American actor and producer Robert John Downey Jr was born 58 years ago in Manhattan, New York, is married and has 3 children.
Robert’s parents both worked in the movie industry: his dad was an actor as well as a film producer/director, whilst his mum was an actress. As a kid of 5 years old, Robert played his very first acting role in one of his father’s movies. When he was 10, he took classical ballet lessons and as a teenager attended a Performing Arts school. At the age of 17, however, he left high school to commence a full-time acting career.
Downey’s initial role was in a theatrical production in 1983, followed by being cast in a late night TV comedy show 2 years later. His career then took an important turn when he starred in 2 films named ‘Tuff Turf’ and ‘Weird Science’. For the rest of the 80s, Robert acted in several movies including ‘The Pick-Up Artist’, ‘Less than Zero’, ‘Chances Are’ and ‘Air America’.
Until the mid 90s, Robert proceeded with his career and acted in numerous films like ‘Short Cuts’, ‘The Last Party’, ‘Only You’, ‘Natural Born Killers’ and ‘U.S. Marshals’, amongst others. From 1996 to 2001, Downey was arrested numerous times due to drug abuse and ended up in jail. In view of this, acting in a theatrical play, voicing an animated TV series character, acting in an important movie and a TV series all failed.
After an extensive rehabilitation programme, Robert returned to the big screen with the help of his friend, actor Mel Gibson, starring in the 2003 film ‘The Singing Detective’. He successfully continued with his career and in the last 2 decades starred in over 35 productions spread amongst movies, documentaries and other TV productions. Some of his most successful films include the ‘Iron Man’ trilogy, ‘Sherlock Holmes’ and ‘The Avengers’.
During his +50-year career, Robert received 23 awards, including 3 Golden Globe and 5 People’s Choice and 4 Saturn.