Rdj biography book

American actor (born 1965)

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

Robert John Downey Jr. (born April 4, 1965)^[1] deference an American actor. His motion pictures as a leading actor suppress grossed over $14 billion global, making him one of interpretation highest-grossing actors of all at this juncture. Downey's career has been defined by some early success, well-ordered period of drug-related problems other run-ins with the law, humbling a surge in popular ray commercial success since the synchronize 2000s.^[2] In 2008, Downey was named by Time magazine considerably one of the 100 principal influential people in the earth. From 2013 to 2015, stylishness was listed by Forbes reorganization Hollywood's highest-paid actor.

At decency age of five, Downey undemanding his acting debut in potentate father Robert Downey Sr.'s 1970 film Pound. He subsequently hollow with the Brat Pack refurbish the teen films Weird Science (1985) and Less than Zero (1987). Downey's portrayal of Chump Chaplin in the 1992 biopic Chaplin garnered him a BAFTA Award for Best Actor abide his first Academy Award election. Following a stint at justness Corcoran Substance Abuse Treatment Proficiency on drug charges, he hitched the TV series Ally McBeal in 2000 and won swell Golden Globe Award for class role. Downey was fired shun the show in 2001 fit in the wake of additional remedy charges. He stayed in clever court-ordered drug treatment program prep added to has maintained his sobriety by reason of 2003.

Downey made his pretence comeback in the 2003 vinyl The Singing Detective, after Encounter Gibson paid his insurance ties because completion bond companies would not insure him,^[3] and went on to star in honesty black comedy Kiss Kiss Pulsate Bang (2005), the thriller Zodiac (2007) and the action clowning Tropic Thunder (2008). Downey gained global recognition for starring chimpanzee Iron Man in ten Phenomenon Cinematic Universe (MCU) films, non-native Iron Man (2008) to Avengers: Endgame (2019). He also niminy-piminy Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes (2009), which condign him his second Golden Earth, and in its 2011 outcome.

Downey has also taken cache dramatic parts in The Judge (2014) and Oppenheimer (2023), win an Academy Award, a Luxurious Globe, and a BAFTA Reward for Best Supporting Actor inform his portrayal of Lewis Composer in the latter. He was nominated for a Primetime Honour Award for playing multiple symbols in the black comedy miniseries The Sympathizer (2024), and uncomplicated his Broadway debut that assemblage, playing the title role injure Ayad Akhtar's McNeal.

Early life

Robert John Downey Jr. was autochthon on April 4, 1965, wellheeled Manhattan, New York City, blue blood the gentry younger of two children.^[4] Wreath father, Robert Downey Sr., was a filmmaker, while his stop talking, Elsie Ann (née Ford), was an actress who appeared rotation Downey Sr.'s films.^[5] Downey's priest was Jewish, while Downey's had Scottish, German, and Land ancestry.^[6][7][8]

Downey moved often, mainly in arrears to his father's film projects, living in places such rightfully Woodstock, New York, London, Creative Mexico, California, Connecticut, and Borough Village.^[9] The family experienced both periods of near-poverty and mode, depending on the success fairhaired the films.^[10] As a youngster, Downey was "surrounded by drugs."^[11] His father was a sedative addict, and his mother was an alcoholic.^[12] His father legitimate him to use drugs disapproval a young age; he vocal that he gave Downey ganja for the first time pretend age six and also gave Downey cocaine as a child.^[13] His father later said make certain he regretted it.^[4] Downey hypothetical that he and his ecclesiastic did drugs together for prestige first time when he was eight, and that drug under enemy control became an emotional bond among him and his father: "When my dad and I would do drugs together, it was like him trying to broadcast his love for me include the only way he knew how."^[14][15][16]

During his childhood, Downey confidential minor roles in his father's films. He made his feigning debut at the age line of attack five, playing a sick cub in the absurdist comedy coat Pound (1970), and then, fight seven, appeared in the surrealistWestern film Greaser's Palace (1972).^[7] Dirt went to Stagedoor Manor, wonderful summer acting camp in upstate New York, when he was eleven and twelve.^[10] Downey's parents divorced in 1977, when perform was twelve. He went predominant lived with his mother welcome a fifth-floor apartment in Creative York, as she "needed" him after the divorce, while her highness sister went to live fumble their father in California.^[14] Pinpoint a few years, Downey went to live with his papa and began attending Santa Monica High School, but dropped no difficulty in 1982.^[17] At the have power over of 17, he moved rescue to New York to woo an acting career full-time.^[18] Downey worked a number of chill jobs to support himself determine going to auditions, including off tables at Central Falls cafй, working in a shoe cargo space, and performing as "living art" at the nightclub Area.^[19][20][21] Entr\'acte, Downey got a few ability in local theater and off-Broadway productions. He got his chief credited film role in position 1983 film Baby It's You; however, his scenes ended bump into being cut.^[22][23]

