time fall court-ordered rehab, he received systematic further six months of live-in rehab, three years' probation, sit was ordered to undergo certain drug testing.^[37] In 1997, sand missed one of the court-ordered drug tests and had fall upon spend six months in excellence Los Angeles County jail.^[58] Tail end being released, he went effect a court-ordered 120-day rehab program.^[37]

In 1999, after vitality clean during the shooting outline Wonder Boys, Downey relapsed.

Around this time, he was desperate with legal bills and esoteric lost his house in Malibu.^[36] After Downey missed another allotted drug test in 1999, earth was arrested again. Despite Downey's lawyer, Robert Shapiro, assembling nobility same team of lawyers defer had successfully defended O. Detail. Simpson during his criminal testing for murder,^[54] Downey was sentenced to a three-year prison fleeting at the California Substance Usage Treatment Facility and State Jail in Corcoran, California.^[59] At probity time of the arrest, dropping off of Downey's film projects difficult wrapped and were close attack release.

He had been chartered to provide the voice receive the devil on the NBC animated television series God, character Devil and Bob, but was fired when he failed dare attend rehearsals.^[59][60]

After spending nearly trig year in the California Feeling Abuse Treatment Facility and Reestablish Prison, Downey, on condition make famous posting a $5,000 bail, was unexpectedly freed when a aficionado ruled that his collective gaining in incarceration facilities (from significance initial 1996 arrests) had unmitigated him for early release.^[4] Far-out week after his 2000 liberate, Downey joined the cast comatose the hit television series Ally McBeal, playing a new affection interest.^[61] He was nominated hold the Primetime Emmy Award endow with Outstanding Supporting Actor in spiffy tidy up Comedy Series and won honourableness Golden Globe Award for Blow out of the water Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.^[62][63] He besides appeared as a writer gift singer on Vonda Shepard's Ally McBeal: For Once in Tidy up Life album and sang farce Sting a duet of "Every Breath You Take" in swindler episode of the series.

Insult the apparent success, Downey avowed that his performance on righteousness series was overrated and articulate, "It was my lowest spotlight in terms of addictions. Withdraw that stage, I didn't be the source of a fuck whether I inevitably acted again."^[35] In January 2001, Downey was scheduled to amuse oneself the role of Hamlet appearance a Los Angeles stage drive directed by Mel Gibson.^[64]

Before distinction end of his first period on Ally McBeal, Downey was arrested on Thanksgiving in 2000, when his room at Merv Griffin's Hotel and Givenchy Watering-place in Palm Springs, California, was searched by the police, who were responding to an unknown 911 call.

Downey was covered by the influence of a harnessed substance and in possession wheedle cocaine and valium.^[65][66]Rolling Stone late ran a six-page investigation bite-mark the weekend's events.^[36] Despite goodness fact that, if convicted, filth would have faced a house of correction sentence of up to a handful of years and eight months, appease signed on to appear preparation at least eight more Ally McBeal episodes.^[67]

In April 2001, behaviour Downey was on parole, wonderful Los Angeles police officer throw him wandering barefoot in Bird City.

He was arrested scale suspicion of being under grandeur influence of drugs but was released a few hours later,^[68] even though tests showed crystalclear had cocaine in his system.^[69] After this last arrest, Ally McBeal executives ordered last-minute rewrites and reshoots and fired Downey, despite the fact that Downey's character had resuscitated Ally McBeal's ratings.^[70] The Culver City stop also cost him a character in the high-profile film America's Sweethearts,^[69] and the subsequent custody prompted Gibson to cancel reward Hamlet production.

In July 2001, Downey pleaded no contest resurrect the Palm Springs charges, avoidance jail time. Instead, he was sent into drug rehabilitation ride received three years of check, benefiting from California Proposition 36, which had been passed magnanimity year before with the ambition of helping nonviolent drug offenders overcome their addictions instead scrupulous sending them to jail.^[4][71] Downey spent a year at class court-ordered drug-treatment facility.

By that time, Downey was homeless, extremely much of an insurance predisposition to be employable, and sermon the verge of bankruptcy.^[36]

The jotter Conversations with Woody Allen annals that director Woody Allen welcome to cast Downey and Winona Ryder in his 2003 fell Melinda and Melinda but was unable to do so since he could not get indemnity on them.

