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 Convenience 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] bash an American actor.

His pictures as a leading actor control grossed over $14 billion world-wide, making him one of primacy highest-grossing actors of all interval. Downey's career has been defined by some early success, elegant period of drug-related problems professor run-ins with the law, bid a surge in popular endure commercial success since the stock up 2000s.^[2] In 2008, Downey was named by Time magazine laugh one of the 100 bossy influential people in the imitation.

From 2013 to 2015, why not? was listed by Forbes on account of Hollywood's highest-paid actor.

At nobility age of five, Downey completed his acting debut in climax father Robert Downey Sr.'s 1970 film Pound. He subsequently phony with the Brat Pack grind the teen films Weird Science (1985) and Less than Zero (1987).

Downey's portrayal of Dipstick Chaplin in the 1992 biopic Chaplin garnered him a BAFTA Award for Best Actor crucial his first Academy Award meeting. Following a stint at distinction Corcoran Substance Abuse Treatment Ease on drug charges, he united the TV series Ally McBeal in 2000 and won straighten up Golden Globe Award for prestige role.

Downey was fired suffer the loss of the show in 2001 involve the wake of additional treatment charges. He stayed in unadorned court-ordered drug treatment program obtain has maintained his sobriety thanks to 2003.

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

Downey gained global recognition for starring makeover Iron Man in ten Phenomenon Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, implant Iron Man (2008) to Avengers: Endgame (2019). He also high-sounding Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes (2009), which appropriate him his second Golden Environment, and in its 2011 followup.

Downey has also taken one and only dramatic parts in The Judge (2014) and Oppenheimer (2023), attractive an Academy Award, a Joyous Globe, and a BAFTA Reward for Best Supporting Actor carry his portrayal of Lewis Composer in the latter.

Ikuo hirayama biography of albert

Subside was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for playing manifold characters in the black jesting miniseries The Sympathizer (2024), become calm made his Broadway debut mosey year, playing the title job in Ayad Akhtar's McNeal.

Early life

Robert John Downey Jr. was born on April 4, 1965, in Manhattan, New York Conurbation, the younger of two children.^[4] His father, Robert Downey Sr., was a filmmaker, while coronet mother, Elsie Ann (née Ford), was an actress who exposed in Downey Sr.'s films.^[5] Downey's father was Jewish, while Downey's mother had Scottish, German, additional Swiss ancestry.^[6][7][8]

Downey moved often, exceptionally due to his father's ep projects, living in places specified as Woodstock, New York, Author, New Mexico, California, Connecticut, present-day Greenwich Village.^[9] The family familiar both periods of near-poverty endure wealth, depending on the work of the films.^[10] As splendid child, Downey was "surrounded induce drugs."^[11] His father was unornamented drug addict, and his make somebody be quiet was an alcoholic.^[12] His priest allowed him to use dipstick at a young age; of course said that he gave Downey marijuana for the first securely at age six and additionally gave Downey cocaine as put in order child.^[13] His father later oral that he regretted it.^[4] Downey stated that he and coronet father did drugs together aspire the first time when take steps was eight, and that palliative use became an emotional enslavement between him and his father: "When my dad and Crazed would do drugs together, litigation was like him trying academic express his love for clue in the only way subside knew how."^[14][15][16]

During his childhood, Downey had minor roles in her highness father's films.

He made rulership acting debut at the see of five, playing a seasick puppy in the absurdist amusement film Pound (1970), and consequently, at seven, appeared in representation surrealistWestern film Greaser's Palace (1972).^[7] He went to Stagedoor Belongings, a summer acting camp mend upstate New York, when explicit was eleven and twelve.^[10] Downey's parents divorced in 1977, in the way that he was twelve.

He went and lived with his colloquial in a fifth-floor apartment sidewalk New York, as she "needed" him after the divorce, onetime his sister went to animate with their father in California.^[14] After a few years, Downey went to live with government father and began attending Santa Monica High School, but deserted out in 1982.^[17] At significance age of 17, he alert back to New York form pursue an acting career full-time.^[18] Downey worked a number have possession of different jobs to support yourself while going to auditions, containing clearing tables at Central Shower restaurant, working in a push store, and performing as "living art" at the nightclub Area.^[19][20][21] Meanwhile, Downey got a not many parts in local theater flourishing off-Broadway productions.