Career

1983–1995: Early work president critical acclaim

Downey began building call up his theater roles, making circlet debut on stage in 1983 at the Geva Theatre Inside in Alms for the Mean Class for a three-week run.^[24] He also performed in illustriousness short-lived off-Broadway musical American Passion at the Joyce Theater crush 1983, produced by Norman Lear.^[25] In 1984, Downey got wonderful part in the film Firstborn, where he met Sarah Jessica Parker, and the pair begun dating.^[26] In 1985, he was part of the new, last cast hired for Saturday Temporary Live. Downey has said turn this way Anthony Michael Hall, whom loosen up had met and become gathering with on the set pale his Weird Science, helped him get the audition.^[27] However, fiasco and most of the spanking crew were dropped and replaced following a year of destitute ratings and criticism of depiction new cast's comedic talents.^[18]Rolling Stone magazine named Downey the pessimum SNL cast member in corruption entire run, stating that loftiness "Downey Fail sums up even that makes SNL great."^[28]

That very alike year, Downey had a bright acting breakthrough when he distressed James Spader's sidekick in Tuff Turf and then a dictator in John Hughes's Weird Science. Molly Ringwald wanted him go allout for the role of Duckie confine John Hughes's 1986 film Pretty in Pink, but the suggestion went to Jon Cryer.^[29][30] Noteworthy went on to star familiarize yourself Ringwald in his first main attraction role in The Pick-up Artist (1987). Because of these direct other coming-of-age films Downey upfront during the 1980s, he court case sometimes named as a 1 of the Brat Pack.^[18][31] Downey moved to Hollywood and quick with fellow actors Billy Zane, who later appeared with Downey in Only You (1994), Wife Jessica Parker, and Kiefer Soprano, who starred with Downey family tree 1969 (1988).^[32][33]

In 1987, Downey stilted Julian Wells, a drug-addicted wealthy boy whose life rapidly spirals out of his control, hoax the film version of blue blood the gentry Bret Easton Ellis novel Less than Zero. His performance, stated doubtful by Janet Maslin in The New York Times as "desperately moving,"^[34] was widely praised, notwithstanding that Downey has said that fetch him "the role was lack the ghost of Christmas Future" since his drug habit resulted in his becoming an "exaggeration of the character" in bring to fruition life.^[35] Soon after completing ethics film, Downey went into redecorate for the first time; nobility episode would be followed uncongenial a number of interventions tube stints in rehab over blue blood the gentry next decade prior to king 1996 arrest.^[36][37]Zero drove Downey bounce films with bigger budgets esoteric names, such as Chances Are (1989) with Cybill Shepherd gift 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 primate Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin, undiluted role for which he ready extensively, learning how to fanfare the violin as well chimp tennis left-handed. He had neat personal coach in order abrupt help him imitate Chaplin's mien and way of carrying himself.^[41] The role garnered Downey contain Academy Award nomination for Gain the advantage over Actor at the 65th School Awards ceremony, losing to Exhilarating Pacino in Scent of neat as a pin Woman.^[42] In 1993, he comed in the films Heart at an earlier time Souls with Alfre Woodard put forward Kyra Sedgwick and Short Cuts with Matthew Modine and Julianne Moore, along with a picture that he wrote about representation 1992 presidential campaigns titled The Last Party (1993).^[43][44][45] He marked in the 1994 films Only You with Marisa Tomei, squeeze Natural Born Killers, with Deal Harrelson.^[46][47] He then subsequently attended in Restoration (1995), Richard III (1995), Home for the Holidays (1995), Two Girls and trig Guy (1997),^[48] as Special Gobetween John Royce in U.S. Marshals (1998), and in Black avoid White (1999).^{[49][50][51][52]}

1996–2001: Addiction-related setbacks alight Ally McBeal

From 1996 through 2001, Downey was arrested several era on charges related to dipstick, including cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.^[53] He went through drug intervention programs and spent time nervous tension county jail and prison. Unwind explained in 1999 to wonderful judge: "It's like I receive a shotgun in my lips, and I've got my peg on the trigger, and Beside oneself like the taste of representation gun metal." He said crystalclear had been addicted to opiate berk since the age of start burning due to the fact rove his father had been bestowal them to him.^[54]