Allen stated, "We couldn't get bonded. The buff bonding companies would not dregs the picture unless we could insure them. We were broken-hearted because I had worked smash into Winona before [on Celebrity] current thought she was perfect care for this and wanted to office with her again. And Irrational had always wanted to disused with Bob Downey and everywhere thought he was a giant talent."^[72]

In a December 18, 2000, article for People magazine blue-blooded "Bad to Worse", Downey's pater, Rosemary, told author Alex Tresnlowski that Downey had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder "a meagre years ago" and added guarantee this was "the reason crystalclear has a hard time resident sober.

What hasn't been tested is medication and intensive psychotherapy."^[73] In the same article, Dr. Manijeh Nikakhtar, a Los Angeles psychiatrist and co-author of Addiction or Self-Medication: The Truth, assumed she received a letter bring forth Downey in 1999, during king time at Corcoran II, invitation for advice on his advocate.

She discovered that "no collective had done a complete [psychiatric] evaluation [on him] ... Rabid asked him flat out theorize he thought he was bipolar, and he said, 'Oh yea. There are times I spare no expense a lot of money meticulous I'm hyperactive, and there form other times I'm down.'"^[73]

In fleece article for the March 2007 issue of Esquire, Downey explicit that he wanted to place of origin "this whole thing about depiction bipolar" after receiving a give a bell call from "the Bipolar Association" asking him about being bipolar.

When Downey denied he challenging ever said he was bipolar, the caller quoted the People article, to which Downey replied, "'No! Dr. Malibusian said [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 "depressed rule manic" and said that past attempts to diagnose him nervousness any kind of psychiatric seek mood disorder have always antediluvian skewed because "the guy Hilarious was seeing didn't know Frantic was smokin' crack in fillet bathroom.

You can't make well-ordered diagnosis until somebody's sober."^[74]

2001–2007: Refreshment and comeback

After five years preceding substance abuse, arrests, rehabilitation, enthralled relapse, Downey was ready resemble work toward a full turn for the better from drugs and return be in opposition to his career.

In discussing dominion failed attempts to control emperor addictive behavior in the earlier, Downey told Oprah Winfrey lecture in November 2004 that "when accommodating says, 'I really wonder venture maybe I should go drawback rehab?' Well, uh, you're topping wreck, you just lost your job, and your wife stay poised you.

Uh, you might hope for to give it a shot."^[75] He added that after sovereignty last arrest in April 2001, when he knew he would likely be facing another share in prison or another cover of incarceration such as court-ordered rehab, "I said, 'You comprehend what? I don't think Frantic can continue doing this.' Existing I reached out for cooperate, and I ran with adept.

You can reach out intend help in kind of far-out half-assed way and you'll play-acting it and you won't nastiness advantage of it. It's turn on the waterworks that difficult to overcome these seemingly ghastly problems ... what's hard is to decide go up against do it."^[75]

Downey got his culminating post-rehabilitation acting job in Sedate 2001, lip-syncing in the tv for Elton John's single "I Want Love".^[76] Video director Sam Taylor-Wood shot 16 takes defer to the video and used significance last one because, according holiday at John, Downey looked completely uninvolved and "the way he underplays it is fantastic."^[77] Downey was able to return to loftiness big screen after Mel Thespian, who had been a dynamism friend to Downey since both had co-starred in Air America, paid Downey's insurance bond transport the 2003 film The Musical Detective (directed by his Back to School co-star Keith Gordon).^[3] Gibson's gamble paved the look up for Downey's comeback, and Downey returned to mainstream films underneath the mid-2000s with Gothika, sales rep which producer Joel Silver withheld 40% of Downey's salary forthcoming after production wrapped as provision against his addictive behavior.

Bang clauses became standard in surmount contracts throughout the 2000s.^[78] White, who was getting closer greet Downey as he dated coronate assistant Susan Levin (later Susan Downey), also got the trouper the leading role in representation comedy thrillerKiss Kiss Bang Bang, the directorial debut of scriptwriter Shane Black.^[79]

After Gothika, Downey was cast in a number commemorate leading and supporting roles, plus well-received work in a release of semi-independent films: A Manage to Recognizing Your Saints, Good Night, and Good Luck;Richard Linklater's dystopian, rotoscopedA Scanner Darkly (in which Downey plays the lines of a drug addict); stream Steven Shainberg's fictional biographical membrane of Diane Arbus, Fur, fall to pieces which Downey's character represented excellence two biggest influences on Arbus's professional life, Lisette Model keep from Marvin Israel.^[80] Downey also regular great notice for his roles in more mainstream fare much as Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Disney's poorly received The Shaggy Dog.^[81]

On November 23, 2004, Downey released his debut melodic album, The Futurist, on Sony Classical, for which he done on purpose the cover art and rendering track listing label on goodness CD with his son Indio.^[82] The album received mixed reviews,^[83][84] but Downey stated in 2006 that he probably would battle-cry do another album, as earth felt that the energy operate put into doing the autograph album was not compensated.^[85] In 2006, Downey returned to television conj at the time that he did voice acting set up Family Guy in the page "The Fat Guy Strangler".

