Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1965-04-04
- Born Place: New York City, New York, USA
Height:
5′ 8″ (1.73 m)
Also Known As:
Bob Downey, روبرت داوني جونير, 로버트 다우니 주니어, ロバート・ダウニー・Jr, Роберт Дауни мл., RDJ, Ρόμπερτ Ντάουνι Τζούνιορ, রবার্ট ডাউনি জুনিয়র, رابرت داونی جونیور, 小罗伯特·唐尼, Роберт Дауни-мл., רוברט דאוני ג'וניור, โรเบิร์ต จอห์น ดาวนีย์ จูเนียร์, 小勞勃·道尼, رابِرت داونی جونیور, 로다주
Robert Downey Jr.
Robert Downey Jr., born on April 4, 1965, in New York City, is an American actor and producer whose career has been a remarkable journey of immense talent, personal struggles, and an unparalleled professional resurgence. The son of underground filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. and actress Elsie Ann (née Ford), he was exposed to the world of cinema from a very young age, making his acting debut at just five years old in his father's absurdist comedy Pound (1970). His early career in the 1980s saw him as a promising young actor, often associated with the "Brat Pack," with notable roles in films like Weird Science (1985), Back to School (1986), and the critically acclaimed Less Than Zero (1987), where his portrayal of a drug addict eerily foreshadowed later challenges in his personal life. He also had a brief stint as a cast member on Saturday Night Live in 1985.The 1990s brought him significant critical recognition, particularly for his transformative performance as the legendary silent film star Charlie Chaplin in Richard Attenborough's 1992 biopic Chaplin, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Despite his burgeoning success and acclaimed roles in films such as Natural Born Killers (1994), Home for the Holidays (1995), and Restoration (1995), Downey Jr.'s personal life spiraled due to severe substance abuse and legal issues. This led to multiple arrests, stints in rehabilitation facilities, and even a period of incarceration, making him largely uninsurable for film productions by the early 2000s. He briefly found success on television with a Golden Globe-winning role in Ally McBeal (2000), but his struggles continued.His remarkable comeback began in the mid-2000s, driven by his commitment to sobriety and the support of his second wife, producer Susan Levin (now Susan Downey). He started rebuilding his career with acclaimed performances in films like The Singing Detective (2003), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), and Zodiac (2007). However, it was his casting as Tony Stark / Iron Man in the 2008 Marvel Studios film Iron Man that catapulted him to global superstardom. He redefined the superhero genre and became the cornerstone of the massively successful Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), reprising the iconic role in numerous films, including The Avengers series, Iron Man 2 and 3, and Captain America: Civil War, ultimately culminating in Avengers: Endgame (2019). This era established him as one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood.Beyond the MCU, Downey Jr. continued to showcase his range with roles like Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie's successful adaptations Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), for which he won a Golden Globe. He also took on more dramatic roles, such as in The Judge (2014), which he co-produced through his production company, Team Downey, founded with his wife. His career reached another zenith with his portrayal of Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan's 2023 biographical thriller Oppenheimer. This critically acclaimed performance earned him widespread accolades, including his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA Award, cementing his status as a formidable dramatic actor.In addition to acting and producing, Downey Jr. has also dabbled in music, releasing a debut album, The Futurist, in 2004. He remains a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, known for his charisma, wit, and resilience, and continues to be involved in various film and television projects through Team Downey, including the acclaimed documentary Sr. (2022) about his father and the HBO miniseries The Sympathizer (2024), for which he received an Emmy nomination for playing multiple characters. His journey from troubled prodigy to Hollywood icon serves as one of the most compelling comeback stories in cinematic history.
Awards :
81 wins & 159 nominations
