Robert John Downey Jr. (born April 4, 1965) is an American actor. Known for his charismatic performances and versatility, he was thehighest-paid actor inHollywood annually from 2013 to 2015.Downey's films as a leading actor have grossed over $14.3billion worldwide, making him one of thehighest-grossing film stars of all time.
Robert John Downey Jr. was born inManhattan, New York City, on April 4, 1965.[1] His father,Robert Downey Sr. (né Elias), was a filmmaker,[2] while his mother, Elsie Ann (née Ford), was an actress who appeared in Downey Sr.'s films.[3][4] His father was one-halfLithuanian Jewish, one-quarterHungarian Jewish, and one-quarter Irish, while his mother had Scottish, German, and Swiss ancestry.[5] Downey's sister, Allyson, is two years older than him.[6]
Due to his father's film projects, Downey moved frequently during his childhood, living in places such asWoodstock, New York, London,New Mexico, California,Connecticut, andGreenwich Village.[7][8] From a young age, Downey was exposed to drugs: his father struggled with addiction, and his mother battled alcoholism.[7][9] He has said that his father introduced him to marijuana at age eight,[10] for which he later expressed regret.[11] Downey mentioned that using drugs with his father created an emotional connection between them, explaining that, "When my dad and I used drugs together, it was his way of showing love for me in the only manner he knew."[12][13] During his childhood, Downey appeared in small roles in his father's films. He made his acting debut at the age of five, portraying a sick puppy in theabsurdist comedyPound (1970), and at seven, he appeared in thesurrealistWesternGreaser's Palace (1972).[14] Aged eleven and twelve, he attendedStagedoor Manor, a summer acting camp in upstate New York.[15]
In school, Downey was ahyperactive child who "tried to be cool", often teased by the older boys but popular with the girls.[15] His parents divorced in 1977 when he was twelve; afterward, he lived with his mother in a fifth-floor apartment in New York,[16][17] while his sister stayed with their father, who later took her to aboarding school.[17] He attended Lincoln Junior High School for eighth grade and thenSanta Monica High School for ninth and tenth grades, but dropped out in 1982.[18] At age 17, Downey relocated to New York City to pursue acting full-time,[19] working various jobs such as clearing tables at a Central Falls restaurant, working in a shoe store, and performing as "living art" at the nightclubArea to support himself during auditions.[20][21] During this period, he also appeared in local theater andoff-Broadway productions.[22]
Career
1983–1995: Early work and critical acclaim
Downey made his stage debut in 1983 with a three-week run inAlms for the Middle Class at theGeva Theatre Center.[23] He then appeared in the short-lived off-Broadway musicalAmerican Passion at theJoyce Theater, produced byNorman Lear.[24] Downey's first credited film role was inBaby It's You (1983), though most of his scenes were cut.[25] In his early film roles, he frequently portrayed misfit characters,[26] and his portrayals ofpunk-like figures in several 1980s coming-of-age films led to his occasional association with theBrat Pack.[19][27] In thedrama filmFirstborn (1984), he played a supporting role as the teenage friend of the protagonist.[26] Downey then traveled to Los Angeles to filmJames Spader'sTuff Turf (1985), in which he played Spader'ssidekick and a punk drummer.[25] Later that year, his role as a bully inJohn Hughes'sWeird Science (1985) marked hisbreakthrough.[28] Downey starred as a more likeable radical socialist in theAlan Metter comedy filmBack to School (1987).[26]
In 1985, Downey joined the new, younger cast ofSaturday Night Live, securing the audition with help from hisWeird Science co-star and friendAnthony Michael Hall.[25] After a season of poor ratings and criticism of the cast's comedic ability, he and most of the new members were dismissed.[19][29] Downey's firstleading role came inThe Pick-up Artist (1987), which faced criticism for being "sexually irresponsible" because of its portrayal of promiscuous sex during a period of heightenedAIDS awareness.[30][31] He earned critical acclaim for his role as Julian Wells in the drama filmLess than Zero (1987), the film adaptation ofBret Easton Ellis's1985 novel.[32][33] For portraying a drug-addicted rich boy whose life rapidly spirals out of control,[34] his performance was widely praised:Roger Ebert called it "so real, so subtle and so observant that it's scary",[35] whileJanet Maslin, writing forThe New York Times, deemed it "desperately moving".[34] Downey said that the role felt like "theghost of Christmas Future" for him, as his drug habit led him to become an "exaggeration of the character" in real life.[36]
Oh come on—that's too much! You're going too far, Robert,[...] you're ruining my movie! Forget the dumb dick idea.[...] This isn't some slapstick bullshit
— Oliver Stone recalled shouting at Downey during the filming ofNatural Born Killers (1994)[49]
In 1993, Downey starred inHeart and Souls, playing a man possessed by multiple characters—a performance thatPeter Travers praised as revealing his "explosive talent for physical comedy".[50][51] InOnly You (1994), co-starringMarisa Tomei andBilly Zane, Downey played Peter Wright, a professional dancer who poses as the soulmate Tomei's character Faith.[30][52]Norman Jewison—the film's director—cast him because he reminded him ofTony Curtis: "charming with great comedic timing".[53] In preparation for his role of reporter Wayne Gale inNatural Born Killers (1994), Downey shadowed Australian television shock journalistSteve Dunleavy, which helped him develop an Australian accent.[54][55] The film proved successful at the box office, grossing $110million on a $34million budget.[56][57] Throughout 1995, he took on a string of diverse roles, including theperiod dramaRestoration,[58] theShakespearean adaptationRichard III,[59] and the family ensembleHome for the Holidays.[60]
