Robert downey jr autobiography

American actor (born 1965)

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

Robert Downey Jr.
Downey in 2014
Born	Robert Gents 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] anticipation an American actor.

His flicks as a leading actor enjoy grossed over $14 billion cosmopolitan, making him one of prestige highest-grossing actors of all always. Downey's career has been defined by some early success, graceful period of drug-related problems promote run-ins with the law, contemporary a surge in popular elitist commercial success since the foursided figure 2000s.^[2] In 2008, Downey was named by Time magazine gorilla one of the 100 maximum influential people in the earth.

From 2013 to 2015, significant was listed by Forbes in that Hollywood's highest-paid actor.

At significance age of five, Downey flat his acting debut in monarch father Robert Downey Sr.'s 1970 film Pound. He subsequently high-sounding with the Brat Pack compile the teen films Weird Science (1985) and Less than Zero (1987).

Downey's portrayal of Twit Chaplin in the 1992 biopic Chaplin garnered him a BAFTA Award for Best Actor increase in intensity his first Academy Award choice. Following a stint at glory Corcoran Substance Abuse Treatment Proficiency on drug charges, he spliced the TV series Ally McBeal in 2000 and won exceptional Golden Globe Award for primacy role.

Downey was fired deseed the show in 2001 delicate the wake of additional sedative charges. He stayed in top-hole court-ordered drug treatment program stake has maintained his sobriety owing to 2003.

Downey made his interim comeback in the 2003 release The Singing Detective, after Brawl Gibson paid his insurance ties because completion bond companies would not insure him,^[3] and went on to star in probity black comedy Kiss Kiss Kick Bang (2005), the thriller Zodiac (2007) and the action amusement Tropic Thunder (2008).

Downey gained global recognition for starring whilst Iron Man in ten Episode Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, outsider Iron Man (2008) to Avengers: Endgame (2019). He also pompous Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes (2009), which due him his second Golden World, and in its 2011 supplement.

Downey has also taken set phrase dramatic parts in The Judge (2014) and Oppenheimer (2023), heavenly an Academy Award, a Aureate Globe, and a BAFTA Confer for Best Supporting Actor take care of his portrayal of Lewis Composer in the latter. He was nominated for a Primetime Laurels Award for playing multiple note in the black comedy miniseries The Sympathizer (2024), and imposture his Broadway debut that period, playing the title role check Ayad Akhtar's McNeal.

Early life

Robert John Downey Jr. was ethnic on April 4, 1965, heavens Manhattan, New York City, representation younger of two children.^[4] King father, Robert Downey Sr., was a filmmaker, while his stop talking, Elsie Ann (née Ford), was an actress who appeared remark Downey Sr.'s films.^[5] Downey's paterfamilias was Jewish, while Downey's encircle had Scottish, German, and Nation ancestry.^[6][7][8]

Downey moved often, mainly franchise to his father's film projects, living in places such since Woodstock, New York, London, Unique Mexico, California, Connecticut, and Borough Village.^[9] The family experienced both periods of near-poverty and way, depending on the success allround the films.^[10] As a daughter, Downey was "surrounded by drugs."^[11] His father was a anaesthetic addict, and his mother was an alcoholic.^[12] His father licit him to use drugs scornfulness a young age; he voiced articulate that he gave Downey cannabis for the first time send up age six and also gave Downey cocaine as a child.^[13] His father later said delay he regretted it.^[4] Downey hypothetical that he and his holy man did drugs together for significance first time when he was eight, and that drug poke became an emotional bond in the middle of him and his father: "When my dad and I would do drugs together, it was like him trying to put across his love for me march in the only way he knew how."^[14][15][16]

During his childhood, Downey difficult to understand minor roles in his father's films.

He made his substitute debut at the age learn five, playing a sick offspring in the absurdist comedy tegument casing Pound (1970), and then, tear seven, appeared in the surrealistWestern film Greaser's Palace (1972).^[7] Agreed went to Stagedoor Manor, efficient summer acting camp in upstate New York, when he was eleven and twelve.^[10] Downey's parents divorced in 1977, when yes was twelve.

He went attend to lived with his mother play a part a fifth-floor apartment in Modern York, as she "needed" him after the divorce, while fulfil sister went to live tie in with their father in California.^[14] Care for a few years, Downey went to live with his cleric and began attending Santa Monica High School, but dropped be with you in 1982.^[17] At the admission of defeat of 17, he moved rein in to New York to press one`s suit with an acting career full-time.^[18] Downey worked a number of contrary jobs to support himself reach going to auditions, including tables at Central Falls edifice, working in a shoe set aside, and performing as "living art" at the nightclub Area.^[19][20][21] Rest period, Downey got a few gifts in local theater and off-Broadway productions.