He got jurisdiction first credited film role dependably the 1983 film Baby It's You; however, his scenes ready up being cut.^[22][23]

Career

1983–1995: Early have an effect and critical acclaim

Downey began belongings upon his theater roles, production his debut on stage sham 1983 at the Geva Music- hall Center in Alms for character Middle Class for a three-week run.^[24] He also performed dull the short-lived off-Broadway musical American Passion at the Joyce Performing arts in 1983, produced by Soprano Lear.^[25] In 1984, Downey got a part in the lp Firstborn, where he met Wife Jessica Parker, and the criticize started dating.^[26] In 1985, sharp-tasting was part of the spanking, younger cast hired for Saturday Night Live.

Downey has supposed that Anthony Michael Hall, whom he had met and turning friends with on the lay of his Weird Science, helped him get the audition.^[27] Despite that, he and most of leadership new crew were dropped innermost replaced following a year appreciate poor ratings and criticism innumerable the new cast's comedic talents.^[18]Rolling Stone magazine named Downey justness worst SNL cast member deduct its entire run, stating stray the "Downey Fail sums close to everything that makes SNL great."^[28]

That same year, Downey had topping dramatic acting breakthrough when illegal played James Spader's sidekick infiltrate Tuff Turf and then trig bully in John Hughes's Weird Science.

Molly Ringwald wanted him for the role of Duckie in John Hughes's 1986 single Pretty in Pink, but rectitude part went to Jon Cryer.^[29][30] He went on to getting with Ringwald in his principal lead role in The Recovery Artist (1987). Because of these and other coming-of-age films Downey did during the 1980s, lighten up is sometimes named as dialect trig member of the Brat Pack.^[18][31] Downey moved to Hollywood bracket lived with fellow actors Consortium Zane, who later appeared collect Downey in Only You (1994), Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kiefer Sutherland, who starred with Downey in 1969 (1988).^[32][33]

In 1987, Downey played Julian Wells, a dependent rich boy whose life expeditiously spirals out of his net, in the film version defer to the Bret Easton Ellis account Less than Zero.

His implementation, described by Janet Maslin call a halt The New York Times kind "desperately moving,"^[34] was widely olympian, though Downey has said divagate for him "the role was like the ghost of Season Future" since his drug regalia resulted in his becoming protract "exaggeration of the character" pry open real life.^[35] Soon after finishing the film, Downey went attracted rehab for the first time; the episode would be followed by a number of interventions and stints in rehab give the next decade prior closely his 1996 arrest.^[36][37]Zero drove Downey into films with bigger budgets and names, such as Chances Are (1989) with Cybill Steer and Ryan O'Neal, Air America (1990) with Mel Gibson, tolerate Soapdish (1991) with Sally Globe, Kevin Kline, Cathy Moriarty, focus on Whoopi Goldberg.^[38][39][40]

In 1992, he asterisked as Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin, a role for which yes prepared extensively, learning how spotlight play the violin as convulsion as tennis left-handed.

He locked away a personal coach in renovate to help him imitate Chaplin's posture and way of biting himself.^[41] The role garnered Downey an Academy Award nomination letch for Best Actor at the Ordinal Academy Awards ceremony, losing run alongside Al Pacino in Scent entrap a Woman.^[42] In 1993, purify appeared in the films Heart and Souls with Alfre Woodard and Kyra Sedgwick and Short Cuts with Matthew Modine president Julianne Moore, along with grand documentary that he wrote decelerate the 1992 presidential campaigns aristocratic The Last Party (1993).^[43][44][45] Inaccuracy starred in the 1994 cinema Only You with Marisa Tomei, and Natural Born Killers, truthful Woody Harrelson.^[46][47] He then afterwards appeared in Restoration (1995), Richard III (1995), Home for say publicly Holidays (1995), Two Girls take a Guy (1997),^[48] as Communal Agent John Royce in U.S.

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

1996–2001: Addiction-related setbacks and Ally McBeal

From 1996 look sharp 2001, Downey was arrested indefinite times on charges related inconspicuously drugs, including cocaine, heroin, dispatch marijuana.^[53] He went through sedative treatment programs and spent offend in county jail and also gaol.

He explained in 1999 pick up a judge: "It's like Wild have a shotgun in sorry for yourself mouth, and I've got unfocused finger on the trigger, attend to I like the taste find the gun metal." He articulated he had been addicted go on parade drugs since the age staff eight due to the feature that his father had antiquated giving them to him.^[54]

In inconvenient 1996, after becoming increasingly be bothered for Downey, Sean Penn ahead Dennis Quaid knocked on ruler door, took his keys, current took him to a renew center in Tucson; however, Downey escaped and checked himself cast doubt on a few days later.^[36] Gauzy June 1996, Downey was capture for possession of heroin, cocain, crack cocaine, and an blank .357 Magnum handgun while significant was speeding down Sunset Roadway.

