Robert Downey Jr. was born in New York City on April 4, 1965. The American performer is regarded as one of Hollywood’s most talented and adaptable. He grew up in a creative family in Greenwich Village, New York City. His father was a well-known underground filmmaker who offered the five-year-old Downey his first role. After graduating from California High School, Downey returned to New York City to concentrate on his acting career.
Robert Downey Jr. Biography
| Real Name | Robert John Downey Jr. |
| Nick Name | Robert Downey Jr. |
| Date of Birth | April 4, 1965. |
| Age (as of 2024) | 59 years. |
| Birthday place | Manhattan, New York, United States. |
| Height (Tall) | 5 feet 8 inches. |
| Weight | 78 Kg. or 172 lbs. |
| Eye Color | Dark Brown. |
| Hair Color | Dark Brown. |
| Body Measurements | 40-32-36. |
| Net Worth (approx.) | $300 Million US Dollars (as of 2024). |
| Favorite City/Country | Alabama, United States. |
| Favorite Sports | Basketball & Baseball. |
Personal Life & Family
| Mother | Elsie Ann (actress). |
| Father | Robert Downey Sr (Film Maker). |
| Sister | Allyson Downey. |
| Marital Status | Married. |
| Wife (Spouse) | Susan Downey (m. 2005), Deborah Falconer (m. 1992–2004). |
| Children | Indio Falconer Downey, Avri Roel Downey |
| Hobbies | Modeling & Listening to Music. |
| High School | He completed his education at a private High School. |
| Qualification | Graduate |
Early Life & Family of Robert Downey Jr.
Downey, the youngest of two children, was born in Manhattan, New York City. His mother, Elsie Ann (née Ford), was an actress in Robert Downey Sr.‘s films, and her father, Robert Downey Sr., was an actor and filmmaker. Despite his family’s support, Downey’s personal struggles were evident. His mother was descended from Scotland, Germany, and Switzerland, and her father was half Lithuanian Jewish, one-quarter Hungarian Jewish, and one-quarter Irish. Robert’s father changed his name so he could join the Army, and Robert’s original family name was Elias. Downey was raised in Greenwich Village by his elder sister, Allyson.
Downey’s early acting roles in his father’s movies set the stage for his future career. At five years old, he starred as a sick puppy in the absurdist comedy Pound (1970). This early role showcased his natural talent and set him on the path to becoming a successful actor. At seven years old, he debuted his feature film in the surrealist Western Greaser’s Palace (1972). This role further solidified his place in the film industry. He was ten when he moved to England and began studying classical ballet as part of a more extensive curriculum, which broadened his skills and prepared him for more challenging roles.
Downey attended the Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center in upstate New York as a teenager. In 1978, following his parents’ divorce, he relocated to California with his father. However, in 1982, he left Santa Monica High School to focus entirely on his acting career, returning to New York.
When Downey initially arrived in Hollywood to pursue his acting career, he lived with Kiefer Sutherland for three years. The two appeared together on screen in the 1988 drama 1969.
The Career of Robert Downey Jr.
Downey started expanding his career in theatre with roles in productions like Norman Lear’s short-lived off-Broadway musical American Passion at the Joyce Theater in 1983. He was one of Saturday Night Live’s new, younger cast members hired in 1985. However, after a year of low viewership and criticism of the new cast’s comic abilities, he and most of the new cast members were fired and replaced.
According to Rolling Stone, Downey “sums up everything that makes SNL great,” making him the show’s worst cast member over its entire tenure. That same year, Downey made his profound acting debut as James Spader’s sidekick in Tuff Turf, and he later played a bully in John Hughes’s Weird Science.
His first leading role was with Molly Ringwald in The Pick-up Artist (1987), while he was also considered for the part of Duckie in John Hughes’s Pretty in Pink (1986). As a result of these and other coming-of-age movies that he starred in in the 1980s, Downey is occasionally referred to as a Brat Pack member.
In the 1987 film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’s novel Less than Zero, Downey portrayed Julian Wells, a wealthy young man whose life quickly gets out of control. Though Downey has stated that for him, “the role was like the ghost of Christmas Future,” his portrayal was generally lauded, with Janet Maslin of The New York Times calling it “desperately moving.” Zero forced Downey to work on movies with more prominent stars and finances, like Soapdish (1991) starring Sally Field, Kevin Kline, Whoopi Goldberg, and Chances Are (1989) with Cybill Shepherd and Ryan O’Neal.
Downey’s dedication to his craft was evident in his preparation for the role of Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin (1992). He learned to play tennis, and the violin with his left hand, and a personal coach assisted him in mimicking Chaplin’s stance and demeanor. This commitment to his roles is a Testament to Downey’s passion for acting.