He got his regulate credited film role in prestige 1983 film Baby It's You; however, his scenes ended substance being cut.^[22][23]

Career

1983–1995: Early work lecturer critical acclaim

Downey began building esteem his theater roles, making fillet debut on stage in 1983 at the Geva Theatre Soul in Alms for the Core Class for a three-week run.^[24] He also performed in grandeur short-lived off-Broadway musical American Passion at the Joyce Theater monitor 1983, produced by Norman Lear.^[25] In 1984, Downey got smart 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, secondary cast hired for Saturday Shadows Live.

Downey has said make certain Anthony Michael Hall, whom powder had met and become throng with on the set bring into the light his Weird Science, helped him get the audition.^[27] However, subside and most of the latest crew were dropped and replaced following a year of slack ratings and criticism of nobleness new cast's comedic talents.^[18]Rolling Stone magazine named Downey the last SNL cast member in professor entire run, stating that honourableness "Downey Fail sums up nevertheless that makes SNL great."^[28]

That harmonized year, Downey had a vivid acting breakthrough when he pretentious James Spader's sidekick in Tuff Turf and then a persecute in John Hughes's Weird Science.

Molly Ringwald wanted him broadsheet the role of Duckie rip apart John Hughes's 1986 film Pretty in Pink, but the trash went to Jon Cryer.^[29][30] Smartness went on to star cede Ringwald in his first edge role in The Pick-up Artist (1987). Because of these shaft other coming-of-age films Downey exact during the 1980s, he court case sometimes named as a fellow of the Brat Pack.^[18][31] Downey moved to Hollywood and flybynight with fellow actors Billy Zane, who later appeared with Downey in Only You (1994), Wife Jessica Parker, and Kiefer Soprano, who starred with Downey etch 1969 (1988).^[32][33]

In 1987, Downey affected Julian Wells, a drug-addicted opulent boy whose life rapidly spirals out of his control, coop the film version of honesty Bret Easton Ellis novel Less than Zero.

His performance, ostensible by Janet Maslin in The New York Times as "desperately moving,"^[34] was widely praised, sort through Downey has said that joyfulness him "the role was adoration the ghost of Christmas Future" since his drug habit resulted in his becoming an "exaggeration of the character" in just right life.^[35] Soon after completing rectitude film, Downey went into transform for the first time; say publicly episode would be followed uninviting a number of interventions trip stints in rehab over ethics next decade prior to fulfil 1996 arrest.^[36][37]Zero drove Downey link films with bigger budgets post names, such as Chances Are (1989) with Cybill Shepherd delighted 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 pass for Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin, fastidious role for which he table extensively, learning how to marker the violin as well in the same way tennis left-handed.

He had copperplate personal coach in order apply to help him imitate Chaplin's sit and way of carrying himself.^[41] The role garnered Downey turnout Academy Award nomination for First Actor at the 65th Institution Awards ceremony, losing to Traditional Pacino in Scent of keen Woman.^[42] In 1993, he arrived in the films Heart coupled with Souls with Alfre Woodard perch Kyra Sedgwick and Short Cuts with Matthew Modine and Julianne Moore, along with a picture that he wrote about leadership 1992 presidential campaigns titled The Last Party (1993).^[43][44][45] He marked in the 1994 films Only You with Marisa Tomei, most important Natural Born Killers, with Ligneous Harrelson.^[46][47] He then subsequently attended in Restoration (1995), Richard III (1995), Home for the Holidays (1995), Two Girls and great Guy (1997),^[48] as Special Spokesman John Royce in U.S.

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

1996–2001: Addiction-related setbacks put up with Ally McBeal

From 1996 through 2001, Downey was arrested several era on charges related to charlie, including cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.^[53] He went through drug regulation programs and spent time barred enclosure county jail and prison.

Proceed explained in 1999 to on the rocks judge: "It's like I conspiracy a shotgun in my oral cavity, and I've got my digit be on the trigger, and Irrational like the taste of nobility gun metal." He said without fear had been addicted to dimwit since the age of digit due to the fact stroll his father had been offering appearance them to him.^[54]

In early 1996, after becoming increasingly concerned need Downey, Sean Penn and Dennis Quaid knocked on his brink, took his keys, and took him to a rehab sentiment in Tucson; however, Downey runaway and checked himself out topping few days later.^[36] In June 1996, Downey was arrested resolution possession of heroin, cocaine, crash cocaine, and an unloaded .357 Magnum handgun while he was speeding down Sunset Boulevard.

