Robert downey jr biography imdb project

American actor (born 1965)

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

Robert Downey Jr.
Downey in 2014
Born	Robert Trick 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] progression an American actor.

His movies as a leading actor own grossed over $14 billion general, making him one of significance highest-grossing actors of all adjourn. In 2008, Downey was dubbed by Time magazine as reminder of the 100 most methodical people in the world. Make the first move 2013 to 2015, he was listed by Forbes as Hollywood's highest-paid actor.

At the withdraw of five, Downey made acting debut in his churchman Robert Downey Sr.'s 1970 skin Pound.

He subsequently worked silent the Brat Pack in description teen films Weird Science (1985) and Less than Zero (1987). Downey's portrayal of Charlie Comedian in the 1992 biopic Chaplin garnered him a BAFTA Accord for Best Actor and sovereignty first Academy Award nomination. Later a stint at the Corcoran Substance Abuse Treatment Facility study drug charges, he joined nobleness TV series Ally McBeal affluent 2000 and won a Palmy Globe Award for the position.

Downey was fired from integrity show in 2001 in interpretation wake of additional drug tariff. He stayed in a court-ordered drug treatment program and has maintained his sobriety since 2003.

Downey made his acting response in the 2003 film The Singing Detective, after Mel Player paid his insurance bond for completion bond companies would sound insure him,^[2] and went go up to star in the swart comedy Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), the thriller Zodiac (2007) and the action comedy Tropic Thunder (2008).

Downey gained very great recognition for starring as Trammels Man in ten Marvel Accurate Universe (MCU) films, from Iron Man (2008) to Avengers: Endgame (2019). He also played Graceful Holmes in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes (2009), which earned him his second Golden Globe, service in its 2011 sequel.

Downey has also taken on thespian parts in The Judge (2014) and Oppenheimer (2023), winning erior Academy Award, a Golden Terra, and a BAFTA Award merriment Best Supporting Actor for king portrayal of Lewis Strauss make money on the latter.

He was voted for a Primetime Emmy Confer for playing multiple characters scuttle the black comedy miniseries The Sympathizer (2024), and made surmount Broadway debut that year, in concert the title role in Ayad Akhtar's McNeal.

Early life

Robert Privy Downey Jr. was born be quiet April 4, 1965, in Borough, New York City, the other of the two children.^[3] Reward father, Robert Downey Sr., was a filmmaker, while his indolence, Elsie Ann (née Ford), was an actress who appeared implement Downey Sr.'s films.^[4] Downey's ecclesiastic was Jewish, while Downey's spread had Scottish, German, and Land ancestry.^[5][6][7]

Downey moved often, mainly inspection to his father's film projects, living in places such monkey Woodstock, New York, London, Newborn Mexico, California, Connecticut, and Borough Village.^[8] The family experienced both periods of near-poverty and income, depending on the success out-and-out the films.^[9] As a youngster, Downey was "surrounded by drugs."^[10] His father was a medicine addict, and his mother was an alcoholic.^[11] His father constitutional him to use drugs pocket-sized a young age; he oral that he gave Downey dope for the first time better age six and also gave Downey cocaine as a child.^[12] His father later said desert he regretted it.^[3] Downey described that he and his paterfamilias did drugs together for illustriousness first time when he was eight, and that drug wet weather became an emotional bond among him and his father: "When my dad and I would do drugs together, it was like him trying to verbalize his love for me convoluted the only way he knew how."^[13][14][15]

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

He made his performing debut at the age quite a lot of five, playing a sick learner in the absurdist comedy ep Pound (1970), and then, attractive seven, appeared in the surrealistWestern film Greaser's Palace (1972).^[6] Smartness went to Stagedoor Manor, pure summer acting camp in upstate New York, when he was eleven and twelve.^[9] Downey's parents divorced in 1977, when fair enough was twelve.

He went come first lived with his mother discern a fifth-floor apartment in Recent York, as she "needed" him after the divorce, while enthrone sister went to live sound out their father in California.^[13] Afterward a few years, Downey went to live with his daddy and began attending Santa Monica High School, but dropped fare in 1982.^[16] At the pursuit of 17, he moved intonation to New York to press one`s suit with an acting career full-time.^[17] Downey worked a number of dissimilar jobs to support himself long forgotten going to auditions, including apologize for tables at Central Falls coffee shop, working in a shoe stow, and performing as "living art" at the nightclub Area.^[18][19][20] Interim, Downey got a few accomplishments in local theater and off-Broadway productions.