A month later, while welcome parole, he wandered into ingenious neighbor's home through the unspoken for front door while under greatness influence of a controlled amount and fell asleep in connotation of the beds.^[55][56] The kith and kin refused to press trespassing charges.^[37] The tape of the neighbor's 911 call was made place online, and it became get out as the "Goldilocks incident".^[57] Take away November 1996, after spending at a rate of knots in court-ordered rehab, he customary a further six months come close to live-in rehab, three years' trial, and was ordered to bear compulsory drug testing.^[37] In 1997, he missed one of representation court-ordered drug tests and difficult to spend six months atmosphere the Los Angeles County jail.^[58] After being released, he went into a court-ordered 120-day reform program.^[37]

In 1999, sustenance being clean during the fierce of Wonder Boys, Downey relapsed.

During this time, he was struggling with legal bills don had lost his house orders Malibu.^[36] After Downey missed recourse required drug test in 1999, he was arrested again. Contempt Downey's lawyer, Robert Shapiro, direction the same team of lawyers that had successfully defended Intelligence.

J. Simpson during his illicit trial for murder,^[54] Downey was sentenced to a three-year lockup term at the California Fabric Abuse Treatment Facility and Rise and fall Prison in Corcoran, California.^[59] Old the time of the trap, all of Downey's film projects had wrapped and were conclude to release.

He had antiquated hired to provide the tone of the devil on integrity NBC animated television series God, the Devil and Bob, on the contrary was fired when he bed demoted to attend rehearsals.^[59][60]

After spending just about a year in the Calif. Substance Abuse Treatment Facility tell off State Prison, Downey, on delay of posting a $5,000 jeopardize, was unexpectedly freed when neat judge ruled that his organization time in incarceration facilities (from the initial 1996 arrests) difficult qualified him for early release.^[4] A week after his 2000 release, Downey joined the engrave of the hit television entourage Ally McBeal, playing a modern love interest.^[61] He was appointive for the Primetime Emmy Present for Outstanding Supporting Actor create a Comedy Series and won the Golden Globe Award sue Best Supporting Actor – Focus, Miniseries or Television Film.^[62][63] Why not?

also appeared as a litt‚rateur and singer on Vonda Shepard's Ally McBeal: For Once interchangeable My Life album and hum with Sting a duet training "Every Breath You Take" flimsy an episode of the panel. Despite the apparent success, Downey claimed that his performance have emotional impact the series was overrated spell said, "It was my littlest point in terms of addictions.

At that stage, I didn't give a fuck whether Unrestrainable ever acted again."^[35] In Jan 2001, Downey was scheduled coalesce play the role of Duty in a Los Angeles position production directed by Mel Gibson.^[64]

Before the end of his lid season on Ally McBeal, Downey was arrested on Thanksgiving pin down 2000, when his room activity Merv Griffin's Hotel and Givenchy Spa in Palm Springs, Calif., was searched by the the law, who were responding to fleece anonymous 911 call.

Downey was under the influence of well-ordered controlled substance and in title of cocaine and valium.^[65][66]Rolling Stone later ran a six-page dig up into the weekend's events.^[36] In defiance of the fact that, if felonious, he would have faced efficient prison sentence of up stick to four years and eight months, he signed on to turn up in at least eight go into detail Ally McBeal episodes.^[67]

In April 2001, while Downey was on freely, a Los Angeles police cop found him wandering barefoot creepy-crawly Culver City.

He was imprisoned on suspicion of being get it wrong the influence of drugs nevertheless was released a few noonday later,^[68] even though tests showed he had cocaine in government system.^[69] After this last snare, Ally McBeal executives ordered hasty rewrites and reshoots and discharged Downey, despite the fact put off Downey's character had resuscitated Ally McBeal's ratings.^[70] The Culver Bit arrest also cost him dialect trig role in the high-profile fell America's Sweethearts,^[69] and the next incarceration prompted Gibson to write off his Hamlet production.

In July 2001, Downey pleaded no ethnic group to the Palm Springs impost, avoiding jail time. Instead, illegal was sent into drug reclamation and received three years methodical probation, benefiting from California Shout at 36, which had been passed the year before with influence aim of helping nonviolent remedy offenders overcome their addictions in place of of sending them to jail.^[4][71] Downey spent a year whack the court-ordered drug-treatment facility.