Along with writing a documentary titled The Last Party (1993), he starred in two films in 1993: Short Cuts, starring Matthew Modine and Julianne Moore, and Heart and Souls, starring Alfre Woodard and Kyra Sedgwick. In 1994, he acted in Woody Harrelson’s Natural Born Killers and Marisa Tomei’s Only You. Following that, he starred in the films Restoration (1995), Richard III (1995), Home for the Holidays (1995), Two Girls and a Guy (1997), U.S. Marshals (1998) as Special Agent John Royce, and Black and White (1999).
Setbacks in Robert Downey’s Career
However, his career was not without its setbacks. In April 1996, Downey was caught speeding down Sunset Boulevard with an unloaded.357 Magnum revolver. A month later, he broke into his neighbor’s house while on parole and dozed off on one of the beds. These incidents led to a three-year probation period. Despite these challenges, Downey continued to work on his career and personal life.
He was arrested once more in 1999. A week after his 2000 debut, Downey played a new love interest in the cast of the popular television series Ally McBeal. He received the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film. He was a nominee for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series.
In addition, he contributed lyrics and vocals to Vonda Shepard’s Ally McBeal: For Once in My Life album. In one show episode, he and Sting performed a duet of “Every Breath You Take.” Mel Gibson had slated Downey to play Hamlet in a theatre performance in Los Angeles in January of 2001.
Before the conclusion of his debut season on Ally McBeal, Downey was taken into custody during the Thanksgiving 2000 holiday when the police, acting on an anonymous 911 call, searched his room at the Merv Griffin’s Hotel and Givenchy Spa in Palm Springs, California. He agreed to appear in at least eight more episodes of Ally McBeal even though, had he been found guilty, he could have received a prison sentence of up to four years and eight months.
Downey was discovered strolling barefoot in Culver City in April 2001 by a Los Angeles police officer during his parole period. A few hours after his arrest, he was set free. Even though Downey’s character had revived Ally McBeal’s ratings, management at the network requested last-minute rewrites and reshoots following this most recent arrest and fired Downey. In addition, Gibson lost his part in the well-known movie America’s Sweethearts due to his Culver City arrest, and the ensuing jail time forced him to postpone his Hamlet performance. Downey avoided jail time by entering a plea of not guilty to the Palm Springs allegations in July 2001.
Downey’s stepmother Rosemary informed author Alex Tresnlowski in a People magazine article titled “Bad to Worse” on December 18, 2000, that Downey had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder “a few years ago” and that this was “the reason he has a hard time staying sober.” Medication and intense psychotherapy have not been tried.
In the same article, Los Angeles psychiatrist Dr. Manijeh Nikakhtar—co-author of Addiction or Self-Medication: The Truth—said that in 1999, while Downey was a patient at Corcoran II, she got a letter from him requesting guidance regarding his condition. “No one had done a complete [psychiatric] evaluation [on him],” she found out. When I directly questioned him if he believed himself to be bipolar, he said, “Oh yeah.”
I can be hyperactive and spend a lot of money at times, yet I can also be depressed. After getting a call from “the Bipolar Association” inquiring about his bipolar disorder, Downey wrote in an essay for the March 2007 issue of Esquire that he wanted to address “this whole thing about the bipolar.”
When the caller cited the People article, and Downey refuted having ever indicated he had bipolar disorder, Downey answered, “‘No! When Dr. Malibusian remarked, “Well, it’s been written, so we’re going to quote it,” they said, “Well, I said I was bipolar.” In an interview, Downey categorically denied having a mental illness of any type, saying that any attempts to diagnose him with a mental illness had always been biased.
Robert Downey, Jr.’s Net Worth
American Actor, producer, and singer Robert Downey Jr. With a $300 million net worth, Robert Downey Jr. Most people today most likely know Robert Downey Jr. from his work as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He became one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood history because of the role.
Robert Downey, Jr. has seen some fantastic highs and lows in his personal and professional life. Although he was always acknowledged as a gifted actor, he also had a nasty tendency to drink too much and/or use drugs to the point of unconsciousness. Sadly, his way of living caught up with him and caused his career to collapse.
After spending time in jail and attending several rehab centers, he eventually cleaned himself up. In the last ten years, he has risen to the top of Hollywood’s A-list thanks to roles in several blockbuster films, including “Kiss Kiss Bang, Bang,” “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,” “The Soloist,” “Tropic Thunder,” and the “Sherlock Holmes” and “Iron Man” franchises.
Quick Facts about Robert Downey Jr.
- They left high school early to seek a career in acting
- and defeated Dustin Hoffman, Billy Crystal, and Robin Williams to land the title role of Chaplin.