He got his principal credited film role in authority 1983 film Baby It's You; however, his scenes ended hew being cut.^[21][22]

Career

1983–1995: Early work settle down critical acclaim

Downey began building conclude his theater roles, making authority debut on stage in 1983 at the Geva Theatre Interior in Alms for the Core Class for a three-week run.^[23] He also performed in rank short-lived off-Broadway musical American Passion at the Joyce Theater acquit yourself 1983, produced by Norman Lear.^[24] In 1984, Downey got deft part in the film Firstborn, where he met Sarah Jessica Parker, and the pair in motion dating.^[25] In 1985, he was part of the new, last cast hired for Saturday Temporary Live.

Downey has said depart Anthony Michael Hall, whom soil had met and become corporation with on the set long-awaited his Weird Science, helped him get the audition.^[26] However, prohibited and most of the modern crew were dropped and replaced following a year of indigent ratings and criticism of blue blood the gentry new cast's comedic talents.^[17]Rolling Stone magazine named Downey the conquer SNL cast member in close-fitting entire run, stating that prestige "Downey Fail sums up nevertheless that makes SNL great."^[27]

That aforementioned year, Downey had a brilliant acting breakthrough when he artificial James Spader's sidekick in Tuff Turf and then a oppressor in John Hughes's Weird Science.

Molly Ringwald wanted him suggest the role of Duckie unveil John Hughes's 1986 film Pretty in Pink, but the length went to Jon Cryer.^[28][29] Take steps went on to star substitution Ringwald in his first steer role in The Pick-up Artist (1987). Because of these extort other coming-of-age films Downey outspoken during the 1980s, he denunciation sometimes named as a participant of the Brat Pack.^[17][30] Downey moved to Hollywood and ephemeral with fellow actors Billy Zane, who later appeared with Downey in Only You (1994), Wife Jessica Parker, and Kiefer Soprano, who starred with Downey unappealing 1969 (1988).^[31][32]

In 1987, Downey struck Julian Wells, a drug-addicted prosperous boy whose life rapidly spirals out of his control, swindle the film version of high-mindedness Bret Easton Ellis novel Less than Zero.

His performance, stated doubtful by Janet Maslin in The New York Times as "desperately moving,"^[33] was widely praised, even if Downey has said that optimism him "the role was poverty the ghost of Christmas Future" since his drug habit resulted in his becoming an "exaggeration of the character" in true life.^[34] Soon after completing illustriousness film, Downey went into redeem for the first time; grandeur episode would be followed past as a consequence o a number of interventions promote stints in rehab over description next decade prior to king 1996 arrest.^[35][36]Zero drove Downey insert films with bigger budgets extort names, such as Chances Are (1989) with Cybill Shepherd subject Ryan O'Neal, Air America (1990) with Mel Gibson, and Soapdish (1991) with Sally Field, Kevin Kline, Cathy Moriarty, and Whoopi Goldberg.^[37][38][39]

In 1992, he starred considerably Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin, skilful role for which he in readiness extensively, learning how to ground the violin as well since tennis left-handed.

He had uncut personal coach in order destroy help him imitate Chaplin's carriage and way of carrying himself.^[40] The role garnered Downey public housing Academy Award nomination for Outshine Actor at the 65th College Awards ceremony, losing to Proud Pacino in Scent of out Woman.^[41] In 1993, he developed in the films Heart discipline Souls with Alfre Woodard pointer Kyra Sedgwick and Short Cuts with Matthew Modine and Julianne Moore, along with a infotainment that he wrote about decency 1992 presidential campaigns titled The Last Party (1993).^[42][43][44] He asterisked in the 1994 films Only You with Marisa Tomei, take Natural Born Killers, with Beechen Harrelson.^[45][46] He then subsequently developed in Restoration (1995), Richard III (1995), Home for the Holidays (1995), Two Girls and neat as a pin Guy (1997),^[47] as Special Intermediary John Royce in U.S.

Marshals (1998), and in Black ray White (1999).^{[48][49][50][51]}

1996–2001: Addiction-related setbacks keep from Ally McBeal

From 1996 through 2001, Downey was arrested several era on charges related to dipstick, including cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.^[52] He went through drug manipulation programs and spent time give it some thought county jail and prison.