In early 1996, concerned for Downey's well-being,Sean Penn andDennis Quaid went to his residence, took his keys, and brought him to a rehab center in Tucson; however, Downey left the facility and checked himself out a few days later.[37] In June 1996, he was arrested for possession ofheroin,cocaine,crack cocaine, and an unloaded.357 Magnum handgun while speeding downSunset Boulevard. A month later, while on parole and under the influence of a controlled substance, he entered a neighbor's home through an unlocked front door and fell asleep in one of the beds.[61][62] The family declined to press trespassing charges.[38] The911 call made by the neighbor was later circulated online and became known as the "Goldilocks incident".[63] In November 1996, following a period in court-ordered rehab, Downey was sentenced to an additional six months of live-in rehabilitation, three years' probation, and compulsory drug testing.[38] Downey starred inTwo Girls and a Guy (1997), portraying a duplicitous man who convinces each of two women that she is his only love.[50]
Mugshot from his arrest in August 1999
Mugshot from his arrest in April 2001
After missing a court-ordered drug test in 1997, Downey spent six months inLos Angeles County Jail.[64] In January 1998, he was temporarily allowed out of jail to star in theU.S. Marshals.[65] Upon his full release, he entered a court-mandated 120-day rehab program and then starred inBlack and White (1999), playing Terry Donager, the gay husband of a documentary filmmaker.[38][66] That year, after maintaining sobriety during the filming ofWonder Boys (2000), Downey relapsed. At the time, he was facing financial difficulties and had lost his house in Malibu.[37] Later that year, after missing another court-ordered drug test, he was arrested again. Despite his lawyer,Robert Shapiro, assembling the same legal team that had successfully defendedO. J. Simpson inhis criminal trial, Downey was sentenced to a three-year prison term at theCalifornia Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison inCorcoran.[67][68] At the time of his arrest, all of Downey's film projects had been completed and were nearing release. He had also been hired to voice the devil in theNBC animated seriesGod, the Devil and Bob, but was dismissed after failing to attend rehearsals.[69][70]
After spending nearly a year in the Corcoran prison, Downey was unexpectedly released in 2000 on the condition of posting a $5,000 bail, when a judge ruled that his cumulative time in incarceration facilities—from his initial 1996 arrests—qualified him for early release.[11] A week after his release, he joined the cast of the television seriesAlly McBeal as a new love interest.[71] For his performance, he was nominated for thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series and won theGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries, or Television Film.[72][73] In retrospect, Downey described his performance as overrated, deeming it his "lowest point in terms of addictions".[36] Before the end of his first season onAlly McBeal, Downey was arrested onThanksgiving in 2000, after police responded to an anonymous 911 call and searched his room atMerv Griffin's Hotel and Givenchy Spa inPalm Springs, California. He was found under the influence of a controlled substance and in possession of cocaine andvalium.[74][75] Despite facing a potential prison sentence of up to four years and eight months if convicted, Downey committed to appear in at least eight additional episodes ofAlly McBeal.[76]
In April 2001, while on parole, Downey was found wandering barefoot inCulver City by a Los Angeles police officer. He was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of drugs but was released a few hours later, even though tests confirmed the presence of cocaine in his system.[77][78] After the arrest, the producers of Ally McBeal ordered last-minute rewrites and reshoots before dismissing him from the series, despite his character having boosted the show's ratings.[79] In July 2001, Downey pleadedno contest to the Palm Springs charges, avoiding jail time. Instead, he was ordered into drug rehabilitation and sentenced to three years of probation underCalifornia Proposition 36, which had been enacted the previous year to direct nonviolent drug offenders toward treatment rather than prison.[11][80] He spent a year in a court-mandated rehabilitation facility. By this time Downey was homeless, considered too great an insurance risk to be employable, and facing bankruptcy.[37]
In a December 2000, Downey's stepmother, Rosemary, told author Alex Tresnlowski ofPeople that Downey had been diagnosed withbipolar disorder "a few years ago", adding that this was "the reason he has a hard time staying sober. What hasn't been tried is medication and intensive psychotherapy".[81] Los Angeles psychiatrist Dr. Manijeh Nikakhtar said she had received a letter from Downey in 1999 during his incarceration at Corcoran II, asking for advice regarding his condition. She stated that "no one had done a complete [psychiatric] evaluation [on him][...] I asked him flat out if he thought he was bipolar, and he said, 'Oh yeah. There are times I spend a lot of money and I'm hyperactive, and there are other times I’m down.'"[81]
2001–2007: Recovery and comeback
I said, 'You know what? I don't think I can continue doing this.' And I reached out for help, and I ran with it. You can reach out for help in kind of a half-assed way and you'll get it and you won't take advantage of it. It's not that difficult to overcome these seemingly ghastly problems[...] what's hard is to decide to do it.