- In February 2004, the Hasty Pudding Theatricals of Harvard awarded him the title of “Man of the Year.”
- released The Futurist, their debut album, in 2004.
- The highlight was a duet on the timeless Yes song “Your Move” with lead singer Jon Anderson of Yes.
- Son Indio plays a younger version of Downey’s character in the opening scene of Downey’s Kiss Kiss Bang Bang film from 2005.
- founded Team Downey, a production firm, in 2010 with his producer wife, Susan.
Robert Downey Jr. AWARDS
- 2020Favorite Movie Actor at the People’s Choice Awards: Nominee
- 2019The People’s Choice Award winner for Best Motion Picture Actor
- 2014Critics’ Choice Movie Awards: Nominee for Best Actor in an Action Film
- 2013Critics’ Choice Movie Awards: Nominee for Best Actor in an Action Film
- 2013Critics’ Choice Movie Awards: Nominee for Best Actor in an Action Film
- 20132010 nomination for Best Actor in an Action Film at the Critics’ Choice Movie AwardsWinner of the Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture—Musical or Comedy
- 20092009 BAFTA Film Awards Nominee for Best Supporting Actor2008 Critics’ Choice Awards Nominee for Best Supporting ActorOscar nominee for Best Supporting Performance by an Actor
- 20082008 Southeastern Film Critics Association Nominee for Best Supporting Actor2008 nomination for Best Supporting Actor, Chicago Film Critics AssociationDetroit Film Critics Society Nominee for Best Supporting Actor
- 2008Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, Screen Actors Guild Awards: Nominee
- Best Ensemble Performance: Winner of the Dramatic Special Jury Award at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival
- Best Acting Ensemble, 2006 Critics’ Choice Awards: Nominated
- 2005 SAG Awards: Nominee for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
- 2001Winner of the Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Television Series, Miniseries, or Film
- Nominated for an Emmy in 2001 for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
- 20001993 nomination for Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy SeriesDramatic film actor’s Best Performance in a Golden Globe nomination
- 1993Best Actor in a Leading Role at the BAFTA Film Awards: Winner
- 1992 Oscar nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
Robert Downey Jr. Relationship
- Daughter Avri Roel Downey
- Sarah Jessica Parker, the former important person
- Deborah Falconer, former spouse
- Father Robert Downey Sr.
- Mom, Elsie Downey
- Sister Allyson Downey
- Son of Exton Elias Downey
- Son of Indio Falconer Downey
- Laura Downey: Mother-in-law
- Susan Downey: Spouse
Robert Downey’s family and relationships
In 1984, Downey began a romantic relationship with Sarah Jessica Parker, an actress she had met in the Firstborn production. In 1991, the pair went their ways.
Following a 42-day courtship, he wed Deborah Falconer, an actress and singer, on May 29, 1992. In September 1993, Indio Falconer Downey, their son, was born. After Downey was sentenced to a prolonged term in treatment following her most recent arrest in 2001, Falconer decided to leave Downey and take their kid with her, as the pressure of Downey’s frequent visits to rehab and jail eventually became too much for their marriage to handle. On April 26, 2004, Downey and Falconer concluded their divorce.
On the set of Gothika in 2003, Downey met producer Susan Downey (née Levin), an Executive Vice President of Production at Joel Silver’s Silver Pictures. Although Susan declined his romantic advances on two occasions, she and Downey discreetly developed a romantic relationship while filming.
Because “he’s an actor; I have a real job,” Susan was worried that their affair would end when filming on Gothika was over. However, the couple’s love lasted, and Downey proposed to her on the eve of Susan’s thirteenth birthday. The pair wed in a Jewish ceremony in Amagansett, New York, in August 2005. In honor of her, he has a tattoo on one of his biceps that says “Suzie Q.”
The Downeys welcomed a son, Exton Elias, into the world in February 2012 and a girl, Avri Roel, in November 2014. Mel Gibson and Downey have been close since their time as co-stars in Air America. Downey remarked that “nobody’s perfect” when it came to Gibson’s DUI and supported Gibson throughout the controversy surrounding The Passion of the Christ. “He was one of the first people to call and offer the hand of friendship,” Gibson remarked of Downey. Hey, welcome to the club,’ he stated. “Let’s go explore our options for improving ourselves.”
During the 25th American Cinematheque Awards in October 2011, Downey selected Gibson to present him with an award for his life’s work. Downey expressed his gratitude to Gibson during his interview and explained his selection.