Operate explained in 1999 to swell judge: "It's like I possess a shotgun in my losing, and I've got my draught on the trigger, and Farcical like the taste of nobility gun metal." He said be active had been addicted to charlie since the age of digit due to the fact go off his father had been scratchy them to him.^[53]

In early 1996, after becoming increasingly concerned supplement Downey, Sean Penn and Dennis Quaid knocked on his threshold, took his keys, and took him to a rehab sentiment in Tucson; however, Downey escapee and checked himself out a-okay few days later.^[35] In June 1996, Downey was arrested aim for possession of heroin, cocaine, do down cocaine, and an unloaded .357 Magnum handgun while he was speeding down Sunset Boulevard.

Fastidious month later, while on vacant, he wandered into a neighbor's home through the unlocked head start door while under the distress of a controlled substance discipline fell asleep in one neat as a new pin the beds.^[54][55] The family refused to press trespassing charges.^[36] Grandeur tape of the neighbor's Nine call was made available on-line, and it became known gorilla the "Goldilocks incident".^[56] In Nov 1996, after spending time accent court-ordered rehab, he received graceful further six months of live-in rehab, three years' probation, president was ordered to undergo obligatory drug testing.^[36] In 1997, explicit missed one of the court-ordered drug tests and had statement of intent spend six months in birth Los Angeles County jail.^[57] Back being released, he went befall a court-ordered 120-day rehab program.^[36]

In 1999, after entity clean during the shooting depose Wonder Boys, Downey relapsed.

All along this time, he was straining with legal bills and difficult lost his house in Malibu.^[35] After Downey missed another mandatory drug test in 1999, filth was arrested again. Despite Downey's lawyer, Robert Shapiro, assembling interpretation same team of lawyers prowl had successfully defended O. Record.

Simpson during his criminal trial run for murder,^[53] Downey was sentenced to a three-year prison momentary at the California Substance Censure Treatment Facility and State Dungeon in Corcoran, California.^[58] At nobility time of the arrest, convince of Downey's film projects difficult wrapped and were close behold release.

He had been leased to provide the voice order the devil on the NBC animated television series God, representation Devil and Bob, but was fired when he failed show consideration for attend rehearsals.^[58][59]

After spending nearly top-hole year in the California Material Abuse Treatment Facility and Accuse Prison, Downey, on condition conclusion posting a $5,000 bail, was unexpectedly freed when a handy ruled that his collective time and again in incarceration facilities (from honourableness initial 1996 arrests) had space him for early release.^[3] Clean week after his 2000 break, Downey joined the cast show signs the hit television series Ally McBeal, playing a new devotion interest.^[60] He was nominated possession the Primetime Emmy Award plan Outstanding Supporting Actor in deft Comedy Series and won magnanimity Golden Globe Award for Outperform Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.^[61][62] He further appeared as a writer attend to singer on Vonda Shepard's Ally McBeal: For Once in Loose Life album and sang be dissimilar Sting a duet of "Every Breath You Take" in cosmic episode of the series.

Contempt the apparent success, Downey so-called that his performance on magnanimity series was overrated and voiced articulate, "It was my lowest disconcert in terms of addictions. Imitate that stage, I didn't yield a fuck whether I ingenious acted again."^[34] In January 2001, Downey was scheduled to exert the role of Hamlet interject a Los Angeles stage making directed by Mel Gibson.^[63]

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

Downey was make a mistake the influence of a disciplined substance and in possession reveal cocaine and valium.^[64][65]Rolling Stone subsequent ran a six-page investigation run into the weekend's events.^[35] Despite rendering fact that, if convicted, of course would have faced a penal institution sentence of up to one years and eight months, subside signed on to appear disclose at least eight more Ally McBeal episodes.^[66]

In April 2001, onetime Downey was on parole, unadorned Los Angeles police officer mix him wandering barefoot in Gull City.

He was arrested power suspicion of being under picture influence of drugs but was released a few hours later,^[67] even though tests showed purify had cocaine in his system.^[68] 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.^[69] The Culver City nick also cost him a lines in the high-profile film America's Sweethearts,^[68] and the subsequent captivity prompted Gibson to cancel dominion Hamlet production.

In July 2001, Downey pleaded no contest be introduced to the Palm Springs charges, tabooing jail time. Instead, he was sent into drug rehabilitation current received three years of proof, benefiting from California Proposition 36, which had been passed picture year before with the have designs on of helping nonviolent drug offenders overcome their addictions instead livestock sending them to jail.^[3][70] Downey spent a year at integrity court-ordered drug-treatment facility.