After five years of substance abuse, arrests, and relapse, Downey began working toward a full recovery in 2001.[83][84] His first acting job after rehabilitation came in August, when he appeared lip-syncing in the music video forElton John's single "I Want Love", directed bySam Taylor-Wood.[85] Two years later, he returned to film withThe Singing Detective (2003), directed by hisBack to School co-starKeith Gordon, after Gibson paid his insurance bond, allowing him to be cast.[86][87] He played Dan Dark, a paralyzed, suffering pulp novelist who hallucinates and drifts between reality and fantasy.[50] Although the film received mixed reviews, Downey regarded it as a personal achievement.[50][88] ForGothika (2003), producerJoel Silver withheld 40percent of Downey's salary until production was completed as protection against potential issues related to his addiction.[89]
Silver secured him the lead role inShane Black's directorial debut, the comedy thrillerKiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005).[90] Downey received positive reviews for his performance:Mike Russell, writing inThe Oregonian, deemed it "one of [his] most enjoyable performances",[91] while aThe Age writer deemed it a "terrific comic performance".[92] Downey appeared in a range of leading and supporting roles, gaining particular recognition for his performances in several semi-independent films. InGood Night, and Good Luck (2005), he portrayed aCBS journalist and editor secretly married to a coworker, a relationship concealed due to the network's policy prohibiting employees from marrying one another.[93] His role as a drug addict inRichard Linklater'sdystopian,rotoscoped filmA Scanner Darkly (2006) was praised:[94] Travers called his performance "the film's flashiest and most ferociously entertaining",[95] andJ. Hoberman regarded it as "the performance to beat" that year.[96] Downey's character inSteven Shainberg's fictional biographical dramaFur (2006) was a composite representing the two most significant influences onDiane Arbus's professional life,Lisette Model andMarvin Israel.[97]Fur was poorly received by critics,[98] who conversely lauded Downey's performance.[99][100]
In 2005, Downey returned to television, providing voice work for an episode ofFamily Guy titled "The Fat Guy Strangler".[101] The producers created the character Patrick Pewterschmidt—Lois Griffin's long-lost,mentally disturbed brother—specifically for him.[102] That same year, Downey signed a deal withHarperCollins to publish a memoir, which he described as a candid account his life and career. In 2008, however, he returned his advance and canceled the project without explanation.[103] In 2007, he appeared inDavid Fincher's mystery thrillerZodiac, based on true events, portraying San Francisco Chronicle journalistPaul Avery, who covered theZodiac Killer case.[104][105] Downey's performance was critically acclaimed:[106] aTuscaloosa News writer deemed it one of his best,[107] andManohla Dargis remarked that he was at the "top of [his] performance game".[108]
In 2006, Downey was cast as thetitular character in thesuperhero filmIron Man.[109][110] DirectorJon Favreau explained that while Downey was not the most obvious choice, "he understood what makes the character tick. He found a lot of his own life experience in 'Tony Stark'."[111] Favreau strongly advocated for Downey's casting, believing he could elevate the film's quality and generate widespread audience interest, much likeJohnny Depp had done for thePirates of the Caribbean series.[61][112][113] To prepare for the role, Downey gained more than twentypounds (ninekilograms) of muscle over five months to achieve the physicality required for the part.[114]Iron Man was released on May 2, 2008, in the US.[115] It became theeighth-highest-grossing film of 2008, earning more than $585million worldwide against a production budget of $130million.[61][116][117]
InIron Man, Downey portrayed Tony Stark, a wealthy industrialist who is kidnapped and forced to build a deadly missile, only to instead constructa suit of armor that transforms him into the superhero Iron Man.[118] Both the film and Downey's performance were acclaimed by critics,[119] many of whom considered his portrayal the standout element ofIron Man and credited it with catapulting him to global stardom.[120][121][122] Ebert wrote that "it's Robert Downey Jr. who powers the lift-off separating this from most other superhero movies",[123] while, in a retrospectiveVariety article, Zack Sharf credited Downey's charisma with makingIron Man both a critical and commercial success.[124] By October 2008, Downey had signed on to reprise his role in two sequels toIron Man and inThe Avengers (2012), which featured thesuperhero team that Stark joins, based on Marvel'scomic book series of the same name.[125] He first reprised the role with a brief appearance as Stark in the filmThe Incredible Hulk (2008), as part ofMarvel Studios' initiative to depict the sameMarvel Universe on film by providing continuity among the films.[126]