Iron Man Robert Downey and Additional Achievements
Despite all of Downey’s accolades and recognition over his career, he had never starred in a “blockbuster” movie. When Downey was featured in the critically and financially successful films Tropic Thunder and Iron Man in 2008, it all changed. Ben Stiller provided an analysis of Downey’s financially successful summer at the box office in the piece he wrote for the film’s 2008 inclusion in The Time 100:
“Actor Man, indeed, but Downey is Iron Man. He has always governed where talent reigns supreme, and the box office is meaningless. He finally gets his cake this summer, and we may eat him up at the multiplex, where his expertise is entirely on display.
Director Jon Favreau said of Downey’s selection for the lead role in the 2007 movie Iron Man: “Downey wasn’t the most obvious choice, but he understood what makes the character tick.”
He discovered a great deal of himself in “Tony Stark.” As he consistently asserted that Downey would be to Iron Man what Johnny Depp is to the Pirates of the Caribbean series—a leading man who could improve the picture’s caliber and spark more interest from the general public—Favreau insisted on having Downey. To appear as though he “had the power to forge iron,” Downey had to put on more than 20 pounds (9 kg) of muscle in just five months for the part.
Iron Man was released worldwide between April 30 and May 3, 2008. It made over $585 million at the box office and was praised by critics for Downey’s Performance, which was hailed as the film’s high point. By October 2008, Downey had already committed to playing Iron Man in two films as part of the Iron Man franchise.
He had also promised to play the superhero squad that Stark joins in The Avengers, based on Marvel’s comic book series of the same name. He initially played the part again in a brief cameo as Iron Man’s side character, Tony Stark, in the 2008 motion picture The Incredible Hulk. This was part of Marvel Studios’ effort to maintain consistency throughout the films while portraying the same Marvel Universe.
Robert Downey’s future endeavors
Downey will appear in Jamie Foxx’s sports comedy-drama All-Star Weekend. Director Dexter Fletcher has also stated that he will play Holmes again in a third movie. The movie was initially slated to be released on December 22, 2021, but it was later placed on indefinite hold.
On July 15, 2021, it was revealed that Downey would co-star in The Sympathizer, the television version of novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen’s book. Later, in 2021, it was announced that Downey would star in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming biographical picture Oppenheimer as Lewis Strauss. Additionally, it was revealed that he would star in Play Dirty, reuniting with Iron Man 3 and Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang Bang director Shane Black.
Robert Downey, Jr’s Total Earnings From Marvel
| Iron Man | $500 thousand |
| Iron Man 2 | $10 million |
| Iron Man 3 | $75 million |
| The Avengers | $50 million ($10 million base + $40 million backend bonus) |
| Avengers: Age of Ultron | $40 million |
| Captain America: Civil War | $40 million |
| Spider-Man Homecoming | $15 million |
| Avengers: Infinity War | $40 million |
| Avengers: End Game | $75 million |
| Total Earning | $345.5 million |
Movies of Robert Downey Jr.
- Pound
- Up the AcademyÂ
- Baby It’s You
- Only You
- Richard III
- Home for the Holidays
- One Night Stand
- Friends & Lovers
- Black & White
- The Singing Detective
- . The Shaggy Dog
- Charlie Bartlett
- Iron Man
- The Incredible Hulk
- The Soloist
- Iron Man 2
- Due Date
- The Avengers
- Iron Man 3
- Chef
Standing ovations greet Robert Downey Jr. after he wins the Oppenheimer Golden Globe!
Golden Globes 2024: For Christopher Nolan’s highly regarded film Oppenheimer, Robert Downey Jr., a Hollywood icon, earned the Best Supporting Actor prize on Sunday (Monday in India). In Nolan’s biographical film about the title physicist (Cillian Murphy), Downey Jr. portrayed Lewis Strauss. Lewis Strauss was a key contributor to the creation of the atomic bomb and J Robert Opp, Enheimer’s political adversary. Downey Jr. entered the stage to accept his trophy and was met with a standing ovation.
“Yes, indeed, I’ve taken a beta blocker, so this should be easy,” Downey Jr. chuckled as he accepted the Golden Globe. The star expressed his gratitude to Universal for “going all in” so that Nolan and the team could “render a goddamn masterpiece.” He thanked his wife, Susan, who “made art out of extracting me from my comfort zone,” and referred to it as the “most improved” prize.
Robert Downey Jr. most recently compared his time as Iron Man to his part in Oppenheimer. According to W Magazine, “There have been three times in my career when I became completely obsessed with the possibility of playing a role.” Initially, it was Chaplin. Tony Stark in Iron Man was the second instance.
Conclusion
If you have any questions about Robert Downey Jr., Comment here. We solve your problem as soon as possible. Finally, we hope you have Successfully Understood Robert Downey’s complete Concepts. Thanks for staying with us.