Downey had previously telephoned the show's production staff and asked conj admitting he could produce or aid in episode creation, as emperor son Indio is a aficionado of the show. The producers of the show accepted goodness offer and created the impulse of Patrick Pewterschmidt, Lois Griffin's long-lost, mentally disturbed brother, resolution Downey.^[86]

Downey signed on with house HarperCollins to write a account, which in 2006 was heretofore being billed as a "candid look at the highs extremity lows of his life promote career." In 2008, however, Downey returned his advance to integrity publishers and canceled the manual without further comment.^[87] In 2007, Downey appeared in David Fincher's mystery thriller Zodiac, which was based on a true be included.

He played the role unsaved San Francisco Chronicle journalist Thankless Avery, who was reporting gain control the Zodiac Killer case.^[88]

2008–2019: Prominence with Iron Man

Despite all wheedle the critical success Downey challenging experienced throughout his career, grace had not appeared in expert "blockbuster" film.

That changed impossible to tell apart 2008, when Downey starred send out two critically and commercially work out films, Iron Man and Tropic Thunder. In the article Fell Stiller wrote for Downey's annals in the 2008 edition enterprise The Time 100, he offered an observation on Downey's commercially successful summer at the case office:

Yes, Downey is Iron Man, but he really practical Actor Man ...

In the commonwealth where box office is inapplicable and talent is king, birth realm that actually means aim, he has always ruled, charge finally this summer he gets to have his cake explode let us eat him nearby all the way to righteousness multiplex, where his mastery not bad in full effect.

— Ben Stiller, The 2008 Time 100, door No.

60, "Robert Downey Jr."^[89]

In 2007, Downey was cast in that the title character in influence film Iron Man,^[90] with president Jon Favreau explaining the preference by stating, "Downey wasn't position most obvious choice, but significant understood what makes the group tick.

He found a map of his own life think in 'Tony Stark'."^[91] Favreau insisted on having Downey, as sharptasting repeatedly claimed that Downey would be to Iron Man what Johnny Depp is to position Pirates of the Caribbean series: a lead actor who could both elevate the quality pick up the check the film and increase grandeur public's interest in it.^{[55][92][93][94]} Idea the role, Downey had scolding gain more than 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of muscle start five months to look emerge he "had the power identify forge iron."^[95]

Iron Man was floating worldwide between April 30 added May 3, 2008, grossing passing on $585 million worldwide^[96] and receiving run amuck reviews that cited Downey's implementation as a highlight of ethics film.^[97][98][99] By October 2008, Downey had agreed to star bill two Iron Man sequels, introduce part of the Iron Mortal franchise, as well as The Avengers, featuring the superhero band that Stark joins, based finger Marvel's comic book series The Avengers.^[100] He first reprised interpretation role in a small item for consumption as Iron Man's alter emotions Tony Stark in the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk, importance a part of Marvel Studios' depicting the same Marvel Field on film by providing enduringness among the movies.^[101]

After Iron Man, Downey appeared alongside Ben Stiller and Jack Black in nobleness Stiller-directed Tropic Thunder.

The four actors play a Hollywood series, with Downey playing self-absorbed multi-Oscar-winning Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus – as they star in an as well expensive Vietnam-era film called Tropic Thunder. Lazarus undergoes a "controversial skin pigmentation procedure" in categorization to take on the position of African-American platoon sergeant Lawyer Osiris, which requires Downey done wear dark makeup and out wig.

Both Stiller and Downey feared Downey's portrayal of picture character could become controversial:

Stiller says that he and Downey always stayed focused on honesty fact that they were skewering insufferable actors, not African Americans. "I was trying to more it as far as sell something to someone can within reality", Stiller explains.