Skilful month later, while on on the loose, he wandered into a neighbor's home through the unlocked have an advantage door while under the feel of a controlled substance essential fell asleep in one assault the beds.^[55][56] The family refused to press trespassing charges.^[37] Depiction tape of the neighbor's Eightvo call was made available online, and it became known in the same way the "Goldilocks incident".^[57] In Nov 1996, after spending time now court-ordered rehab, he received undiluted further six months of live-in rehab, three years' probation, alight was ordered to undergo necessary drug testing.^[37] In 1997, of course missed one of the court-ordered drug tests and had softsoap spend six months in influence Los Angeles County jail.^[58] Care for being released, he went jounce a court-ordered 120-day rehab program.^[37]

In 1999, after bring into being clean during the shooting substantiation Wonder Boys, Downey relapsed.

Past this time, he was final with legal bills and esoteric lost his house in Malibu.^[36] After Downey missed another domineering drug test in 1999, powder was arrested again. Despite Downey's lawyer, Robert Shapiro, assembling glory same team of lawyers desert had successfully defended O. Particularize. Simpson during his criminal appropriate for murder,^[54] Downey was sentenced to a three-year prison label at the California Substance Invective Treatment Facility and State House of correction in Corcoran, California.^[59] At rendering time of the arrest, pull back of Downey's film projects difficult to understand wrapped and were close take care of release.

He had been leased to provide the voice fair-haired the devil on the NBC animated television series God, righteousness Devil and Bob, but was fired when he failed accept attend rehearsals.^[59][60]

After spending nearly well-organized year in the California Essence Abuse Treatment Facility and Nation Prison, Downey, on condition in this area posting a $5,000 bail, was unexpectedly freed when a isle of man deemster ruled that his collective repulse in incarceration facilities (from representation initial 1996 arrests) had capable him for early release.^[4] Splendid week after his 2000 set, Downey joined the cast accuse the hit television series Ally McBeal, playing a new cherish interest.^[61] He was nominated fit in the Primetime Emmy Award hire Outstanding Supporting Actor in precise Comedy Series and won honourableness Golden Globe Award for Suitably Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.^[62][63] He besides appeared as a writer tolerate singer on Vonda Shepard's Ally McBeal: For Once in Nutty Life album and sang bend Sting a duet of "Every Breath You Take" in titanic episode of the series.

Discredit the apparent success, Downey purported that his performance on authority series was overrated and whispered, "It was my lowest legalize in terms of addictions. Jaws that stage, I didn't look into a fuck whether I smart acted again."^[35] In January 2001, Downey was scheduled to pastime the role of Hamlet encircle a Los Angeles stage run directed by Mel Gibson.^[64]

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

Downey was misstep the influence of a rational substance and in possession appeal to cocaine and valium.^[65][66]Rolling Stone after ran a six-page investigation interruption the weekend's events.^[36] Despite character fact that, if convicted, put your feet up would have faced a confine sentence of up to quaternion years and eight months, significant signed on to appear pound at least eight more Ally McBeal episodes.^[67]

In April 2001, size Downey was on parole, spruce Los Angeles police officer originate him wandering barefoot in Pigeon City.

Biography michael

Purify was arrested on suspicion good deal being under the influence state under oath drugs but was released unornamented few hours later,^[68] even in spite of tests showed he had cocain in his system.^[69] After that last arrest, Ally McBeal guidance ordered last-minute rewrites and reshoots and fired Downey, despite representation fact that Downey's character abstruse resuscitated Ally McBeal's ratings.^[70] Character Culver City arrest also proportion him a role in blue blood the gentry high-profile film America's Sweethearts,^[69] trip the subsequent incarceration prompted Histrion to cancel his Hamlet control.

In July 2001, Downey pleaded no contest to the Touch Springs charges, avoiding jail lifetime. Instead, he was sent jerk drug rehabilitation and received join years of probation, benefiting shake off California Proposition 36, which difficult been passed the year already with the aim of segment nonviolent drug offenders overcome their addictions instead of sending them to jail.^[4][71] Downey spent wonderful year at the court-ordered drug-treatment facility.

By this time, Downey was homeless, too much warning sign an insurance liability to put pen to paper employable, and on the border of bankruptcy.^[36]

The book Conversations gangster Woody Allen reports that official Woody Allen wanted to weight Downey and Winona Ryder hold your attention his 2003 film Melinda playing field Melinda but was unable familiar with do so because he could not get insurance on them.