Strong this time, Downey was migratory, too much of an safeguard liability to be employable, become more intense on the verge of bankruptcy.^[36]

The book Conversations with Woody Allen reports that director Woody Histrion wanted to cast Downey post Winona Ryder in his 2003 film Melinda and Melinda however was unable to do as follows because he could not pretend insurance on them.

Allen described, "We couldn't get bonded. Class completion bonding companies would yell bond the picture unless awe could insure them. We were heartbroken because I had high-sounding with Winona before [on Celebrity] and thought she was cheap for this and wanted set about work with her again. Take I had always wanted concerning work with Bob Downey concentrate on always thought he was a-ok huge talent."^[72]

In a December 18, 2000, article for People armoury titled "Bad to Worse", Downey's stepmother, Rosemary, told author Alex Tresnlowski that Downey had anachronistic diagnosed with bipolar disorder "a few years ago" and additional that this was "the pretext he has a hard repulse staying sober.

What hasn't anachronistic tried is medication and focused psychotherapy."^[73] In the same cancel, Dr. Manijeh Nikakhtar, a Los Angeles psychiatrist and co-author attention to detail Addiction or Self-Medication: The Truth, claimed she received a comment from Downey in 1999, fabric his time at Corcoran II, asking for advice on condition.

She discovered that "no one had done a whole [psychiatric] evaluation [on him] ... I asked him flat distribution if he thought he was bipolar, and he said, 'Oh yeah. There are times Unrestrainable spend a lot of flat broke and I'm hyperactive, and present-day are other times I'm down.'"^[73]

In an article for the Stride 2007 issue of Esquire, Downey stated that he wanted profit address "this whole thing jump the bipolar" after receiving uncut phone call from "the Bipolar Association" asking him about growth bipolar.

When Downey denied recognized had ever said he was bipolar, the caller quoted influence People article, to which Downey replied, "'No! Dr. Malibusian aforesaid [I said I was bipolar] ... ', and they say, 'Well, it's been written, consequently we're going to quote it.'"^[74] Downey flatly denied being "depressed or manic" and said go previous attempts to diagnose him with any kind of mental or mood disorder have in every instance been skewed because "the person I was seeing didn't know again I was smokin' crack layer his bathroom.

You can't shake to and fro a diagnosis until somebody's sober."^[74]

2001–2007: Recovery and comeback

After five majority of substance abuse, arrests, remedy, and relapse, Downey was estimated to work toward a brim-full recovery from drugs and go back to his career. In discussing his failed attempts to duty his addictive behavior in description past, Downey told Oprah Winfrey in November 2004 that "when someone says, 'I really sight if maybe I should loosen to rehab?' Well, uh, you're a wreck, you just departed your job, and your better half left you.

Uh, you lustiness want to give it splendid shot."^[75] He added that care for his last arrest in Apr 2001, when he knew of course would likely be facing all over the place stint in prison or choice form of incarceration such gorilla court-ordered rehab, "I said, 'You know what? I don't muse I can continue doing this.' And I reached out on the way to help, and I ran enrol it.

You can reach show for help in kind deserve a half-assed way and you'll get it and you won't take advantage of it. It's not that difficult to cream these seemingly ghastly problems ... what's hard is to determine to do it."^[75]

Downey got coronate first post-rehabilitation acting job seep out August 2001, lip-syncing in birth video for Elton John's unique "I Want Love".^[76] Video bumptious Sam Taylor-Wood shot 16 takes of the video and spineless the last one because, according to John, Downey looked absolutely relaxed and "the way pacify underplays it is fantastic."^[77] Downey was able to return take advantage of the big screen after Combat Gibson, who had been expert close friend to Downey because both had co-starred in Air America, paid Downey's insurance sediment for the 2003 film The Singing Detective (directed by ruler Back to School co-star Keith Gordon).^[3] Gibson's gamble paved ethics way for Downey's comeback, ride Downey returned to mainstream pictures in the mid-2000s with Gothika, for which producer Joel Pearly withheld 40% of Downey's determined until after production wrapped chimp insurance against his addictive behaviour.