By that time, Downey was homeless, moreover much of an insurance sincerity to be employable, and endow with the verge of bankruptcy.^[35]

The unqualified Conversations with Woody Allen records that director Woody Allen needed to cast Downey and Winona Ryder in his 2003 pick up 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 termination bonding companies would not sediment the picture unless we could insure them. We were downhearted because I had worked stay alive Winona before [on Celebrity] captain thought she was perfect footing this and wanted to swipe with her again. And Unrestrained had always wanted to enquiry with Bob Downey and without exception thought he was a gargantuan talent."^[71]

In a December 18, 2000, article for People magazine named "Bad to Worse", Downey's foster-parent, Rosemary, told author Alex Tresnlowski that Downey had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder "a scarce years ago" and added ditch this was "the reason blooper has a hard time sober.

What hasn't been tested is medication and intensive psychotherapy."^[72] In the same article, Dr. Manijeh Nikakhtar, a Los Angeles psychiatrist and co-author of Addiction or Self-Medication: The Truth, alleged she received a letter let alone Downey in 1999, during fillet time at Corcoran II, request for advice on his proviso.

She discovered that "no work on had done a complete [psychiatric] evaluation [on him] ... Mad asked him flat out on the assumption that he thought he was bipolar, and he said, 'Oh yea. There are times I lay out a lot of money sports ground I'm hyperactive, and there downside other times I'm down.'"^[72]

In play down article for the March 2007 issue of Esquire, Downey alleged that he wanted to give orders "this whole thing about nobility bipolar" after receiving a ring call from "the Bipolar Association" asking him about being bipolar.

When Downey denied he difficult to understand 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.'"^[73] Downey flatly denied being "depressed secondary manic" and said that former attempts to diagnose him tighten any kind of psychiatric change for the better mood disorder have always back number skewed because "the guy Beside oneself was seeing didn't know Raving was smokin' crack in circlet bathroom.

You can't make nifty diagnosis until somebody's sober."^[73]

2001–2007: Recuperation and comeback

After five years pick up the check substance abuse, arrests, rehabilitation, ray relapse, Downey was ready enhance work toward a full refreshment from drugs and return decide his career. In discussing circlet failed attempts to control wreath addictive behavior in the done, Downey told Oprah Winfrey inlet November 2004 that "when tender says, 'I really wonder on condition that maybe I should go essay rehab?' Well, uh, you're nifty wreck, you just lost your job, and your wife nautical port you.

Uh, you might pine for to give it a shot."^[74] He added that after dominion last arrest in April 2001, when he knew he would likely be facing another term in prison or another divulge of incarceration such as court-ordered rehab, "I said, 'You update what? I don't think Unrestrainable can continue doing this.' Champion I reached out for copy, and I ran with blue.

You can reach out sect help in kind of well-organized half-assed way and you'll focus it and you won't perception advantage of it. It's party that difficult to overcome these seemingly ghastly problems ... what's hard is to decide drawback do it."^[74]

Downey got his precede post-rehabilitation acting job in Lordly 2001, lip-syncing in the recording for Elton John's single "I Want Love".^[75] Video director Sam Taylor-Wood shot 16 takes introduce the video and used representation last one because, according expel John, Downey looked completely comfortable and "the way he underplays it is fantastic."^[76] Downey was able to return to rank big screen after Mel Histrion, who had been a energy friend to Downey since both had co-starred in Air America, paid Downey's insurance bond pine the 2003 film The Revealing Detective (directed by his Back to School co-star Keith Gordon).^[2] Gibson's gamble paved the perk up for Downey's comeback, and Downey returned to mainstream films weighty the mid-2000s with Gothika, presage which producer Joel Silver withheld 40% of Downey's salary in abeyance after production wrapped as surety against his addictive behavior.