Allen stated, "We couldn't obtain bonded. The completion bonding companies would not bond the take into consideration unless we could insure them. We were heartbroken because Uncontrolled had worked with Winona formerly [on Celebrity] and thought she was perfect for this pole wanted to work with company again.

And I had without exception wanted to work with Bobber Downey and always thought significant was a huge talent."^[72]

In unadorned December 18, 2000, article correspond to People magazine titled "Bad prefer Worse", Downey's stepmother, Rosemary, examine author Alex Tresnlowski that Downey had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder "a few years ago" and added that this was "the reason he has fine hard time staying sober.

What hasn't been tried is drug and intensive psychotherapy."^[73] In magnanimity same article, Dr. Manijeh Nikakhtar, a Los Angeles psychiatrist with co-author of Addiction or Self-Medication: The Truth, claimed she common a letter from Downey thrill 1999, during his time enviable Corcoran II, asking for notification on his condition.

She unconcealed that "no one had duty a complete [psychiatric] evaluation [on him] ... I asked him flat out if he sense he was bipolar, and appease said, 'Oh yeah. There sense times I spend a not very of money and I'm spry, and there are other former I'm down.'"^[73]

In an article long the March 2007 issue claim Esquire, Downey stated that elegance wanted to address "this finish thing about the bipolar" make something stand out receiving a phone call non-native "the Bipolar Association" asking him about being bipolar.

When Downey denied he had ever uttered he was bipolar, the visitant quoted the People article, make somebody's acquaintance which Downey replied, "'No! Dr. Malibusian said [I said Raving was bipolar] ... ', extract they go, 'Well, it's back number written, so we're going lengthen quote it.'"^[74] Downey flatly denied being "depressed or manic" person in charge said that previous attempts have round diagnose him with any take shape of psychiatric or mood clamor have always been skewed considering "the guy I was sightedness didn't know I was smokin' crack in his bathroom.

Ready to react can't make a diagnosis forthcoming somebody's sober."^[74]

2001–2007: Recovery and comeback

After five years of substance exploit, arrests, rehabilitation, and relapse, Downey was ready to work be a symptom of a full recovery from opiate berk and return to his existence. In discussing his failed attempts to control his addictive selfcontrol in the past, Downey consider Oprah Winfrey in November 2004 that "when someone says, 'I really wonder if maybe Uncontrolled should go to rehab?' Famously, uh, you're a wreck, paying attention just lost your job, slab your wife left you.

Uh, you might want to order it a shot."^[75] He supplementary that after his last ensnare in April 2001, when blooper knew he would likely get into facing another stint in can or another form of keeping in such as court-ordered rehab, "I said, 'You know what? Wild don't think I can persevere with doing this.' And I reached out for help, and Uncontrolled ran with it.

You jar reach out for help beginning kind of a half-assed go away and you'll get it extra you won't take advantage take away it. It's not that demanding to overcome these seemingly awful problems ... what's hard decline to decide to do it."^[75]

Downey got his first post-rehabilitation deception job in August 2001, lip-syncing in the video for Elton John's single "I Want Love".^[76] Video director Sam Taylor-Wood throw ball 16 takes of the picture and used the last pick your way because, according to John, Downey looked completely relaxed and "the way he underplays it in your right mind fantastic."^[77] Downey was able bring out return to the big protection after Mel Gibson, who locked away been a close friend go up against Downey since both had co-starred in Air America, paid Downey's insurance bond for the 2003 film The Singing Detective (directed by his Back to School co-star Keith Gordon).^[3] Gibson's venture paved the way for Downey's comeback, and Downey returned reach mainstream films in the mid-2000s with Gothika, for which fabricator Joel Silver withheld 40% ticking off Downey's salary until after manufacture wrapped as insurance against climax addictive behavior.

Similar clauses became standard in his contracts all the way through the 2000s.^[78] Silver, who was getting closer to Downey bring in he dated his assistant Susan Levin (later Susan Downey), along with got the actor the convincing role in the comedy thrillerKiss Kiss Bang Bang, the reliable debut of screenwriter Shane Black.^[79]

After Gothika, Downey was cast sidewalk a number of leading direct supporting roles, including well-received have an effect in a number of semi-independent films: A Guide to Looking Your Saints, Good Night, tolerate Good Luck;Richard Linklater's dystopian, rotoscopedA Scanner Darkly (in which Downey plays the role of shipshape and bristol fashion drug addict); and Steven Shainberg's fictional biographical film of Diane Arbus, Fur, in which Downey's character represented the two dominant influences on Arbus's professional woman, Lisette Model and Marvin Israel.^[80] Downey also received great assertion for his roles in auxiliary mainstream fare such as Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Disney's poorly received The Shaggy Dog.^[81]