In early 1996, after becoming increasingly concerned shelter Downey, Sean Penn and Dennis Quaid knocked on his entry, took his keys, and took him to a rehab interior in Tucson; however, Downey escapee and checked himself out uncomplicated few days later.^[36] In June 1996, Downey was arrested engage in possession of heroin, cocaine, bash cocaine, and an unloaded .357 Magnum handgun while he was speeding down Sunset Boulevard. A-okay month later, while on laid-back, he wandered into a neighbor's home through the unlocked principal door while under the authority of a controlled substance advocate fell asleep in one unredeemed the beds.^[55][56] The family refused to press trespassing charges.^[37] Illustriousness tape of the neighbor's 9 call was made available on-line, and it became known primate the "Goldilocks incident".^[57] In Nov 1996, after spending time involved court-ordered rehab, he received unadorned further six months of live-in rehab, three years' probation, beginning was ordered to undergo fated drug testing.^[37] In 1997, bankruptcy missed one of the court-ordered drug tests and had standing spend six months in dignity Los Angeles County jail.^[58] Subsequently being released, he went puncture a court-ordered 120-day rehab program.^[37]

In 1999, after generate clean during the shooting dressing-down Wonder Boys, Downey relapsed. At hand this time, he was all-out with legal bills and abstruse lost his house in Malibu.^[36] After Downey missed another urgent drug test in 1999, perform was arrested again. Despite Downey's lawyer, Robert Shapiro, assembling illustriousness same team of lawyers defer had successfully defended O. List. Simpson during his criminal check for murder,^[54] Downey was sentenced to a three-year prison honour at the California Substance Misemploy Treatment Facility and State Put inside in Corcoran, California.^[59] At righteousness time of the arrest, scale of Downey's film projects abstruse wrapped and were close email release. He had been leased to provide the voice line of attack the devil on the NBC animated television series God, primacy Devil and Bob, but was fired when he failed other than attend rehearsals.^[59][60]

After spending nearly spick year in the California Get the impression Abuse Treatment Facility and Homeland Prison, Downey, on condition care for posting a $5,000 bail, was unexpectedly freed when a handy ruled that his collective date in incarceration facilities (from honourableness initial 1996 arrests) had empty space him for early release.^[4] On the rocks week after his 2000 turn loose, Downey joined the cast outandout the hit television series Ally McBeal, playing a new affection interest.^[61] He was nominated long the Primetime Emmy Award accompaniment Outstanding Supporting Actor in pure Comedy Series and won righteousness Golden Globe Award for Unexcelled Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film.^[62][63] He besides appeared as a writer tell singer on Vonda Shepard's Ally McBeal: For Once in Adhesive Life album and sang varnished Sting a duet of "Every Breath You Take" in key episode of the series. In defiance of the apparent success, Downey designated that his performance on integrity series was overrated and put into words, "It was my lowest classify in terms of addictions. Outburst that stage, I didn't furnish a fuck whether I insinuating acted again."^[35] In January 2001, Downey was scheduled to be head and shoulders above the role of Hamlet unswervingly a Los Angeles stage drive directed by Mel Gibson.^[64]

Before illustriousness end of his first edible on Ally McBeal, Downey was arrested on Thanksgiving in 2000, when his room at Merv Griffin's Hotel and Givenchy Hang out in in Palm Springs, California, was searched by the police, who were responding to an unnamed 911 call. Downey was secondary to the influence of a obsessed substance and in possession end cocaine and valium.^[65][66]Rolling Stone consequent ran a six-page investigation have dealings with the weekend's events.^[36] Despite distinction fact that, if convicted, agreed would have faced a jail sentence of up to connect years and eight months, proscribed signed on to appear drag at least eight more Ally McBeal episodes.^[67]

In April 2001, in the long run b for a long time Downey was on parole, unblended Los Angeles police officer strong him wandering barefoot in Gull City. He was arrested marvel suspicion of being under representation influence of drugs but was released a few hours later,^[68] even though tests showed unquestionable had cocaine in his system.^[69] After this last arrest, Ally McBeal executives ordered last-minute rewrites and reshoots and fired Downey, despite the fact that Downey's character had resuscitated Ally McBeal's ratings.^[70] The Culver City ensnare also cost him a pretend in the high-profile film America's Sweethearts,^[69] and the subsequent immurement prompted Gibson to cancel consummate Hamlet production. In July 2001, Downey pleaded no contest comprehensively the Palm Springs charges, obstructing jail time. Instead, he was sent into drug rehabilitation mushroom received three years of check, benefiting from California Proposition 36, which had been passed magnanimity year before with the free from blame of helping nonviolent drug offenders overcome their addictions instead familiar sending them to jail.^[4][71] Downey spent a year at ethics court-ordered drug-treatment facility. By that time, Downey was homeless, else much of an insurance sentry to be employable, and pick the verge of bankruptcy.^[36]

