Robert Downey Jr. is an American actor, producer, and musician best known worldwide for his roles as Sherlock Holmes and Tony Stark / Iron Man. His career, marked by extraordinary talent, personal struggles, and an acclaimed comeback, has made him one of the most influential and recognizable figures in modern cinema.

Robert Downey Jr. was born on 4 April 1965 in Manhattan, New York City. His father, Robert Downey Sr., was an actor, writer, producer, and director, while his mother, Elsie Ford, was a dancer and singer. His mother was of German descent, and his father was of Jewish ancestry. His parents divorced when he was eleven years old. Exposed to drugs at a very young age, Downey struggled academically and was unable to complete formal schooling. Despite this, his natural talent enabled him to join the cast of Saturday Night Live at the age of twenty.

Downey made his film debut in 1970 at the age of five with a small role in his father’s film Pound. Alongside acting, he also showed strong musical ability. He rose to prominence in the late 1980s and early 1990s through a series of notable film performances, quickly gaining recognition as one of Hollywood’s most promising young actors.

In August 1996, Robert Downey Jr. was arrested for driving under the influence, heroin possession, and illegal firearm possession. He was sentenced to three years in prison but released under strict conditions that included mandatory drug testing and rehabilitation. A year later, he was arrested again for similar offenses and served six months in prison. After his release, he entered rehabilitation, but repeated relapses followed. Downey later revealed that his first exposure to drugs occurred at the age of eight, when his father offered him marijuana.

Having struggled with severe addiction throughout the late 1990s, Downey served a total of 180 days in prison. In 2000, he finally overcame his substance dependency and made a highly praised return to television with the series Ally McBeal. His performance revitalized his career, earning him major acclaim. However, after relapsing once again, he was dismissed from the show. Following a year of treatment and a three-year probationary period, he returned briefly in the fifth and final season.

Determined to regain credibility in the film industry, Robert Downey Jr. appeared in numerous productions throughout the mid-2000s. In 2007, he starred in David Fincher’s Zodiac. His career-defining resurgence came in 2008 when he was cast as billionaire inventor Tony Stark in Iron Man, launching the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He reprised the role in sequels released in 2010 and 2013, as well as in ensemble Marvel films.

Also in 2008, Downey delivered a controversial and critically acclaimed performance in Ben Stiller’s Tropic Thunder, portraying an actor who undergoes a radical transformation for a role. His performance earned him an Academy Award nomination.

In 2009, Robert Downey Jr. starred as Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie’s cinematic adaptation Sherlock Holmes, alongside Jude Law and Rachel McAdams. The role showcased his sharp wit and physicality, earning him a Golden Globe Award. He reprised the role in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011).

In 2012, Downey appeared again as Iron Man in The Avengers, bringing together Marvel’s leading superheroes. He continued to portray the character in subsequent films, culminating in Avengers: Endgame (2019), which became one of the highest-grossing films of all time.

Parallel to his acting career, Robert Downey Jr. pursued music and released his first and only studio album, The Futurist, in 2004.

Between 1984 and 1991, Downey was in a high-profile relationship with actress Sarah Jessica Parker.

Robert Downey Jr. married actress Deborah Falconer on 29 May 1992. The couple divorced on 26 April 2004 and have a son, Indio Falconer Downey (born 1993). He later married film producer Susan Levin Downey on 27 August 2005. They have a son, Exton Elias Downey (born 2012). Downey lives in Beverly Hills with his wife and children.

Downey remains active in philanthropy and is widely regarded as one of Hollywood’s most successful comeback stories.

Awards

2010 – Golden Globe Awards – Best Actor (Comedy or Musical) – Sherlock Holmes
2001 – Golden Globe Awards – Best Actor in a Television Series – Ally McBeal

Filmography

Producer
2014 – The Judge

Actor
2023 – Oppenheimer (Lewis Strauss)
2020 – Dolittle (Dr. John Dolittle)
2019 – Avengers: Endgame (Tony Stark / Iron Man)
2018 – Avengers: Infinity War (Tony Stark / Iron Man)
2017 – Spider-Man: Homecoming (Tony Stark / Iron Man)
2016 – Captain America: Civil War (Tony Stark / Iron Man)
2015 – Avengers: Age of Ultron (Tony Stark / Iron Man)
2014 – Chef (Marvin)
2014 – The Judge (Hank Palmer)
2013 – Iron Man 3 (Tony Stark / Iron Man)
2012 – The Avengers (Tony Stark / Iron Man)
2011 – Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (Sherlock Holmes)
2010 – Iron Man 2 (Tony Stark / Iron Man)
2010 – Due Date (Peter Highman)
2009 – Sherlock Holmes (Sherlock Holmes)
2008 – Iron Man (Tony Stark / Iron Man)
2008 – Tropic Thunder (Kirk Lazarus)
2007 – Zodiac (Paul Avery)
2006 – A Scanner Darkly (James Barris)
2005 – Good Night, and Good Luck (Joseph Wershba)
2005 – Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Harry Lockhart)
2003 – Gothika (Pete Graham)
2003 – The Singing Detective (Dan Dark)
2001 – Wonder Boys (Terry Crabtree)
1999 – Bowfinger (Jerry Renfro)
1999 – Black and White (Terry Donager)
1998 – U.S. Marshals (John Royce)
1997 – Ally McBeal (Larry Paul)
1995 – Restoration (Robert Merivel)
1994 – Natural Born Killers (Wayne Gale)
1993 – Heart and Souls (Thomas Reilly)
1992 – Chaplin (Charles Spencer Chaplin)
1987 – Less Than Zero (Julian Wells)
1985 – Weird Science (Ian)
1984 – Firstborn (Lee)

Source: Biyografiler.com