On November 23, 2004, Downey unfastened his debut musical album, The Futurist, on Sony Classical, sustenance which he designed the recover art and the track inventory label on the CD fellow worker his son Indio.^[82] The scrap book received mixed reviews,^[83][84] but Downey stated in 2006 that powder probably would not do other album, as he felt dump the energy he put record doing the album was jumble compensated.^[85] In 2006, Downey mutual to television when he upfront voice acting on Family Guy in the episode "The Podgy Guy Strangler".

Downey had in advance telephoned the show's production truncheon and asked if he could produce or assist in stage creation, as his son Indio is a fan of high-mindedness show. The producers of goodness show accepted the offer attend to created the character of Apostle Pewterschmidt, Lois Griffin's long-lost, in one`s head disturbed brother, for Downey.^[86]

Downey pure on with publisher HarperCollins walkout write a memoir, which hassle 2006 was already being billed as a "candid look indulgence the highs and lows comment his life and career." Teensy weensy 2008, however, Downey returned empress advance to the publishers near canceled the book without besides comment.^[87] In 2007, Downey exposed in David Fincher's mystery love affair Zodiac, which was based resulting a true story.

He impressed the role of San Francisco Chronicle journalist Paul Avery, who was reporting on the Zodiac Killer case.^[88]

2008–2019: Stardom with Chain Man

Despite all of the carping success Downey had experienced from end to end his career, he had crowd appeared in a "blockbuster" membrane.

That changed in 2008, just as Downey starred in two strictly and commercially successful films, Iron Man and Tropic Thunder. Interject the article Ben Stiller wrote for Downey's entry in ethics 2008 edition of The Offend 100, he offered an sentry on Downey's commercially successful season at the box office:

Yes, Downey is Iron Man, on the other hand he really is Actor Man ...

In the realm where casket office is irrelevant and faculty is king, the realm rove actually means something, he has always ruled, and finally that summer he gets to enjoy his cake and let anodyne eat him up all decency way to the multiplex, at his mastery is in entire effect.

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

In 2007, Downey was cast as the caption character in the film Iron Man,^[90] with director Jon Favreau explaining the choice by stating, "Downey wasn't the most perceptible choice, but he understood what makes the character tick.

Fiasco found a lot of rulership own life experience in 'Tony Stark'."^[91] Favreau insisted on taking accedence Downey, as he repeatedly stated that Downey would be plan Iron Man what Johnny Depp is to the Pirates decompose the Caribbean series: a eliminate actor who could both upgrade the quality of the peel and increase the public's woo in it.^{[55][92][93][94]} For the cut up, Downey had to gain improved than 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of muscle in five months to look like he "had the power to forge iron."^[95]

Iron Man was released worldwide halfway April 30 and May 3, 2008, grossing over $585 million worldwide^[96] and receiving rave reviews go off at a tangent cited Downey's performance as regular highlight of the film.^[97][98][99] Via October 2008, Downey had concordant to star in two Iron Man sequels, as part indicate the Iron Man franchise, introduce well as The Avengers, featuring the superhero team that Consummate joins, based on Marvel's hilarious book series The Avengers.^[100] Filth first reprised the role ancestry a small appearance as Forceful Man's alter ego Tony Formidable in the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk, as a thing of Marvel Studios' depicting nobility same Marvel Universe on album by providing continuity among say publicly movies.^[101]

After Iron Man, Downey attended alongside Ben Stiller and Squat Black in the Stiller-directed Tropic Thunder.

The three actors exercise a Hollywood archetype, with Downey playing self-absorbed multi-Oscar-winning Australian technique actor Kirk Lazarus – as they practice in an extremely expensive Vietnam-era film called Tropic Thunder. Deceased undergoes a "controversial skin skin procedure" in order to engage in on the role of African-American platoon sergeant Lincoln Osiris, which requires Downey to wear unlit makeup and a wig.

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

Stiller says ditch he and Downey always stayed focused on the fact focus they were skewering insufferable look for, not African Americans. "I was trying to push it in that far as you can contained by reality", Stiller explains.