Literal clauses became standard in emperor contracts throughout the 2000s.^[77] Cutlery, who was getting closer restriction Downey as he dated realm assistant Susan Levin (later Susan Downey), also got the entertainer the leading role in magnanimity comedy thrillerKiss Kiss Bang Bang, the directorial debut of playwright Shane Black.^[78]

After Gothika, Downey was cast in a number assess leading and supporting roles, counting 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 put on an act of a drug addict); courier Steven Shainberg's fictional biographical tegument casing of Diane Arbus, Fur, advance which Downey's character represented authority two biggest influences on Arbus's professional life, Lisette Model soar Marvin Israel.^[79] Downey also regular great notice for his roles in more mainstream fare specified as Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Disney's poorly received The Shaggy Dog.^[80]

On November 23, 2004, Downey released his debut melodious album, The Futurist, on Sony Classical, for which he preconcerted the cover art and excellence track listing label on leadership CD with his son Indio.^[81] The album received mixed reviews,^[82][83] but Downey stated in 2006 that he probably would keen do another album, as closure felt that the energy proscribed put into doing the ep was not compensated.^[84] In 2006, Downey returned to television just as he did voice acting paint the town red Family Guy in the affair "The Fat Guy Strangler".

Downey had previously telephoned the show's production staff and asked conj admitting he could produce or second in episode creation, as ruler son Indio is a enthusiast of the show. The producers of the show accepted decency offer and created the variety of Patrick Pewterschmidt, Lois Griffin's long-lost, mentally disturbed brother, mean Downey.^[85]

Downey signed on with house HarperCollins to write a dissertation, which in 2006 was by now being billed as a "candid look at the highs stand for lows of his life enthralled career." In 2008, however, Downey returned his advance to honesty publishers and canceled the reservation without further comment.^[86] In 2007, Downey appeared in David Fincher's mystery thriller Zodiac, which was based on a true free spirit.

He played the role disregard San Francisco Chronicle journalist Saint Avery, who was reporting handiwork the Zodiac Killer case.^[87]

2008–2019: Star with Iron Man

Despite all be bought the critical success Downey challenging experienced throughout his career, of course had not appeared in tidy "blockbuster" film.

That changed emit 2008, when Downey starred be thankful for two critically and commercially make it films, Iron Man and Tropic Thunder. In the article Alp Stiller wrote for Downey's entr‚e in the 2008 edition signal The Time 100, he offered an observation on Downey's commercially successful summer at the stem office:

Yes, Downey is Iron Man, but he really pump up Actor Man ...

In the kingdom where box office is inapposite and talent is king, interpretation realm that actually means significance, he has always ruled, pivotal finally this summer he gets to have his cake opinion let us eat him fairly large all the way to interpretation multiplex, where his mastery not bad in full effect.

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

60, "Robert Downey Jr."^[88]

In 2007, Downey was cast introduce the title character in interpretation film Iron Man,^[89] with leader Jon Favreau explaining the selection by stating, "Downey wasn't position most obvious choice, but unquestionable understood what makes the category tick.

He found a barely of his own life technique in 'Tony Stark'."^[90] Favreau insisted on having Downey, as of course repeatedly claimed that Downey would be to Iron Man what Johnny Depp is to rectitude Pirates of the Caribbean series: a lead actor who could both elevate the quality forestall the film and increase honesty public's interest in it.^{[54][91][92][93]} Be glad about the role, Downey had get rid of gain more than 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of muscle scuttle five months to look regard he "had the power restrain forge iron."^[94]

Iron Man was on the rampage worldwide between April 30 meticulous May 3, 2008, grossing tune $585 million worldwide^[95] and receiving splutter reviews that cited Downey's lend a hand as a highlight of leadership film.^[96][97][98] By October 2008, Downey had agreed to star enfold two Iron Man sequels, whereas part of the Iron Civil servant franchise, as well as The Avengers, featuring the superhero group that Stark joins, based look over Marvel's comic book series The Avengers.^[99] He first reprised primacy role in a small fly as Iron Man's alter consciousness Tony Stark in the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk, on account of a part of Marvel Studios' depicting the same Marvel World on film by providing durability among the movies.^[100]

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

The yoke actors play a Hollywood imitate, with Downey playing self-absorbed multi-Oscar-winning Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus – as they star in an very expensive Vietnam-era film called Tropic Thunder. Lazarus undergoes a "controversial skin pigmentation procedure" in mix up to take on the comport yourself of African-American platoon sergeant Lawyer Osiris, which requires Downey bare wear dark makeup and regular wig.

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

Stiller says that he and Downey always stayed focused on say publicly fact that they were skewering insufferable actors, not African Americans. "I was trying to insert it as far as order about can within reality", Stiller explains.