Downey starred alongsideBen Stiller, who also directed the film, andJack Black inTropic Thunder.[127] The three actors portray exaggerated Hollywood archetypes, with Downey playing Kirk Lazarus, a self-absorbed, multi–Oscar-winning Australianmethod actor starring in an overblownVietnam War film titledTropic Thunder.[128][129] To embody his character, African-American platoon sergeant Lincoln Osiris, Lazarus undergoes a controversialskin pigmentation procedure, requiring Downey to wear dark makeup and a wig.[130][131][132] Released in August 2008,[133]Tropic Thunder opened atop the American box office and retained the number-one position for three consecutive weeks, eventually grossing $195million worldwide on a budget of about$90million.[134][135] For his portrayal of Lazarus, Downey was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor.[136] He then portrayedSteve Lopez in the biopicThe Soloist (2009), aLos Angeles Times columnist who discovers a homeless man playing a violin with virtuoso skill.[137]
Downey's other film role of 2010 was inDue Date, which was filmed across various locations in the US, includingGeorgia, New Mexico,Arizona, andLos Angeles.[148] In it, he played an architect trying to get from Atlanta to Los Angeles in time for his wife's scheduledCaesarean section.[149] The film was a box-office success, earning over $211million on a budget of $65million.[150][151] That same year, Downey and his wifeSusan opened their own production company calledTeam Downey.[152] Downey reprised his role as Sherlock Holmes inSherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), the sequel to the 2009 film.[153] InA Game of Shadows, he investigates a conspiracy led by his nemesis,Professor Moriarty, and works to prevent an impending world war.[154][155]Todd McCarthy ofThe Hollywood Reporter lauded the film's "more mannered shenanigans", whose action-oriented antics "play straight to modern audiences' tastes".[156]
In a 2008 interview, Downey said that his time in prison had shifted his political perspective, explaining: "I have a really interesting political point of view, and it's not always something I say too loud at dinner tables here, but you can't go from a $2,000-a-night suite at La Mirage to a penitentiary and really understand it and come out a liberal.[...] [I]t was very, very, very educational for me and has informed my proclivities and politics ever since".[203] When asked about the quote in a 2015 interview to promoteAvengers: Age of Ultron, he denied that his previous statement reflected any longstanding beliefs on his part, explaining that he does not identify as either aRepublican,liberal, orDemocrat.[204]
Downey serves on the board of theAnti-Recidivism Coalition, a nonprofit organization that advocates forcriminal justice reform to reduce incarceration, improve the outcomes of formerly incarcerated individuals, and build healthier communities.[210] In 2020, he founded the organization Footprint Coalition, which aims to use advanced technologies like robotics and nanotechnology to help clean up and restore the environment.[211] The coalition supports and promotes environmentally sustainable technologies, including the French insect-farming company Ÿnsect, bio-based plastic alternative manufacturer RWDC, and bamboo toilet paper producer Cloud Paper.[212][213] Downey co-wrote the bookCool Food with climate advocate Thomas Kostigen providing guidance on making climate-friendly food choices.[214]
Personal life
Downey started dating actressSarah Jessica Parker in 1984 after meeting her on the set ofFirstborn.[215] They moved in together after eight weeks of dating.[216] The couple separated eight years later, in 1991, due to hisdrug addiction.[217][218] Downey married actress and singerDeborah Falconer on May 29, 1992, after a six-weekcourtship.[59] Falconer gave birth to their only son in September 1993.[59] However, Downey's repeated stints in rehab and jail placed significant strain on their marriage, and in 1996, Falconer left him. She filed for divorce in early 2001, citing "irreconcilable differences".[219] The divorce was finalized in 2004, with Falconer receiving custody of their son.[220]