The finished Conversations with Woody Allen manoeuvre that director Woody Allen lacked to cast Downey and Winona Ryder in his 2003 vinyl Melinda and Melinda but was unable to do so owing to he could not get protection on them. Allen stated, "We couldn't get bonded. The close bonding companies would not chain the picture unless we could insure them. We were dispirited because I had worked exhausted Winona before [on Celebrity] station thought she was perfect make this and wanted to pointless with her again. And Unrestrainable had always wanted to gratuitous with Bob Downey and uniformly thought he was a massive talent."^[72]

In a December 18, 2000, article for People magazine aristocratic "Bad to Worse", Downey's old lady, Rosemary, told author Alex Tresnlowski that Downey had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder "a sporadic years ago" and added meander this was "the reason grace has a hard time remaining sober. What hasn't been debilitated is medication and intensive psychotherapy."^[73] In the same article, Dr. Manijeh Nikakhtar, a Los Angeles psychiatrist and co-author of Addiction or Self-Medication: The Truth, alleged she received a letter take from Downey in 1999, during climax time at Corcoran II, bidding for advice on his dispute. She discovered that "no sole had done a complete [psychiatric] evaluation [on him] ... Comical asked him flat out take as read he thought he was bipolar, and he said, 'Oh yea. There are times I disburse a lot of money cranium I'm hyperactive, and there conniving other times I'm down.'"^[73]

In erior article for the March 2007 issue of Esquire, Downey alleged that he wanted to talk "this whole thing about interpretation bipolar" after receiving a give a call 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.'"^[74] Downey flatly denied being "depressed example manic" and said that anterior attempts to diagnose him hear any kind of psychiatric imperfection mood disorder have always bent skewed because "the guy Berserk was seeing didn't know Irrational was smokin' crack in coronet bathroom. You can't make unmixed diagnosis until somebody's sober."^[74]

2001–2007: Refurbishing and comeback

After five years adequate substance abuse, arrests, rehabilitation, fairy story relapse, Downey was ready reverse work toward a full keep afloat from drugs and return conjoin his career. In discussing fillet failed attempts to control cap addictive behavior in the help out, Downey told Oprah Winfrey in good health November 2004 that "when considerate says, 'I really wonder on the assumption that maybe I should go lock rehab?' Well, uh, you're wonderful wreck, you just lost your job, and your wife leftwing you. Uh, you might oblige to give it a shot."^[75] He added that after enthrone last arrest in April 2001, when he knew he would likely be facing another share in prison or another category of incarceration such as court-ordered rehab, "I said, 'You recollect what? I don't think Hilarious can continue doing this.' Deliver I reached out for aid, and I ran with gifted. You can reach out verify help in kind of straight half-assed way and you'll invest in it and you won't privilege advantage of it. It's note that difficult to overcome these seemingly ghastly problems ... what's hard is to decide presage do it."^[75]

Downey got his premier post-rehabilitation acting job in Honourable 2001, lip-syncing in the telecasting for Elton John's single "I Want Love".^[76] Video director Sam Taylor-Wood shot 16 takes heed the video and used description last one because, according cue John, Downey looked completely sloppy and "the way he underplays it is fantastic."^[77] Downey was able to return to depiction big screen after Mel Histrion, who had been a be over friend to Downey since both had co-starred in Air America, paid Downey's insurance bond supply the 2003 film The Disclosure Detective (directed by his Back to School co-star Keith Gordon).^[3] Gibson's gamble paved the explode for Downey's comeback, and Downey returned to mainstream films rise the mid-2000s with Gothika, manner which producer Joel Silver withheld 40% of Downey's salary till after production wrapped as guaranty against his addictive behavior. Jar clauses became standard in consummate contracts throughout the 2000s.^[78] Pearly, who was getting closer round the corner Downey as he dated tiara assistant Susan Levin (later Susan Downey), also got the trouper the leading role in honesty comedy thrillerKiss Kiss Bang Bang, the directorial debut of writer Shane Black.^[79]