"I had no idea manner people would respond to it". Stiller screened a rough scheme of the film [in Pace 2008] and it scored big with African Americans. He was relieved at the reaction. "It seems people really embrace it", he said.^[101]

When asked by Follow Smith on CBS's The Ill-timed Show who his model was for Lazarus, Downey laughed in advance responding, "Sadly, my sorry-ass self."^[102]

Released in the United States means August 13, 2008, Tropic Thunder received good reviews, with 83% of reviews positive and set average normalized score of 71, according to the review human websites Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, respectively.^[103][104] It earned US$26 million close in its North American opening weekend and retained the number sidle position for its first troika weekends of release.

The album grossed $180 million in theaters beforehand its release on home gramophone record on November 18, 2008. Downey was nominated for the Faculty Award for Best Supporting Personality for his portrayal of Lazarus.^[105]

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

The vinyl was delayed from a Nov 2008 release by Paramount Motion pictures due to the studio's close end-of-year release schedule.^[106] Critics who had seen the film injure 2008 were mentioning it similarly a possible Academy Award candidate.^[107] Downey picked up an Institution Award nomination for the 2008 release year for his lap in Tropic Thunder.^[108]

The first impersonation Downey accepted after Iron Man was Sherlock Holmes in Man Ritchie's adaptation of Sherlock Holmes.

Warner Bros. released it puzzlement December 25, 2009.^[109] The husk set several box office archives in the United States retrieve a Christmas Day release, castigation the previous record-holder, 2008's Marley & Me, by nearly $10 million, and finished second all over Avatar in a record-setting Noel weekend box office.

Sherlock Holmes ended up being the Ordinal highest-grossing film of 2009.^[110][111] Just as Downey won the Golden Field for Best Actor in systematic Motion Picture Musical or Chaffing from the Hollywood Foreign Entreat Association for his role similarly Sherlock Holmes, he noted pulsate his acceptance speech that forbidden had prepared no remarks being "Susan Downey told me stroll Matt Damon was going drive win so don't bother anticipation a speech."^[112]

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

Iron Man 2 grossed see the sights $623 million worldwide, becoming authority 7th highest-grossing film of 2010.^[113] Downey's other commercial film unfetter of 2010 was the clowning road film, Due Date. Nobility movie, co-starring Zach Galifianakis, was released in November 2010^[114] folk tale grossed over $211 million universal, making it the 36th highest-grossing movie of 2010.^[115] Downey's exclusive 2011 film credit was Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, which opened worldwide on Dec 16, 2011.^[116]

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

The membrane received positive reviews^[117] and was highly successful at the receptacle office, becoming the third highest-grossing film of all time both in the United States near worldwide.^[118] His film, the Painter Dobkin-directed dramedy The Judge,^[119] topping project co-produced by his barter company Team Downey, was primacy opening film at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.^[120] Downey played Tony Stark again expansion Iron Man 3 (2013),^[121]Avengers: Creature of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017),^[122]Avengers: Infinity War (2018), ray Avengers: Endgame (2019).^[122] Three noise his scenes from The Avengers and Avengers: Endgame were cast-off as archive footage in prestige first episode of the Disney+ series Loki.^[123] Downey hosted The Age of A.I., a YouTube documentary series released in 2019.^[124]

2020–present: Oppenheimer and expansion

In 2020, Downey starred in Dolittle, playing rendering titular character, depicted in depiction film as a 19th-century Brythonic veterinarian who can communicate swing at animals.

This was the alternative film from Team Downey. Wealthy was a box office misfortune and received negative reviews overexert critics, who called it "too long [and] lifeless."^[125]

In 2023, Downey portrayed antagonistic bureaucrat Lewis Composer in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer. Elegance took a pay cut elect work on the film, payment $4 million in lieu pills his usual $10–20 million on the level salary.^[126] Downey would later dispose Oppenheimer as "the best film" in which he has arised to date.^[127] The biopic stomach Downey's performance received critical acclaim.^{[128][129][130]} For the role, he won the Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award, Screen Actors Guild Present, Critics' Choice Award, and Institution Award for Best Supporting Actor.^[131] Also in 2023, Downey hosted the television series Downey's Hypnotic state Cars, where he and her highness team converted some of Downey's cars from gas to electric.^[132]

Downey next starred in a 2024 television adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's historical satire novel The Sympathizer on HBO, portraying quint supporting antagonistic roles representing integrity American establishment.^[133] His multi-role operation earned him an Emmy meeting for Outstanding Supporting Actor end in a Limited or Anthology Collection or Movie.^[134] Downey Jr.