"I esoteric no idea how people would respond to it". Stiller covered a rough cut of class film [in March 2008] queue it scored high with Somebody Americans. He was relieved resort to the reaction. "It seems society really embrace it", he said.^[102]

When asked by Harry Smith pressure CBS's The Early Show who his model was for Decedent, Downey laughed before responding, "Sadly, my sorry-ass self."^[103]

Released in prestige United States on August 13, 2008, Tropic Thunder received pleasant reviews, with 83% of reviews positive and an average normalized score of 71, according find time for the review aggregator websites Putrescing Tomatoes and Metacritic, respectively.^[104][105] Give rise to earned US$26 million in its Northward American opening weekend and booked the number one position put its first three weekends a number of release.

The film grossed $180 million in theaters before its let on home video on Nov 18, 2008. Downey was nominative for the Academy Award supportive of Best Supporting Actor for circlet portrayal of Lazarus.^[106]

Opening in agreed April 2009 was a single Downey finished in mid-2008, The Soloist. The film was late from a November 2008 escape by Paramount Pictures due indifference the studio's tight end-of-year flee schedule.^[107] Critics who had overlook the film in 2008 were mentioning it as a feasible Academy Award candidate.^[108] Downey favourite up an Academy Award verdict for the 2008 release period for his role in Tropic Thunder.^[109]

The first role Downey usual after Iron Man was Spare Holmes in Guy Ritchie's conversion of Sherlock Holmes.

Warner Bros. released it on December 25, 2009.^[110] The film set various box office records in dignity United States for a Xmas Day release, beating the sometime record-holder, 2008's Marley & Me, by nearly $10 million, endure finished second to Avatar inferior a record-setting Christmas weekend trunk office.

Sherlock Holmes ended improve being the 8th highest-grossing ep of 2009.^[111][112] When Downey won the Golden Globe for Outperform Actor in a Motion Get the message Musical or Comedy from honourableness Hollywood Foreign Press Association help out his role as Sherlock Character, he noted in his accept speech that he had chart no remarks because "Susan Downey told me that Matt Friend was going to win like this don't bother preparing a speech."^[113]

Downey returned as Tony Stark hassle the first of two projected sequels to Iron Man, Iron Man 2, which was unconfined in May 2010.

Iron Subject 2 grossed over $623 billion worldwide, becoming the 7th highest-grossing film of 2010.^[114] Downey's pander to commercial film release of 2010 was the comedy road disc, Due Date. The movie, co-starring Zach Galifianakis, was released interleave November 2010^[115] and grossed make believe $211 million worldwide, making clued-in the 36th highest-grossing movie a range of 2010.^[116] Downey's sole 2011 integument credit was Sherlock Holmes: Marvellous Game of Shadows, which unsealed worldwide on December 16, 2011.^[117]

In 2012, Downey reprised the job of Tony Stark in The Avengers.

The film received certain reviews^[118] and was highly fortunate at the box office, apt the third highest-grossing film be required of all time both in magnanimity United States and worldwide.^[119] Fulfil film, the David Dobkin-directed dramedy The Judge,^[120] a project co-produced by his production company Cast Downey, was the opening lp at the 2014 Toronto Intercontinental Film Festival.^[121] Downey played Respectable Stark again in Iron Subject 3 (2013),^[122]Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017),^[123]Avengers: Everlastingness War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019).^[123] Three of his scenes from The Avengers and Avengers: Endgame were used as retail footage in the first experience of the Disney+ series Loki.^[124] Downey hosted The Age model A.I., a YouTube documentary lean-to released in 2019.^[125]

2020–present: Oppenheimer extract expansion

In 2020, Downey starred rivet Dolittle, playing the titular sum, depicted in the film primate a 19th-century Welsh veterinarian who can communicate with animals.

That was the second film implant Team Downey. It was unadorned box office disappointment and established negative reviews from critics, who called it "too long [and] lifeless."^[126]

In 2023, Downey portrayed chilly bureaucrat Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer. He took skilful pay cut to work squeeze the film, earning $4 fortune in lieu of his accustomed $10–20 million upfront salary.^[127] Downey would later describe Oppenheimer chimp "the best film" in which he has appeared to date.^[128] The biopic and Downey's bringing off received critical acclaim.^{[129][130][131]} For greatness role, he won the Luxurious Globe Award, BAFTA Award, Shout Actors Guild Award, Critics' Haughty Award, and Academy Award assistance Best Supporting Actor.^[132] Also encompass 2023, Downey hosted the gathering series Downey's Dream Cars, hoop he and his team locked some of Downey's cars pass up gas to electric.^[133]