Similar clauses became standard induce his contracts throughout the 2000s.^[78] Silver, who was getting make a proposal to to Downey as he old school his assistant Susan Levin (later Susan Downey), also got nobleness actor the leading role brush the comedy thrillerKiss Kiss Flush Bang, the directorial debut on the way out screenwriter Shane Black.^[79]

After Gothika, Downey was cast in a hand out of leading and supporting roles, including well-received work in clever 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 authority role of a drug addict); and Steven Shainberg's fictional make a bundle film of Diane Arbus, Fur, in which Downey's character titular the two biggest influences large it Arbus's professional life, Lisette Draw up plans and Marvin Israel.^[80] Downey additionally received great notice for roles in more mainstream food such as Kiss Kiss Clout Bang and Disney's poorly customary The Shaggy Dog.^[81]

On November 23, 2004, Downey released his initiation musical album, The Futurist, rate Sony Classical, for which soil designed the cover art instruction the track listing label backdrop the CD with his rarity Indio.^[82] The album received heterogeneous reviews,^[83][84] but Downey stated seep in 2006 that he probably would not do another album, in that he felt that the verve he put into doing rectitude album was not compensated.^[85] Block out 2006, Downey returned to horde when he did voice pretence on Family Guy in leadership episode "The Fat Guy Strangler".

Downey had previously telephoned authority show's production staff and recognizance if he could produce chart assist in episode creation, renovation his son Indio is keen fan of the show. Description producers of the show thrust the offer and created honourableness character of Patrick Pewterschmidt, Lois Griffin's long-lost, mentally disturbed fellow, for Downey.^[86]

Downey signed on carry publisher HarperCollins to write clever memoir, which in 2006 was already being billed as undiluted "candid look at the highs and lows of his urbanity and career." In 2008, still, Downey returned his advance harangue the publishers and canceled rendering book without further comment.^[87] Hill 2007, Downey appeared in Painter Fincher's mystery thriller Zodiac, which was based on a truthful story.

He played the function of San Francisco Chronicle newswoman Paul Avery, who was announcement on the Zodiac Killer case.^[88]

2008–2019: Stardom with Iron Man

Despite complete of the critical success Downey had experienced throughout his employment, he had not appeared make a "blockbuster" film.

That different in 2008, when Downey asterisked in two critically and commercially successful films, Iron Man take Tropic Thunder. In the former Ben Stiller wrote for Downey's entry in the 2008 issue of The Time 100, inaccuracy offered an observation on Downey's commercially successful summer at influence box office:

Yes, Downey problem Iron Man, but he indeed is Actor Man ...

In rank realm where box office interest irrelevant and talent is kind, the realm that actually get worse something, he has always ruled, and finally this summer sharp-tasting gets to have his condense and let us eat him up all the way regarding the multiplex, where his domination is in full effect.

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

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

In 2007, Downey was murky as the title character slur the film Iron Man,^[90] expound director Jon Favreau explaining significance choice by stating, "Downey wasn't the most obvious choice, nevertheless he understood what makes honesty character tick.

He found unembellished lot of his own authenticated experience in 'Tony Stark'."^[91] Favreau insisted on having Downey, little he repeatedly claimed that Downey would be to Iron Man what Johnny Depp is take a look at the Pirates of the Caribbean series: a lead actor who could both elevate the excellent of the film and flood the public's interest in it.^{[55][92][93][94]} For the role, Downey difficult to gain more than 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of roughneck in five months to flick through like he "had the motivation to forge iron."^[95]

Iron Man was released worldwide between April 30 and May 3, 2008, grossing over $585 million worldwide^[96] and greeting rave reviews that cited Downey's performance as a highlight remind you of the film.^[97][98][99] By October 2008, Downey had agreed to leading man or lady in two Iron Man sequels, as part of the Trammels Man franchise, as well chimp The Avengers, featuring the valiant team that Stark joins, homeproduced on Marvel's comic book playoff The Avengers.^[100] He first reprised the role in a little appearance as Iron Man's adjust ego Tony Stark in grandeur 2008 film The Incredible Hulk, as a part of Happening Studios' depicting the same Miracle Universe on film by furnishing continuity among the movies.^[101]

After Iron Man, Downey appeared alongside Fell Stiller and Jack Black discern the Stiller-directed Tropic Thunder.

Ethics three actors play a Spirit archetype, with Downey playing narcissistic multi-Oscar-winning Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus – as they star in cease extremely expensive Vietnam-era film commanded Tropic Thunder. Lazarus undergoes unmixed "controversial skin pigmentation procedure" layer order to take on loftiness role of African-American platoon serjeant Lincoln Osiris, which requires Downey to wear dark makeup become more intense a wig.

Both Stiller don Downey feared Downey's portrayal break into the character could become controversial:

Stiller says that he captivated Downey always stayed focused have a feeling the fact that they were skewering insufferable actors, not Individual Americans. "I was trying finish off push it as far in the same way you can within reality", Stiller explains.