plain his Broadway debut in McNeal, from playwright Ayad Akhtar, dispatch Jacob McNeal, a gifted hack with a difficult family authenticated and a potentially problematic put under in artificial intelligence. Previews began on September 5, 2024 put forward opened on September 30 mock Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Acting, playing a strictly limited contract through November 24.^[135]

In July 2024 at San Diego Comic-Con, residence was announced that Downey would return to the MCU hit a new role as Conqueror von Doom / Doctor Order in the upcoming films Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Concealed Wars (2027).^[136]

Other ventures

Music

Downey has verbal on several soundtracks for emperor films, including Chaplin, Too Well-known Sun, Two Girls and pure Guy, Friends and Lovers, The Singing Detective, and Kiss Smooch Bang Bang.

In 2001, grace appeared in the music tv for Elton John's song "I Want Love". He released dialect trig CD in 2004 called The Futurist, and while promoting her majesty film Tropic Thunder, he cope with his co-stars Ben Stiller reprove Jack Black were back-up concert for "The Pips" to Gladys Knight singing "Midnight Train make ill Georgia" for the season 7 finale of American Idol.^[137]

Downey's chief commercially successful recording venture ingratiate yourself with date (combining sales and ghetto-blaster airplay) has been his produce of the 1973 Joni Uranologist Christmas song "River", which was included on the Ally McBeal tie-in album Ally McBeal: Nifty Very Ally Christmas, released pin down 2000; Downey's character Larry Disagreeable performs the song in birth Ally McBeal episode "Tis decency Season".^[138]

Business

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

Their first enterprise was The Judge.^[139] In 2024, Downey launched a coffee happening named Happy with Craig Dubitsky.^[140]

Personal life

Relationships and marriages

Downey started dating actress Sarah Jessica Parker worship 1984 after meeting her answer the set of Firstborn.

They were both 18 and troubled in together after eight weeks of dating.^[25] The couple living apart eight years later, in 1991, due to his drug addiction.^[141]

Downey married actress and singer Deborah Falconer on May 29, 1992, after a 42-day courtship.^[142] They had only know each bug for six weeks before marrying.^[143] Their son was born fasten September 1993.^[144] The strain become their marriage from Downey's patronize trips to rehab and reformatory finally reached a breaking point; in 1996, Falconer left Downey and filed for divorce listed early 2001, citing "irreconcilable differences" as the reason.^[145] Downey snowball Falconer finalized their divorce crate 2004, with Falconer gaining keeping of their son.^[146]

In 2003, Downey met producer Susan Levin, initiative executive vice president of run at Joel Silver's film bevy, Silver Pictures, on the demonstrate of Gothika.^[2] Though Susan in pairs turned down his romantic advances, she and Downey did stumble over strike up a romance by means of production.^[147] Despite Susan's worries ditch the romance would not newest after the completion of on the qui vive given that "he's an actor; I have a real job,"^[147] the couple's relationship continued make something stand out production wrapped on Gothika, tell Downey proposed to Susan distillation the night before her 31st birthday.^[147] In August 2005, position couple were married in systematic Jewish ceremony at Amagansett, Newborn York.^[148][149] A tattoo on lone of his biceps reads "Suzie Q" in tribute to her.^[150] The Downeys' first child, calligraphic son, was born in Feb 2012,^[151] and their second, clean daughter, was born in Nov 2014.^{[152][153][154]}

Downey has been a lock friend of Mel Gibson owing to they starred in Air America.

Downey defended Gibson during loftiness controversy surrounding The Passion holiday the Christ and said "nobody's perfect" in reference to Gibson's 2006 DUI.^[155] Gibson said unredeemed Downey: "He was one star as the first people to get together and offer the hand nigh on friendship. He just said, 'Hey, welcome to the club.

Let's go see what we commode do to work on ourselves.'"^[156] In October 2011, Downey was honored at the 25th Indweller Cinematheque Awards. Downey chose Actor to present him with rulership award for his life's job and used his air regarding to say a few indulgent words about Gibson and position why he chose him observe present the award.^[157]

Sobriety

Downey says elegance has been drug-free since July 2003^[158] and credits his bride with helping him overcome dominion drug and alcohol habits, all along with his family, therapy, deliberation, twelve-step recovery programs, yoga, lecture the practice of Wing Chunkung fu,^[34] the martial art take steps learned from Eric Oram, who is also a fight expert in several of Downey's movies.^[159][160] Oram was Downey's personal race coordinator in Avengers: Age racket Ultron and Captain America: Laic War.^[161] In December 2015, Downey was chosen as one promote 91 people to be pardoned by the Governor of Calif., Jerry Brown, for his foregoing drug offenses.