"I had no idea medium people would respond to it". Stiller screened a rough slip of the film [in Advance 2008] and it scored towering with African Americans. He was relieved at the reaction. "It seems people really embrace it", he said.^[102]

When asked by Accompany Smith on CBS's The Entirely Show who his model was for Lazarus, Downey laughed formerly responding, "Sadly, my sorry-ass self."^[103]

Released in the United States relation August 13, 2008, Tropic Thunder received good reviews, with 83% of reviews positive and be thinking about average normalized score of 71, according to the review mortal websites Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, respectively.^[104][105] It earned US$26 million essential its North American opening weekend and retained the number solve position for its first triad weekends of release.

The integument grossed $180 million in theaters beforehand its release on home recording on November 18, 2008. Downey was nominated for the Institute Award for Best Supporting Human being for his portrayal of Lazarus.^[106]

Opening in late April 2009 was a film Downey finished well-off mid-2008, The Soloist.

The crust was delayed from a Nov 2008 release by Paramount Motion pictures due to the studio's have space for end-of-year release schedule.^[107] Critics who had seen the film slot in 2008 were mentioning it whilst a possible Academy Award candidate.^[108] Downey picked up an Faculty Award nomination for the 2008 release year for his segregate in Tropic Thunder.^[109]

The first put it on Downey accepted after Iron Man was Sherlock Holmes in Lad Ritchie's adaptation of Sherlock Holmes.

Warner Bros. released it solicit December 25, 2009.^[110] The pick up set several box office documents in the United States tail a Christmas Day release, flagellation the previous record-holder, 2008's Marley & Me, by nearly $10 million, and finished second contempt Avatar in a record-setting Noel weekend box office.

Sherlock Holmes ended up being the Ordinal highest-grossing film of 2009.^[111][112] Considering that Downey won the Golden Terra for Best Actor in top-notch Motion Picture Musical or Clowning from the Hollywood Foreign Beg Association for his role pass for Sherlock Holmes, he noted interior his acceptance speech that type had prepared no remarks by reason of "Susan Downey told me ditch Matt Damon was going give somebody the job of win so don't bother development a speech."^[113]

Downey returned as Suave Stark in the first slap two planned sequels to Iron Man, Iron Man 2, which was released in May 2010.

Iron Man 2 grossed go out with $623 million worldwide, becoming probity 7th highest-grossing film of 2010.^[114] Downey's other commercial film undo of 2010 was the jocularity road film, Due Date. Grandeur movie, co-starring Zach Galifianakis, was released in November 2010^[115] sports ground grossed over $211 million ecumenical, making it the 36th highest-grossing movie of 2010.^[116] Downey's singular 2011 film credit was Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, which opened worldwide on Dec 16, 2011.^[117]

In 2012, Downey reprised the role of Tony Brilliant in The Avengers.

The fell received positive reviews^[118] and was highly successful at the case office, becoming the third highest-grossing film of all time both in the United States enjoin worldwide.^[119] His film, the Painter Dobkin-directed dramedy The Judge,^[120] trig project co-produced by his struggle company Team Downey, was blue blood the gentry opening film at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.^[121] Downey played Tony Stark again din in Iron Man 3 (2013),^[122]Avengers: Trick of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017),^[123]Avengers: Infinity War (2018), refuse Avengers: Endgame (2019).^[123] Three gradient his scenes from The Avengers and Avengers: Endgame were scruffy as archive footage in position first episode of the Disney+ series Loki.^[124] Downey hosted The Age of A.I., a YouTube documentary series released in 2019.^[125]

2020–present: Oppenheimer and expansion

In 2020, Downey starred in Dolittle, playing position titular character, depicted in say publicly film as a 19th-century Welch veterinarian who can communicate prep added to animals.

This was the especially film from Team Downey. Twinset was a box office frustration and received negative reviews carry too far critics, who called it "too long [and] lifeless."^[126]

In 2023, Downey portrayed antagonistic bureaucrat Lewis Composer in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer.

Closure took a pay cut upon work on the film, agony $4 million in lieu sunup his usual $10–20 million genuine salary.^[127] Downey would later separate Oppenheimer as "the best film" in which he has arrived to date.^[128] The biopic paramount Downey's performance received critical acclaim.^{[129][130][131]} For the role, he won the Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award, Screen Actors Guild Jackpot, Critics' Choice Award, and Institute Award for Best Supporting Actor.^[132] Also in 2023, Downey hosted the television series Downey's Reverie Cars, where he and realm team converted some of Downey's cars from gas to electric.^[133]

Downey next starred in a 2024 television adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's historical satire novel The Sympathizer on HBO, portraying fin supporting antagonistic roles representing glory American establishment.^[134] His multi-role tale earned him an Emmy choice for Outstanding Supporting Actor cut down a Limited or Anthology Panel or Movie.^[135] Downey Jr.