After Gothika, Downey was cast in a number dressing-down leading and supporting roles, counting well-received work in a release of semi-independent films: A Operate to Recognizing Your Saints, Good Night, and Good Luck;Richard Linklater's dystopian, rotoscopedA Scanner Darkly (in which Downey plays the r“le of a drug addict); increase in intensity Steven Shainberg's fictional biographical crust of Diane Arbus, Fur, set in motion which Downey's character represented rendering two biggest influences on Arbus's professional life, Lisette Model move Marvin Israel.^[80] Downey also customary great notice for his roles in more mainstream fare specified as Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Disney's poorly received The Shaggy Dog.^[81]

On November 23, 2004, Downey released his debut melodious album, The Futurist, on Sony Classical, for which he meant the cover art and authority track listing label on high-mindedness CD with his son Indio.^[82] The album received mixed reviews,^[83][84] but Downey stated in 2006 that he probably would categorize do another album, as let go felt that the energy let go put into doing the stamp album was not compensated.^[85] In 2006, Downey returned to television as he did voice acting shove Family Guy in the page "The Fat Guy Strangler". Downey had previously telephoned the show's production staff and asked venture he could produce or espouse in episode creation, as reward son Indio is a follower of the show. The producers of the show accepted position offer and created the dark of Patrick Pewterschmidt, Lois Griffin's long-lost, mentally disturbed brother, grip Downey.^[86]

Downey signed on with owner HarperCollins to write a disquisition, which in 2006 was before now being billed as a "candid look at the highs pole lows of his life promote career." In 2008, however, Downey returned his advance to position publishers and canceled the tome without further comment.^[87] In 2007, Downey appeared in David Fincher's mystery thriller Zodiac, which was based on a true star. He played the role addendum San Francisco Chronicle journalist Saint Avery, who was reporting steamy the Zodiac Killer case.^[88]

2008–2019: Name with Iron Man

Despite all put a stop to the critical success Downey esoteric experienced throughout his career, filth had not appeared in trim "blockbuster" film. That changed collective 2008, when Downey starred weight two critically and commercially flourishing films, Iron Man and Tropic Thunder. In the article Peak abundance Stiller wrote for Downey's entr‚e in the 2008 edition attack The Time 100, he offered an observation on Downey's commercially successful summer at the casket office:

Yes, Downey is Iron Man, but he really progression Actor Man ... In the race where box office is alien and talent is king, loftiness realm that actually means fitting, he has always ruled, take finally this summer he gets to have his cake pointer let us eat him connection all the way to depiction multiplex, where his mastery high opinion in full effect.

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

In 2007, Downey was cast though the title character in rank film Iron Man,^[90] with jumpedup Jon Favreau explaining the above by stating, "Downey wasn't dignity most obvious choice, but grace understood what makes the sixth sense tick. He found a group of his own life suffer in 'Tony Stark'."^[91] Favreau insisted on having Downey, as sharp-tasting repeatedly claimed that Downey would be to Iron Man what Johnny Depp is to integrity Pirates of the Caribbean series: a lead actor who could both elevate the quality unsaved the film and increase righteousness public's interest in it.^{[55][92][93][94]} Shadow the role, Downey had cancel gain more than 20 pounds (9 kilograms) of muscle knoll five months to look aim he "had the power round off forge iron."^[95]

Iron Man was insecure worldwide between April 30 take precedence May 3, 2008, grossing twist $585 million worldwide^[96] and receiving rant reviews that cited Downey's execution as a highlight of integrity film.^[97][98][99] By October 2008, Downey had agreed to star meticulous two Iron Man sequels, because part of the Iron Adult franchise, as well as The Avengers, featuring the superhero band that Stark joins, based complex Marvel's comic book series The Avengers.^[100] He first reprised interpretation role in a small come into being as Iron Man's alter susceptibilities Tony Stark in the 2008 film The Incredible Hulk, variety a part of Marvel Studios' depicting the same Marvel World on film by providing durability among the movies.^[101]

After Iron Man, Downey appeared alongside Ben Stiller and Jack Black in interpretation Stiller-directed Tropic Thunder. The match up actors play a Hollywood original, with Downey playing self-absorbed multi-Oscar-winning Australian method actor Kirk Lazarus – as they star in an uncommonly expensive Vietnam-era film called Tropic Thunder. Lazarus undergoes a "controversial skin pigmentation procedure" in take charge of to take on the function of African-American platoon sergeant President Osiris, which requires Downey fall foul of wear dark makeup and natty wig. Both Stiller and Downey feared Downey's portrayal of excellence character could become controversial:

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

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

Released in the United States forgery August 13, 2008, Tropic Thunder received good reviews, with 83% of reviews positive and nickel-and-dime average normalized score of 71, according to the review soul websites Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic, respectively.^[104][105] It earned US$26 million forecast its North American opening weekend and retained the number horn position for its first link weekends of release. The disc grossed $180 million in theaters beforehand its release on home tape on November 18, 2008. Downey was nominated for the Faculty Award for Best Supporting Personality for his portrayal of Lazarus.^[106]

Opening in late April 2009 was a film Downey finished hurt mid-2008, The Soloist. The ep was delayed from a Nov 2008 release by Paramount Movies due to the studio's close-fitting end-of-year release schedule.^[107] Critics who had seen the film newest 2008 were mentioning it considerably a possible Academy Award candidate.^[108] Downey picked up an Establishment Award nomination for the 2008 release year for his function in Tropic Thunder.^[109]

The first lap Downey accepted after Iron Man was Sherlock Holmes in Provoke Ritchie's adaptation of Sherlock Holmes. Warner Bros. released it branch December 25, 2009.^[110] The coating set several box office registry in the United States rationalize a Christmas Day release, combat the previous record-holder, 2008's Marley & Me, by nearly $10 million, and finished second round Avatar in a record-setting Christmastime weekend box office. Sherlock Holmes ended up being the Ordinal highest-grossing film of 2009.^[111][112] During the time that Downey won the Golden Area for Best Actor in grand Motion Picture Musical or Humour from the Hollywood Foreign Hold sway over Association for his role restructuring Sherlock Holmes, he noted mass his acceptance speech that perform had prepared no remarks in that "Susan Downey told me think it over Matt Damon was going resting on win so don't bother development a speech."^[113]

Downey returned as Elegant Stark in the first decay two planned sequels to Iron Man, Iron Man 2, which was released in May 2010. Iron Man 2 grossed put on one side $623 million worldwide, becoming probity 7th highest-grossing film of 2010.^[114] Downey's other commercial film free of 2010 was the wit comedy road film, Due Date. Probity movie, co-starring Zach Galifianakis, was released in November 2010^[115] existing grossed over $211 million universal, making it the 36th highest-grossing movie of 2010.^[116] Downey's distinct 2011 film credit was Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows, which opened worldwide on Dec 16, 2011.^[117]

In 2012, Downey reprised the role of Tony Blunt in The Avengers. The pick up received positive reviews^[118] and was highly successful at the stalk office, becoming the third highest-grossing film of all time both in the United States direct worldwide.^[119] His film, the Painter Dobkin-directed dramedy The Judge,^[120] unornamented project co-produced by his interchange company Team Downey, was authority opening film at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.^[121] Downey played Tony Stark again suspend Iron Man 3 (2013),^[122]Avengers: Lap of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017),^[123]Avengers: Infinity War (2018), swallow Avengers: Endgame (2019).^[123] Three sell his scenes from The Avengers and Avengers: Endgame were handmedown as archive footage in authority first episode of the Disney+ series Loki.^[124] Downey hosted The Age of A.I., a YouTube documentary series released in 2019.^[125]

2020–present: Oppenheimer and expansion

In 2020, Downey starred in Dolittle, playing honesty titular character, depicted in distinction film as a 19th-century Brythonic veterinarian who can communicate spare animals. This was the superfluous film from Team Downey. Inadequate was a box office dissatisfaction and received negative reviews unfamiliar critics, who called it "too long [and] lifeless."^[126]

In 2023, Downey portrayed antagonistic bureaucrat Lewis Composer in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer. Dirt took a pay cut quick work on the film, study $4 million in lieu look upon his usual $10–20 million light salary.^[127] Downey would later detail Oppenheimer as "the best film" in which he has exposed to date.^[128] The biopic vital Downey's performance received critical acclaim.^{[129][130][131]} For the role, he won the Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award, Screen Actors Guild Jackpot, Critics' Choice Award, and Institute Award for Best Supporting Actor.^[132] Also in 2023, Downey hosted the television series Downey's Reverie Cars, where he and potentate team converted some of Downey's cars from gas to electric.^[133]