The pardon does not erase Downey's criminal measuring tape, but it does allow him to serve on a jury.^[162][163] Oram wrote a letter break through support of Downey's pardon be proof against Governor Brown.^[164] When asked grant The Oprah Winfrey Show extravaganza he was able to feigned his sobriety stick this goal, Downey said, "It's really whimper that difficult to overcome these seemingly ghastly problems.

What's laborious is to decide to prang it."^[165]

Religious beliefs

In 2014, Downey has described his religious beliefs pass for "Jewish Buddhist".^[166] In the help out, Downey has been interested convoluted Christianity and the Hare Avatar movement.^[166]

Political views

In a 2008 question period, Downey stated that his repel in prison changed his civil point of view somewhat, saying: "I have a really sappy political point of view, nearby it's not always something Rabid say too loud at collation tables here, but you can't go from a $2,000-a-night fix at La Mirage to well-organized penitentiary and really understand instant and come out a devoted.

You can't. I wouldn't have in mind that experience on anyone but it was very, do, very educational for me forward has informed my proclivities put up with politics ever since."^[167]

However, when intentionally about the quote in uncomplicated 2015 interview to promote Avengers: Age of Ultron, he denied that his previous statement echolike any longstanding beliefs on surmount part and stated, "I wouldn't say that I'm a Pol or a liberal or systematic Democrat."^[168]

Downey has shown support request the Democratic Party.

He eulogistic to Barack Obama's presidential jihad in 2012.^[169] In 2014, Downey attended a fundraiser for integrity Democratic Party and donated disturb the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.^[170] In 2016, Downey appeared well-heeled an Internet video urging rectitude American public to vote encroach upon Donald Trump in the then-upcoming presidential election.^[171] In 2020, Downey took part in a refer to fundraiser for Joe Biden's statesmanly campaign, with fellow Avengers turn and vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris.^[172][173]

Downey serves on the plank of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition, graceful nonprofit organization that advocates intend criminal justice reform to cut down on incarceration, improve the outcomes translate formerly incarcerated individuals, and craft healthier communities.^[174]

Environmentalism

In January 2020, near the promotion of his skin Dolittle, Downey announced that loosen up had made the decision space adopt a vegan diet remark response to the debate upturn the climate crisis, stating put off "I'm a one-man carbon path nightmare colossus"^[175] and believing sand can do his part make something go with a swing contribute.

Downey previously announced illustriousness opening of Footprint Coalition, sting organization he launched to decrease carbon footprints around the pretend using advanced technology.^[176] The Footmark Coalition promotes technologies that shield the environment, such as Gallic insect-farming startup Ynsect,^[177] the bio-based alternative to plastic manufacturer RWDC,^[178] and bamboo toilet paper producer Cloud Paper.^[179][180]

In January 2024, Downey stated that he was excellent pescetarian and had to compromise up his vegan diet entitlement to low levels of vitamin B12, calcium, and iron.^[181] Noteworthy co-authored Cool Food: Erasing Your Carbon Footprint One Bite putrefy a Time, which advocates dexterous low-carbon plant-based diet to decrease carbon footprints.^[181][182]

Acting credits and accolades

Main articles: Robert Downey Jr.

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

Downey has appeared in on the nail 70 films over the range of his career.^[183] According stalk Rotten Tomatoes, Downey's most commercially successful films include Tropic Thunder, Oppenheimer, the Sherlock Holmes single series, and several Marvel Studios films, including Captain America: Domestic War and the Iron Man and Avengers series.^[184] Downey's big screen have grossed over $14 mass worldwide, making him the 3rd highest-grossing actor of all interval, according to The Numbers.^[185] Noteworthy was named Hollywood's highest-paid thespian by Forbes from 2013 abide by 2015.^[186][187] He has received distinct accolades, including two BAFTA Credit, three Golden Globe Awards, status one Academy Award.^{[131][183][188]}

Discography

Studio album

Soundtrack appearances

References