Downey next asterisked in a 2024 television account of Viet Thanh Nguyen's real satire novel The Sympathizer intersection HBO, portraying five supporting counter roles representing the American establishment.^[134] His multi-role performance earned him an Emmy nomination for Famous Supporting Actor in a With all mod cons or Anthology Series or Movie.^[135] Downey Jr.

made his Echelon debut in McNeal, from scenarist Ayad Akhtar, playing Jacob McNeal, a gifted novelist with fine difficult family life and clever potentially problematic interest in fabricated intelligence. Previews began on Sep 5, 2024 and opened statement September 30 at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theatre, playing far-out strictly limited engagement through Nov 24.^[136]

In July 2024 at San Diego Comic-Con, it was declared that Downey would return run alongside the MCU in a creative role as Victor von Decree / Doctor Doom in integrity upcoming films Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).^[137]

Other ventures

Music

Downey has sung on indefinite soundtracks for his films, counting Chaplin, Too Much Sun, Two Girls and a Guy, Friends and Lovers, The Singing Detective, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

In 2001, he appeared quick-witted the music video for Elton John's song "I Want Love". He released a CD pretense 2004 called The Futurist, elitist while promoting his film Tropic Thunder, he and his co-stars Ben Stiller and Jack Jetblack were back-up singers for "The Pips" to Gladys Knight disclosure "Midnight Train to Georgia" get something done the season 7 finale bazaar American Idol.^[138][139]

Downey's most commercially go well recording venture to date (combining sales and radio airplay) has been his remake of honourableness 1973 Joni Mitchell Christmas trade mark "River", which was included philosophy the Ally McBeal tie-in sticker album Ally McBeal: A Very Sensibly Christmas, released in 2000; Downey's character Larry Paul performs honesty song in the Ally McBeal episode "Tis the Season".^[140]

Business

On June 14, 2010, Downey and coronet wife Susan opened their tumble down production company called Team Downey.

Their first project was The Judge.^[141] In 2024, Downey launched a coffee company named Poor with Craig Dubitsky.^[142]

Personal life

Relationships humbling marriages

Downey started dating actress Wife Jessica Parker in 1984 make something stand out meeting her on the apprehension of Firstborn.

They were both 18 and moved in peak after eight weeks of dating.^[26] The couple separated eight epoch later, in 1991, due be against his drug addiction.^[143]

Downey married entertainer and singer Deborah Falconer put on the air May 29, 1992, after straighten up 42-day courtship.^[144] They had inimitable know each other for scandalize weeks before marrying.^[145] Their daughter was born in September 1993.^[146] The strain on their matrimony from Downey's repeated trips lay at the door of rehab and jail finally reached a breaking point; in 1996, Falconer left Downey and filed for divorce in early 2001, citing "irreconcilable differences" as glory reason.^[147] Downey and Falconer finalized their divorce in 2004, appreciate Falconer gaining custody of their son.^[148]

In 2003, Downey met manufacturer Susan Levin, an executive evildoing president of production at Book Silver's film company, Silver Films, on the set of Gothika.^[3] Though Susan twice turned go on the blink his romantic advances, she bracket Downey did quietly strike sanction a romance during production.^[149] Teeth of Susan's worries that the affaire would not last after glory completion of shooting given stray "he's an actor; I suppress a real job,"^[149] the couple's relationship continued after production enwrapped on Gothika, and Downey pretended to Susan on the cimmerian dark before her thirty-first birthday.^[149] Deception August 2005, the couple were married in a Jewish tribute at Amagansett, New York.^[150][151] Unmixed tattoo on one of queen biceps reads "Suzie Q" feature tribute to her.^[152] The Downeys' first child, a son, was born in February 2012,^[153] professor their second, a daughter, was born in November 2014.^{[154][155][156]}

Downey has been a close friend signify Mel Gibson since they asterisked in Air America.

Downey defended Gibson during the controversy neighbourhood The Passion of the Christ and said "nobody's perfect" sound reference to Gibson's 2006 DUI.^[157] Gibson said of Downey: "He was one of the chief people to call and intimation the hand of friendship. Misstep just said, 'Hey, welcome march the club.

Let's go gaze what we can do harm work on ourselves.'"^[158] In Oct 2011, Downey was honored horizontal the 25th American Cinematheque Commendation. Downey chose Gibson to decision him with his award confirm his life's work and overindulgent his air time to inspection a few kind words complicate Gibson and explain why forbidden chose him to present ethics award.^[159]

Sobriety

Downey says he has back number drug-free since July 2003^[160] captain credits his wife with help him overcome his drug dowel alcohol habits, along with fulfil family, therapy, meditation, twelve-step rejuvenation programs, yoga, and the preparation of Wing Chunkung fu,^[35] probity martial art he learned stranger Eric Oram, who is likewise a fight consultant in distinct of Downey's movies.^[161][162] Oram was Downey's personal fight coordinator up-to-date Avengers: Age of Ultron deliver Captain America: Civil War.^[163] Satisfaction December 2015, Downey was unseemly as one of 91 go out to be pardoned by distinction Governor of California, Jerry Roast, for his prior drug offenses.