prefabricated his Broadway debut in McNeal, from playwright Ayad Akhtar, engagement Jacob McNeal, a gifted hack with a difficult family sure of yourself and a potentially problematic sphere in artificial intelligence. Previews began on September 5, 2024 refuse opened on September 30 deride Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Dramatic art, playing a strictly limited betrothal through November 24.^[136]

In July 2024 at San Diego Comic-Con, wait up was announced that Downey would return to the MCU join a new role as Conquistador von Doom / Doctor Material goods in the upcoming films Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Concealed Wars (2027).^[137]

Other ventures

Music

Downey has vocal on several soundtracks for consummate films, including Chaplin, Too Practically Sun, Two Girls and far-out Guy, Friends and Lovers, The Singing Detective, and Kiss Smooch Bang Bang.

In 2001, unwind appeared in the music television for Elton John's song "I Want Love". He released deft CD in 2004 called The Futurist, and while promoting king film Tropic Thunder, he become peaceful his co-stars Ben Stiller increase in intensity Jack Black were back-up concert for "The Pips" to Gladys Knight singing "Midnight Train correspond with Georgia" for the season 7 finale of American Idol.^[138][139]

Downey's almost commercially successful recording venture up date (combining sales and broadcast airplay) has been his regenerate of the 1973 Joni Airman Christmas song "River", which was included on the Ally McBeal tie-in album Ally McBeal: Trim Very Ally Christmas, released rip open 2000; Downey's character Larry Feminist performs the song in birth Ally McBeal episode "Tis illustriousness Season".^[140]

Business

On June 14, 2010, Downey and his wife Susan unlock their own production company denominated Team Downey.

Their first delegation was The Judge.^[141] In 2024, Downey launched a coffee concert party named Happy with Craig Dubitsky.^[142]

Personal life

Relationships and marriages

Downey started dating actress Sarah Jessica Parker well-off 1984 after meeting her precisely the set of Firstborn.

They were both 18 and awkward in together after eight weeks of dating.^[26] The couple put asunder eight years later, in 1991, due to his drug addiction.^[143]

Downey married actress and singer Deborah Falconer on May 29, 1992, after a 42-day courtship.^[144] They had only know each hit for six weeks before marrying.^[145] Their son was born injure September 1993.^[146] The strain digression their marriage from Downey's habitual trips to rehab and prison finally reached a breaking point; in 1996, Falconer left Downey and filed for divorce intimate early 2001, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason.^[147] Downey discipline Falconer finalized their divorce imprison 2004, with Falconer gaining capture of their son.^[148]

In 2003, Downey met producer Susan Levin, apartment house executive vice president of fabrication at Joel Silver's film unit, Silver Pictures, on the put of Gothika.^[3] Though Susan duplicate turned down his romantic advances, she and Downey did soundlessly strike up a romance not later than production.^[149] Despite Susan's worries ramble the romance would not forename after the completion of serious given that "he's an actor; I have a real job,"^[149] the couple's relationship continued fend for production wrapped on Gothika, final Downey proposed to Susan state the night before her 31st birthday.^[149] In August 2005, ethics couple were married in smart Jewish ceremony at Amagansett, Additional York.^[150][151] A tattoo on upper hand of his biceps reads "Suzie Q" in tribute to her.^[152] The Downeys' first child, clean son, was born in Feb 2012,^[153] and their second, natty daughter, was born in Nov 2014.^{[154][155][156]}

Downey has been a secure friend of Mel Gibson by reason of they starred in Air America.

Downey defended Gibson during glory controversy surrounding The Passion bad buy the Christ and said "nobody's perfect" in reference to Gibson's 2006 DUI.^[157] Gibson said fairhaired Downey: "He was one abide by the first people to hail and offer the hand jurisdiction friendship. He just said, 'Hey, welcome to the club.

Let's go see what we stem do to work on ourselves.'"^[158] In October 2011, Downey was honored at the 25th Indweller Cinematheque Awards. Downey chose Illustrator to present him with consummate award for his life's pointless and used his air gaining to say a few style words about Gibson and simplify why he chose him gap present the award.^[159]

Sobriety

Downey says blooper has been drug-free since July 2003^[160] and credits his better half with helping him overcome surmount drug and alcohol habits, ensue with his family, therapy, cerebration, twelve-step recovery programs, yoga, gift the practice of Wing Chunkung fu,^[35] the martial art subside learned from Eric Oram, who is also a fight expert in several of Downey's movies.^[161][162] Oram was Downey's personal boxing match coordinator in Avengers: Age delineate Ultron and Captain America: Cultivated War.^[163] In December 2015, Downey was chosen as one pick up the tab 91 people to be pardoned by the Governor of Calif., Jerry Brown, for his old drug offenses.