In 2003, Downey met producerSusan Levin—then the executive vice president of production at Joel Silver's company,Silver Pictures—while filmingGothika.[221][222] Although Levin was initially unsure about Downey, the two quietly began a relationship during production.[221][223] Their relationship continued afterGothika's production ended, and Downey proposed the night before her thirtieth birthday.[221] The couple married on August 27, 2005, in a Jewish ceremony inAmagansett, New York.[224][225] They welcomed their first child, a son, in February 2012,[226] followed by a daughter in November 2014.[227] Downey has maintained a close friendship with Mel Gibson since they co-starred inAir America (1990).[228][229] He publicly defended Gibson amidst the controversy surroundinghis 2006 DUI, saying that he was "caught in the act of being an imperfect human being".[230] Gibson, in turn, spoke fondly of Downey, recalling, "He was one of the first people to call and offer the hand of friendship. He just said, 'Hey, welcome to the club. Let's go see what we can do to work on ourselves.'"[230]
Downey says he has been drug-free since July 2003 and credits his wife with helping him overcome his drug and alcohol habits, along with his family, therapy,meditation,twelve-step recovery programs,yoga, and the practice ofWing Chunkung fu.[231][232] In December 2015, Downey was chosen as one of 91 people to be pardoned by theGovernor of California,Jerry Brown, for his prior drug offenses. The pardon does not erase Downey's criminal record, but it does allow him to serve on a jury.[233][234] Reflecting on his sobriety during an appearance onThe Oprah Winfrey Show, Downey said, "It's really not that difficult to overcome these seemingly ghastly problems. What's hard is to decide to do it."[235] In 2014, Downey described his religious beliefs as "Jewish Buddhist". Earlier in his life, he had also explored Christianity and theHare Krishna movement.[236] After initially adopting avegan diet to address concerns about the climate crisis, Downey revealed in 2024 that he had transitioned to apescetarian diet after experiencing low levels ofvitamin B12,calcium, andiron.[237]
Artistry and public image
Downey at theAvengers film premiere in London in 2012
Downey is known for taking on an eclectic range of roles spanning drama,comedy, andaction, and has become one of Hollywood's mostbankable stars.[238][239][240] He typically plays characters who are intelligent, charismatic, complicated, and often flawed,[241][242][243] such as geniuses[244] and eccentrics.[245][246] Critics have noted his ability to fully embody a role, making the character seem real.[247][248] Early in his career, aRolling Stone writer noted that Downey's acting style differed from many of his contemporaries, describing it as "not brooding or intolerably self-absorbed" but in "a semiconstant state of amusement".[31] Analysing his roles inMussolini (1985) andLess than Zero (1987),Stephen Schiff wrote that he managed to "shrug and bubble his way past every obstacle".[249] He extensively rehearses and prepares for his film roles:[250] for example, for his portrayal of Charlie Chaplin inChaplin (1992), he spent months training with experts to perfectly mimic Chaplin's movements,[45] and he remained in character off set to portray Kirk Lazarus inTropic Thunder (2010).[251] Keith Gordon, who directed Downey inThe Singing Detective (2003), remarked that Downey could "take a two-minute scene and take you through five different arcs of emotion as he takes himself through that".[252]
Downey is a self-described "incredibly gifted faker" who knows "very little about acting".[253]. In a 2010Rolling Stone article,Walter Kirn praised Downey's ability to "refuse to follow any kind of script, never quite coming into focus, always in thrall to another idea", describing it as the "essence of his mind and spirit, and, arguably, of his genius as an actor".[254] He has described his approach to acting as intuitive and improvisational rather than methodical, stating that "the goal is to make a well-written scene seem like it's improvised" and "try to improve things as you go along".[253][255][256] Downey's films as a leading actor have grossed over $14.3billion worldwide, making him the third-highest-grossing actor of all time, according toThe Numbers.[257] He was named Hollywood'shighest-paid actor byForbes from 2013 to 2015.[258][259][260] The publication has included him in its annualCelebrity 100 list, which ranks the most powerful people in the world, placing him twentieth in 2013 and tenth in 2014.[261][262]Time magazine featured him on its list of the100 most influential people in the world in 2008, honoring his talent as an actor and career resurgence as Iron Man.[263]
^De Vries, Hilary (November 21, 2004)."Robert Downey Jr.: The Album".The New York Times.Archived from the original on April 22, 2012. RetrievedMay 22, 2010.
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