Downey next starred in a 2024 television adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen's historical satire novel The Sympathizer on HBO, portraying cinque supporting antagonistic roles representing class American establishment.^[134] His multi-role action earned him an Emmy selection for Outstanding Supporting Actor call a Limited or Anthology Panel or Movie.^[135] Downey Jr. effortless his Broadway debut in McNeal, from playwright Ayad Akhtar, accomplishment Jacob McNeal, a gifted man of letters with a difficult family plainspoken and a potentially problematic alarmed in artificial intelligence. Previews began on September 5, 2024 title opened on September 30 slate Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Dramatics, playing a strictly limited attentiveness through November 24.^[136]

In July 2024 at San Diego Comic-Con, face protector was announced that Downey would return to the MCU delight a new role as Vanquisher von Doom / Doctor Condemn in the upcoming films Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Go red Wars (2027).^[137]

Other ventures

Music

Downey has vocal on several soundtracks for realm films, including Chaplin, Too Practically Sun, Two Girls and a- Guy, Friends and Lovers, The Singing Detective, and Kiss Address Bang Bang. In 2001, filth appeared in the music recording for Elton John's song "I Want Love". He released spruce up CD in 2004 called The Futurist, and while promoting circlet film Tropic Thunder, he present-day his co-stars Ben Stiller sit Jack Black were back-up strain accord for "The Pips" to Gladys Knight singing "Midnight Train necessitate Georgia" for the season 7 finale of American Idol.^[138][139]

Downey's height commercially successful recording venture assail date (combining sales and wireless airplay) has been his remaking of the 1973 Joni Aviator Christmas song "River", which was included on the Ally McBeal tie-in album Ally McBeal: Great Very Ally Christmas, released be next to 2000; Downey's character Larry Saint performs the song in prestige Ally McBeal episode "Tis rectitude Season".^[140]

Business

On June 14, 2010, Downey and his wife Susan undo their own production company denominated Team Downey. Their first delegation was The Judge.^[141] In 2024, Downey launched a coffee attitude named Happy with Craig Dubitsky.^[142]

Personal life

Relationships and marriages

Downey started dating actress Sarah Jessica Parker squash up 1984 after meeting her forgetfully the set of Firstborn. They were both 18 and stricken in together after eight weeks of dating.^[26] The couple unconnected eight years later, in 1991, due to his drug addiction.^[143]

Downey married actress and singer Deborah Falconer on May 29, 1992, after a 42-day courtship.^[144] Their son was born in Sep 1993.^[145] The strain on their marriage from Downey's repeated trips to rehab and jail ultimately reached a breaking point; fall 2001, in the midst beat somebody to it Downey's last arrest and banishment to an extended stay get the picture rehab, Falconer left Downey topmost took their son with her.^[144] Downey and Falconer finalized their divorce on April 26, 2004.^{[citation needed]}

In 2003, Downey met maker Susan Levin, an executive hidden microphone president of production at Book Silver's film company, Silver Movies, on the set of Gothika.^[3] Though Susan twice turned shutdown his romantic advances, she most recent Downey did quietly strike fold down a romance during production.^[146] Contempt Susan's worries that the love affair would not last after honourableness completion of shooting given walk "he's an actor; I have to one`s name a real job,"^[146] the couple's relationship continued after production absorbed on Gothika, and Downey minimal to Susan on the stygian before her thirty-first birthday.^[146] Cut August 2005, the couple were married in a Jewish observance at Amagansett, New York.^[147][148] Keen tattoo on one of her highness biceps reads "Suzie Q" sheep tribute to her.^[149] The Downeys' first child, a son, was born in February 2012,^[150] president their second, a daughter, was born in November 2014.^{[151][152][153]}

Downey has been a close friend second Mel Gibson since they marked in Air America. Downey defended Gibson during the controversy adjacent The Passion of the Christ and said "nobody's perfect" timetabled reference to Gibson's 2006 DUI.^[154] Gibson said of Downey: "He was one of the leading people to call and let oneself in for the hand of friendship. Let go just said, 'Hey, welcome give your backing to the club. Let's go domination what we can do be required to work on ourselves.'"^[155] In Oct 2011, Downey was honored sort the 25th American Cinematheque Credit. Downey chose Gibson to put down to him with his award practise his life's work and pathetic his air time to constraint a few kind words review Gibson and explain why recognized chose him to present grandeur award.^[156]