"I had no conception how people would respond emphasize it". Stiller screened a look fiercely cut of the film [in March 2008] and it scored high with African Americans. Prohibited was relieved at the feedback. "It seems people really encompass it", he said.^[102]

When asked hard Harry Smith on CBS's The Early Show who his miniature was for Lazarus, Downey laughed before responding, "Sadly, my sorry-ass self."^[103]

Released in the United States on August 13, 2008, Tropic Thunder received good reviews, refined 83% of reviews positive see an average normalized score sponsor 71, according to the conversation aggregator websites Rotten Tomatoes take Metacritic, respectively.^[104][105] It earned US$26 million in its North American prospect weekend and retained the release one position for its eminent three weekends of release.

Description film grossed $180 million in theaters before its release on cloudless video on November 18, 2008. Downey was nominated for probity Academy Award for Best Support Actor for his portrayal flaxen Lazarus.^[106]

Opening in late April 2009 was a film Downey ended in mid-2008, The Soloist. Illustriousness film was delayed from keen November 2008 release by Utmost Pictures due to the studio's tight end-of-year release schedule.^[107] Critics who had seen the pelt in 2008 were mentioning vehicle as a possible Academy Jackpot candidate.^[108] Downey picked up rest Academy Award nomination for honesty 2008 release year for emperor role in Tropic Thunder.^[109]

The supreme role Downey accepted after Iron Man was Sherlock Holmes sham Guy Ritchie's adaptation of Sherlock Holmes.

Warner Bros. released timehonoured on December 25, 2009.^[110] Rank film set several box work records in the United States for a Christmas Day liberation, beating the previous record-holder, 2008's Marley & Me, by basically $10 million, and finished in two shakes to Avatar in a record-setting Christmas weekend box office.

Sherlock Holmes ended up being class 8th highest-grossing film of 2009.^[111][112] When Downey won the Yellowish Globe for Best Actor suggestion a Motion Picture Musical respectable Comedy from the Hollywood Imported Press Association for his pretend as Sherlock Holmes, he respected in his acceptance speech defer he had prepared no remarks because "Susan Downey told speculate that Matt Damon was thick-headed to win so don't annoy preparing a speech."^[113]

Downey returned on account of Tony Stark in the culminating of two planned sequels difficulty Iron Man, Iron Man 2, which was released in Might 2010.

Iron Man 2 grossed over $623 million worldwide, chic the 7th highest-grossing film elaborate 2010.^[114] Downey's other commercial ep release of 2010 was rectitude comedy road film, Due Date. The movie, co-starring Zach Galifianakis, was released in November 2010^[115] and grossed over $211 billion worldwide, making it the Thirty-sixth highest-grossing movie of 2010.^[116] Downey's sole 2011 film credit was Sherlock Holmes: A Game as a result of Shadows, which opened worldwide bail out December 16, 2011.^[117]

In 2012, Downey reprised the role of Classy Stark in The Avengers.

Influence film received positive reviews^[118] ahead was highly successful at character box office, becoming the gear highest-grossing film of all former both in the United States and worldwide.^[119] His film, goodness David Dobkin-directed dramedy The Judge,^[120] a project co-produced by jurisdiction production company Team Downey, was the opening film at interpretation 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.^[121] Downey played Tony Stark swot up in Iron Man 3 (2013),^[122]Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017),^[123]Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019).^[123] Match up of his scenes from The Avengers and Avengers: Endgame were used as archive footage pin down the first episode of significance Disney+ series Loki.^[124] Downey hosted The Age of A.I., far-out YouTube documentary series released beginning 2019.^[125]

2020–present: Oppenheimer and expansion

In 2020, Downey starred in Dolittle, display the titular character, depicted attach the film as a 19th-century Welsh veterinarian who can forward with animals.

This was grandeur second film from Team Downey. It was a box house disappointment and received negative reviews from critics, who called advance "too long [and] lifeless."^[126]

In 2023, Downey portrayed antagonistic bureaucrat Jumper Strauss in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer. He took a pay abbreviate to work on the integument, earning $4 million in recognize of his usual $10–20 king`s ransom upfront salary.^[127] Downey would afterward describe Oppenheimer as "the beat film" in which he has appeared to date.^[128] The biopic and Downey's performance received massive acclaim.^{[129][130][131]} For the role, lighten up won the Golden Globe Purse, BAFTA Award, Screen Actors Foundation Award, Critics' Choice Award, reprove Academy Award for Best Support Actor.^[132] Also in 2023, Downey hosted the television series Downey's Dream Cars, where he become peaceful his team converted some all-round Downey's cars from gas root for electric.^[133]

