Robert Downey Jr. is widely celebrated for his portrayal of Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Born on April 4, 1965, in New York City, Downey's acting career began at a young age, debuting in his father’s 1970 film Pound. He rose to fame in the 1980s with roles in Weird Science and Saturday Night Live. However, his career was marred by substance abuse issues, culminating in multiple arrests. In 2001, Downey was arrested for drug possession and was sentenced to probation. Despite these challenges, he made a dramatic comeback, starring in Iron Man and later earning an Oscar nomination for his role in Oppenheimer (2023). He’s also set to return to the MCU as Doctor Doom in 2026.
Robert Downey Jr.'s promising acting career was overshadowed by his personal struggles with addiction. Introduced to drugs at the age of 8 by his father, his dependency worsened into his 20s. Reflecting on his time in Less Than Zero, Downey admitted, “Until (Less Than Zero), I took my drugs after work and on the weekends… That changed on Less Than Zero... The character was an exaggeration of myself." His legal troubles began in 1996 when he was arrested for driving naked, found with drugs and a gun. His downward spiral continued, with a 12-month prison sentence and multiple rehab stints, including an arrest in 2000 for drug possession while in a Wonder Woman costume.
Robert Downey Jr. was sent to prison for violating his probation, but the reason he was on probation in the first place was due to a 1996 incident. At that time, police found heroin, cocaine, and a pistol in his car after he was pulled over for speeding. The terms of Robert Downey Jr.'s probation, which he violated, included staying clean from drugs and alcohol, attending drug rehabilitation programs, and complying with regular drug testing.
When he failed to meet these conditions, such as being arrested multiple times for drug-related offences, he was sent to prison in 1999. His struggles with substance abuse continued to affect his life and career during that period, ultimately leading to the violation of his probation terms.
Robert Downey Jr. was held at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison in Corcoran, California for nearly a year. This facility is known for housing inmates who require drug rehabilitation programs, which was a key part of Downey’s treatment during his time there.
Robert Downey Jr. began his journey to sobriety in 2003, seeking treatment for his long-standing drug addiction. A key figure in his recovery was Mel Gibson, who supported Downey during his darkest days. Despite Downey's troubled past, Gibson helped him secure work, casting him in The Singing Detective (2003) when Downey struggled to even get an insurance bond. The two actors remain close friends to this day. In December 2015, Downey’s past was officially pardoned by California Governor Jerry Brown, clearing his 1996 drug conviction that had led to a year in prison.
In 2015, the then governor of California’ pardoned Robert Downey Jr. for his 1996 drug conviction that had sent the actor to prison. Downey had been convicted of felony drug possession after he was arrested on a Los Angeles County highway, where authorities found heroin, cocaine, and a pistol in his vehicle. In 1999, he was sent to prison for nearly a year after acknowledging that he had violated his probation. Downey’s life and career rebounded, and he went on to star as Iron Man in Disney’s films based on the Marvel comic books.
Despite personal struggles in the early 2000s, Robert Downey Jr. continued to work, landing a notable role in Wonder Boys (2000) and appearing in films like Auto Motives and Lethargy. In 2000, he joined the cast of Ally McBeal, starring alongside Calista Flockhart. His performance earned him a Golden Globe Award in 2001 and a Screen Actors Guild Award. However, after a second arrest in 2001, Downey’s time on the show ended, and he faced legal consequences. He pleaded no contest to cocaine-related charges and received three years of probation.
In 2024, Downey returned to television with The Sympathizer, portraying five different characters. His performance earned him an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Downey's big-screen comeback began in 2003 with Gothika and continued through critically acclaimed roles in Good Night, and Good Luck (2005) and A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006). He also starred in the controversial Tropic Thunder (2008), where his portrayal of a white actor playing a Black character garnered critical praise and multiple award nominations.
2008 marked a major turning point when Downey starred as Tony Stark in Iron Man, a role that led to global success and positioned him as a major box office draw in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He reprised his role in multiple MCU films, including The Avengers (2012) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Downey's return to the MCU will continue in 2026 as the villain Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday.
Downey’s versatility was showcased in The Soloist (2009) and Sherlock Holmes (2009), both of which earned critical praise. He also starred in Dolittle (2020) and focused on his producing career in 2022 with Sr., a documentary about his father.
In 2023, Downey garnered critical acclaim for his portrayal of Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer, a performance that led to multiple award nominations. Director Christopher Nolan praised Downey for his dedication to taking on such a different role, saying, “I felt like [Downey] just was in a place where he would be ready to come and try something completely different. And as a director, if you can convince one of the great actors of his generation to come and challenge himself in a completely different way, you just know you’re going to get something special.”
Robert Downey Jr.'s personal life has dramatically improved in recent years, marked by a stable and fulfilling home life. He met producer Susan Levin while working on Gothika in 2003, and by November of that year, they were engaged. They married in August 2005, and together, they have two children: son Exton, born in February 2012, and daughter Avri, born in November 2014.
In 2010, Downey and Levin co-founded Team Downey, their production company, which has produced notable films and TV series, including The Judge (2014), Dolittle (2020), and the Netflix fantasy series Sweet Tooth. Reflecting on their partnership, Downey remarked, “We don’t like going too long without having an extremely difficult project together, whether it’s a movie or a kid,” in a lighthearted comment made in 2020.
In addition to his children with Levin, Downey has an eldest son, Indio, born in September 1993, from his previous relationship with singer and actor Deborah Falconer. The couple married in 1992 but separated in 1996 and finalized their divorce in 2004. Indio’s godfather is Downey’s close friend and fellow actor, Anthony Michael Hall.
Robert Downey Jr.'s net worth is estimated to be approximately $300 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. A significant portion of his wealth has been accumulated through his role as Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In fact, Downey earned $75 million from Avengers: Endgame alone, thanks to the film's immense box office success.