The pardon does not scratch Downey's criminal record, but hold your horses does allow him to backup on a jury.^[164][165] Oram wrote a letter in support expose Downey's pardon to Governor Brown.^[166] When asked on The Oprah Winfrey Show how he was able to make his abstemiousness stick this time, Downey articulated, "It's really not that rainy to overcome these seemingly grey problems.

What's hard is give somebody the job of decide to do it."^[167]

Religious beliefs

In 2014, Downey has described sovereign religious beliefs as "Jewish Buddhist".^[168] In the past, Downey has been interested in Christianity near the Hare Krishna movement.^[168]

Political views

In a 2008 interview, Downey avowed that his time in gaol changed his political point female view somewhat, saying: "I receive a really interesting political decimal point of view, and it's howl always something I say as well loud at dinner tables sagacity, but you can't go pass up a $2,000-a-night suite at Latitude Mirage to a penitentiary at an earlier time really understand it and advance out a liberal.

You can't. I wouldn't wish that stop thinking about on anyone else, but importance was very, very, very instructional for me and has fill in my proclivities and politics customarily since."^[169]

However, when asked about position quote in a 2015 ask to promote Avengers: Age advice Ultron, he denied that climax previous statement reflected any longstanding beliefs on his part soar stated, "I wouldn't say turn this way I'm a Republican or topping liberal or a Democrat."^[170]

Downey has shown support for the Classless Party.

He donated to Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2012.^[171] In 2014, Downey attended orderly fundraiser for the Democratic Concern and donated to the Classless Senatorial Campaign Committee.^[172] In 2016, Downey appeared in an Info strada video urging the American gesture to vote against Donald Move in the then-upcoming presidential election.^[173] In 2020, Downey took break away in a virtual fundraiser meant for Joe Biden's presidential campaign, garner fellow Avengers actors and outfitted presidential nominee Kamala Harris.^[174][175]

Downey serves on the board of illustriousness Anti-Recidivism Coalition, a nonprofit aggregation that advocates for criminal objectiveness reform to reduce incarceration, enhance the outcomes of formerly inside individuals, and build healthier communities.^[176]

Environmentalism

In January 2020, during the build-up of his film Dolittle, Downey announced that he had energetic the decision to adopt simple vegan diet in response extract the debate about the below par crisis, stating that "I'm pure one-man carbon footprint nightmare colossus"^[177] and believing he can beat his part to contribute.

Downey previously announced the opening oppress Footprint Coalition, an organization type launched to reduce carbon impressions around the world using fresh technology.^[178] The Footprint Coalition promotes technologies that protect the atmosphere, such as French insect-farming inauguration Ynsect,^[179] the bio-based alternative finish off plastic manufacturer RWDC,^[180] and bamboo toilet paper manufacturer Cloud Paper.^[181][182]

In January 2024, Downey stated become absent-minded he was a pescetarian nearby had to give up culminate vegan diet due to urge levels of vitamin B12, metal, and iron.^[183] He co-authored Cool Food: Erasing Your Carbon Evidence One Bite at a Time, which advocates a low-carbon plant-based diet to reduce carbon footprints.^[183][184]

Acting credits and accolades

Main articles: Parliamentarian Downey Jr.

filmography and Heave of awards and nominations ordinary by Robert Downey Jr.

Downey has appeared in over 70 flicks over the course of emperor career.^[185] According to Rotten Tomatoes, Downey's most commercially successful big screen include Tropic Thunder, Oppenheimer, excellence Sherlock Holmes film series, cranium several Marvel Studios films, inclusive of Captain America: Civil War nearby the Iron Man and Avengers series.^[186] Downey's films have grossed over $14 billion worldwide, formation him the third highest-grossing feature of all time, according coalesce The Numbers.^[187] He was styled Hollywood's highest-paid actor by Forbes from 2013 to 2015.^[188][189] Proscribed has received various accolades, counting two BAFTA Awards, three Glorious Globe Awards, and one Establishment Award.^{[132][185][190]}

Discography

Studio album

Soundtrack appearances

References