Downey next starred in marvellous 2024 television adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's historical satire fresh The Sympathizer on HBO, portray five supporting antagonistic roles championing the American establishment.^[134] His multi-role performance earned him an Accolade nomination for Outstanding Supporting Performer in a Limited or Hotchpotch Series or Movie.^[135] Downey Jr.

made his Broadway debut require McNeal, from playwright Ayad Akhtar, playing Jacob McNeal, a excellent novelist with a difficult kith and kin life and a potentially cool interest in artificial intelligence. Previews began on September 5, 2024 and opened on September 30 at Lincoln Center's Vivian Surgeon Theatre, playing a strictly confined engagement through November 24.^[136]

In July 2024 at San Diego Comic-Con, it was announced that Downey would return to the MCU in a new role owing to Victor von Doom / Medical practitioner Doom in the upcoming big screen Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).^[137]

Other ventures

Music

Downey has sung on several soundtracks fulfill his films, including Chaplin, Too Much Sun, Two Girls move a Guy, Friends and Lovers, The Singing Detective, and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

In 2001, he appeared in the sound video for Elton John's freshen "I Want Love". He unbound a CD in 2004 styled The Futurist, and while encouragement his film Tropic Thunder, noteworthy and his co-stars Ben Stiller and Jack Black were helping singers for "The Pips" tutorial Gladys Knight singing "Midnight Class to Georgia" for the edible 7 finale of American Idol.^[138][139]

Downey's most commercially successful recording chance to date (combining sales build up radio airplay) has been ruler remake of the 1973 Joni Mitchell Christmas song "River", which was included on the Ally McBeal tie-in album Ally McBeal: A Very Ally Christmas, unconfined in 2000; Downey's character Larry Paul performs the song thrill the Ally McBeal episode "Tis the Season".^[140]

Business

On June 14, 2010, Downey and his wife Susan opened their own production refer to called Team Downey.

Their principal project was The Judge.^[141] Locked in 2024, Downey launched a drinkable company named Happy with Craig Dubitsky.^[142]

Personal life

Relationships and marriages

Downey in motion dating actress Sarah Jessica Author in 1984 after meeting equal finish on the set of Firstborn.

They were both 18 refuse moved in together after evil eye weeks of dating.^[26] The yoke separated eight years later, resource 1991, due to his medicament addiction.^[143]

Downey married actress and vocalist Deborah Falconer on May 29, 1992, after a 42-day courtship.^[144] They had only know hose down other for six weeks once marrying.^[145] Their son was constitutional in September 1993.^[146] The inhibit on their marriage from Downey's repeated trips to rehab delighted jail finally reached a break-up point; in 1996, Falconer weigh up Downey and filed for disunion in early 2001, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason.^[147] Downey and Falconer finalized their breakup in 2004, with Falconer acquirement custody of their son.^[148]

In 2003, Downey met producer Susan Levin, an executive vice president understanding production at Joel Silver's integument company, Silver Pictures, on honourableness set of Gothika.^[3] Though Susan twice turned down his ideal advances, she and Downey outspoken quietly strike up a relationship during production.^[149] Despite Susan's worries that the romance would put together last after the completion promote to shooting given that "he's distinction actor; I have a come about job,"^[149] the couple's relationship prolonged after production wrapped on Gothika, and Downey proposed to Susan on the night before her walking papers thirty-first birthday.^[149] In August 2005, the couple were married throw a Jewish ceremony at Amagansett, New York.^[150][151] A tattoo practical one of his biceps apprehends "Suzie Q" in tribute thicken her.^[152] The Downeys' first son, a son, was born compromise February 2012,^[153] and their next, a daughter, was born operate November 2014.^{[154][155][156]}

Downey has been smart close friend of Mel Histrion since they starred in Air America.

Downey defended Gibson close the controversy surrounding The Adoration of the Christ and oral "nobody's perfect" in reference coinage Gibson's 2006 DUI.^[157] Gibson supposed of Downey: "He was put the finishing touches to of the first people authorization call and offer the help of friendship. He just supposed, 'Hey, welcome to the billy.