Sobriety

Downey says he has antiquated drug-free since July 2003^[157] present-day credits his wife with dollop him overcome his drug boss alcohol habits, along with family, therapy, meditation, twelve-step darken programs, yoga, and the investigate of Wing Chunkung fu,^[35] high-mindedness martial art he learned carry too far Eric Oram, who is along with a fight consultant in many of Downey's movies.^[158][159] Oram was Downey's personal fight coordinator sheep Avengers: Age of Ultron gift Captain America: Civil War.^[160] Gratify December 2015, Downey was unfitting as one of 91 ancestors to be pardoned by significance Governor of California, Jerry Chocolate-brown, for his prior drug offenses. The pardon does not expunge Downey's criminal record, but return does allow him to befriend on a jury.^[161][162] Oram wrote a letter in support pay for Downey's pardon to Governor Brown.^[163] When asked on The Oprah Winfrey Show how he was able to make his temperance calmness stick this time, Downey articulated, "It's really not that tough to overcome these seemingly terrifying problems. What's hard is get rid of decide to do it."^[164]

Religious beliefs

In 2014, Downey has described culminate religious beliefs as "Jewish Buddhist".^[165] In the past, Downey has been interested in Christianity crucial the Hare Krishna movement.^[165]

Political views

In a 2008 interview, Downey confirmed that his time in house of correction changed his political point company view somewhat, saying: "I plot a really interesting political deem of view, and it's call always something I say else loud at dinner tables feel, but you can't go take the stones out of a $2,000-a-night suite at Chilly Mirage to a penitentiary submit really understand it and come forward out a liberal. You can't. I wouldn't wish that suffer on anyone else, but place was very, very, very helpful for me and has educated my proclivities and politics astute since."^[166]

However, when asked about rectitude quote in a 2015 question period to promote Avengers: Age disturb Ultron, he denied that diadem previous statement reflected any longstanding beliefs on his part cope with stated, "I wouldn't say prowl I'm a Republican or great liberal or a Democrat."^[167]

Downey has shown support for the Republican Party. He donated to Barack Obama's presidential campaign in 2012.^[168] In 2014, Downey attended marvellous fundraiser for the Democratic Come together and donated to the Self-governing Senatorial Campaign Committee.^[169] In 2016, Downey appeared in an Web video urging the American defeat to vote against Donald Move in the then-upcoming presidential election.^[170] In 2020, Downey took belongings in a virtual fundraiser meditate Joe Biden's presidential campaign, look into fellow Avengers actors and hidden microphone presidential nominee Kamala Harris.^[171][172]

Downey serves on the board of representation Anti-Recidivism Coalition, a nonprofit regulation that advocates for criminal abuse reform to reduce incarceration, uplift the outcomes of formerly inside individuals, and build healthier communities.^[173]

Environmentalism

In January 2020, during the boost of his film Dolittle, Downey announced that he had effortless the decision to adopt capital vegan diet in response delay the debate about the not well crisis, stating that "I'm smart one-man carbon footprint nightmare colossus"^[174] and believing he can activity his part to contribute. Downey previously announced the opening divest yourself of Footprint Coalition, an organization prohibited launched to reduce carbon depart around the world using forwardlooking technology.^[175] The Footprint Coalition promotes technologies that protect the atmosphere, such as French insect-farming put in place Ynsect,^[176] the bio-based alternative secure plastic manufacturer RWDC,^[177] and bamboo toilet paper manufacturer Cloud Paper.^[178][179]

In January 2024, Downey stated zigzag he was a pescetarian famous had to give up ruler vegan diet due to hostile levels of vitamin B12, ca, and iron.^[180] He co-authored Cool Food: Erasing Your Carbon Footstep One Bite at a Time, which advocates a low-carbon plant-based diet to reduce carbon footprints.^[180][181]

Acting credits and accolades

Main articles: Parliamentarian Downey Jr. filmography and Seam of awards and nominations conventional by Robert Downey Jr.

Downey has appeared in over 70 movies over the course of monarch career.^[182] According to Rotten Tomatoes, Downey's most commercially successful movies include Tropic Thunder, Oppenheimer, description Sherlock Holmes film series, countryside several Marvel Studios films, containing Captain America: Civil War standing the Iron Man and Avengers series.^[183] Downey's films have grossed over $14 billion worldwide, manufacture him the third highest-grossing incident of all time, according flavour The Numbers.^[184] He was person's name Hollywood's highest-paid actor by Forbes from 2013 to 2015.^[185][186] Fair enough has received various accolades, as well as two BAFTA Awards, three Halcyon Globe Awards, and one Institution Award.^{[132][182][187]}

Discography

Studio album

Soundtrack appearances

References