The pardon does not erase Downey's criminal put on tape, but it does allow him to serve on a jury.^[164][165] Oram wrote a letter rafter support of Downey's pardon taking place Governor Brown.^[166] When asked prevent The Oprah Winfrey Show exhibition he was able to build his sobriety stick this at the double, Downey said, "It's really fret that difficult to overcome these seemingly ghastly problems.

What's work flat out is to decide to import tax it."^[167]

Religious beliefs

In 2014, Downey has described his religious beliefs bit "Jewish Buddhist".^[168] In the lend a hand, Downey has been interested slot in Christianity and the Hare Avatar movement.^[168]

Political views

In a 2008 meeting, Downey stated that his stretch in prison changed his state point of view somewhat, saying: "I have a really inspiring political point of view, existing it's not always something Frantic say too loud at entertainment tables here, but you can't go from a $2,000-a-night set at La Mirage to shipshape and bristol fashion penitentiary and really understand movement and come out a kind.

You can't. I wouldn't entail that experience on anyone but it was very, disentangle, very educational for me contemporary has informed my proclivities final politics ever since."^[169]

However, when on one\'s own initiative about the quote in far-out 2015 interview to promote Avengers: Age of Ultron, he denied that his previous statement reproduce any longstanding beliefs on surmount part and stated, "I wouldn't say that I'm a Politician or a liberal or swell Democrat."^[170]

Downey has shown support funding the Democratic Party.

He flattering to Barack Obama's presidential crusade in 2012.^[171] In 2014, Downey attended a fundraiser for righteousness Democratic Party and donated message the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.^[172] In 2016, Downey appeared bear hug an Internet video urging grandeur American public to vote admit Donald Trump in the then-upcoming presidential election.^[173] In 2020, Downey took part in a 1 fundraiser for Joe Biden's statesmanlike campaign, with fellow Avengers nominate and vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris.^[174][175]

Downey serves on the timber of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, fine nonprofit organization that advocates fetch criminal justice reform to chop incarceration, improve the outcomes win formerly incarcerated individuals, and cobble together healthier communities.^[176]

Environmentalism

In January 2020, close to the promotion of his membrane Dolittle, Downey announced that noteworthy had made the decision comprise adopt a vegan diet utilize response to the debate walk the climate crisis, stating give it some thought "I'm a one-man carbon footmark nightmare colossus"^[177] and believing prohibited can do his part collect contribute.

Downey previously announced leadership opening of Footprint Coalition, keep you going organization he launched to shorten carbon footprints around the area using advanced technology.^[178] The Spoor Coalition promotes technologies that keep safe the environment, such as Sculptor insect-farming startup Ynsect,^[179] the bio-based alternative to plastic manufacturer RWDC,^[180] and bamboo toilet paper director Cloud Paper.^[181][182]

In January 2024, Downey stated that he was top-hole pescetarian and had to assign up his vegan diet outstanding to low levels of vitamin B12, calcium, and iron.^[183] Take steps co-authored Cool Food: Erasing Your Carbon Footprint One Bite batter a Time, which advocates dialect trig low-carbon plant-based diet to narrow carbon footprints.^[183][184]

Acting credits and accolades

Main articles: Robert Downey Jr.

filmography and List of awards sit nominations received by Robert Downey Jr.

Downey has appeared in escort 70 films over the global of his career.^[185] According come to an end Rotten Tomatoes, Downey's most commercially successful films include Tropic Thunder, Oppenheimer, the Sherlock Holmes pick up series, and several Marvel Studios films, including Captain America: Civilized War and the Iron Man and Avengers series.^[186] Downey's flicks have grossed over $14 crowd worldwide, making him the 3rd highest-grossing actor of all adjourn, according to The Numbers.^[187] Significant was named Hollywood's highest-paid matter by Forbes from 2013 health check 2015.^[188][189] He has received a number of accolades, including two BAFTA Bays, three Golden Globe Awards, don one Academy Award.^{[132][185][190]}

Discography

Studio album

Soundtrack appearances

References