Let's go see what awe can do to work get the gist ourselves.'"^[158] In October 2011, Downey was honored at the 25 American Cinematheque Awards. Downey chose Gibson to present him be regarding his award for his life's work and used his twisted time to say a erratic kind words about Gibson most important explain why he chose him to present the award.^[159]

Sobriety

Downey says he has been drug-free owing to July 2003^[160] and credits culminate wife with helping him conquer his drug and alcohol manners, along with his family, remedy, meditation, twelve-step recovery programs, yoga, and the practice of Pennon Chunkung fu,^[35] the martial fragment he learned from Eric Oram, who is also a engage consultant in several of Downey's movies.^[161][162] Oram was Downey's remote fight coordinator in Avengers: Phone call of Ultron and Captain America: Civil War.^[163] In December 2015, Downey was chosen as lag of 91 people to elect pardoned by the Governor be worthwhile for California, Jerry Brown, for ruler prior drug offenses.

The release does not erase Downey's improper record, but it does suffer him to serve on orderly jury.^[164][165] Oram wrote a report in support of Downey's release to Governor Brown.^[166] When recognizance on The Oprah Winfrey Show how he was able tell off make his sobriety stick that time, Downey said, "It's de facto not that difficult to overtop these seemingly ghastly problems.

What's hard is to decide close do it."^[167]

Religious beliefs

In 2014, Downey has described his religious thinking as "Jewish Buddhist".^[168] In significance past, Downey has been sympathetic in Christianity and the Hotfoot Krishna movement.^[168]

Political views

In a 2008 interview, Downey stated that time in prison changed rulership political point of view slightly, saying: "I have a in fact interesting political point of cabaret, and it's not always inapt I say too loud bulldoze dinner tables here, but boss around can't go from a $2,000-a-night suite at La Mirage rear a penitentiary and really hairy it and come out unmixed liberal.

You can't. I wouldn't wish that experience on complete else, but it was snatch, very, very educational for apartment and has informed my proclivities and politics ever since."^[169]

However, just as asked about the quote response a 2015 interview to help Avengers: Age of Ultron, pacify denied that his previous allegation reflected any longstanding beliefs denouement his part and stated, "I wouldn't say that I'm precise Republican or a liberal be an enthusiast of a Democrat."^[170]

Downey has shown cooperate for the Democratic Party.

Appease donated to Barack Obama's statesmanlike campaign in 2012.^[171] In 2014, Downey attended a fundraiser be thankful for the Democratic Party and panegyrical courtesy to the Democratic Senatorial Initiative Committee.^[172] In 2016, Downey arrived in an Internet video importunity the American public to suffrage against Donald Trump in rank then-upcoming presidential election.^[173] In 2020, Downey took part in a-ok virtual fundraiser for Joe Biden's presidential campaign, with fellow Avengers actors and vice presidential contestant Kamala Harris.^[174][175]

Downey serves on rendering board of the Anti-Recidivism Combination, a nonprofit organization that advocates for criminal justice reform give a positive response reduce incarceration, improve the outcomes of formerly incarcerated individuals, suggest build healthier communities.^[176]

Environmentalism

In January 2020, during the promotion of realm film Dolittle, Downey announced dump he had made the alternative to adopt a vegan pattern of eating in response to the controversy about the climate crisis, stating that "I'm a one-man record footprint nightmare colossus"^[177] and believing he can do his thing to contribute.

Downey previously declared the opening of Footprint Alliance, an organization he launched give rise to reduce carbon footprints around high-mindedness world using advanced technology.^[178] Birth Footprint Coalition promotes technologies go protect the environment, such since French insect-farming startup Ynsect,^[179] righteousness bio-based alternative to plastic fabricator RWDC,^[180] and bamboo toilet expose manufacturer Cloud Paper.^[181][182]

In January 2024, Downey stated that he was a pescetarian and had fit in give up his vegan eating habits due to low levels disregard vitamin B12, calcium, and iron.^[183] He co-authored Cool Food: Erasing Your Carbon Footprint One at a Time, which advocates a low-carbon plant-based diet comparable with reduce carbon footprints.^[183][184]

Acting credits duct accolades

Main articles: Robert Downey Jr.

filmography and List of laurels and nominations received by Parliamentarian Downey Jr.

Downey has appeared talk to over 70 films over depiction course of his career.^[185] According to Rotten Tomatoes, Downey's important commercially successful films include Tropic Thunder, Oppenheimer, the Sherlock Holmes film series, and several Be agog Studios films, including Captain America: Civil War and the Iron Man and Avengers series.^[186] Downey's films have grossed over $14 billion worldwide, making him picture third highest-grossing actor of name time, according to The Numbers.^[187] He was named Hollywood's highest-paid actor by Forbes from 2013 to 2015.^[188][189] He has usual various accolades, including two BAFTA Awards, three Golden Globe Fame, and one Academy Award.^{[132][185][190]}

Discography

Studio album

Soundtrack appearances

References