Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr., often referred to as RDJ, is one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed actors in Hollywood today. Known globally for his role as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Downey played the iconic character across ten blockbuster films, helping to shape one of the most successful film franchises in history. His movies as a leading actor have earned over $14 billion worldwide, placing him among the highest-grossing actors of all time. Beyond the MCU, Downey delivered award-winning performances in films such as Chaplin, Sherlock Holmes, and Oppenheimer, the last of which earned him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actor. He also received widespread acclaim for his role in the 2024 miniseries The Sympathizer and made his Broadway debut that same year in McNeal. Time magazine named him one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2008, and Forbes ranked him Hollywood's highest-paid actor from 2013 to 2015. With multiple major awards across film and television, Downey continues to be a commanding presence in the industry, balancing commercial appeal with critical respect.

Robert Downey Jr.'s early life was marked by frequent moves, exposure to drugs at a young age, and a deep immersion in the world of independent film, all of which shaped his path to becoming an actor.

• Born on April 4, 1965, in Manhattan, New York City, to underground filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. and actress Elsie Downey.
• Spent his childhood moving across various locations, including New York, London, New Mexico, and California, due to his father’s film projects.
• Grew up in a household affected by substance abuse, with his father introducing him to drugs as early as age six.
• Made his acting debut at age five in his father’s 1970 film Pound and appeared in several of his father’s projects throughout childhood.
• Attended Stagedoor Manor, a summer acting camp in New York, at ages eleven and twelve, fostering his passion for performance.
• After his parents’ divorce in 1977, he lived with his mother in New York before eventually moving back to California to live with his father.
• Dropped out of Santa Monica High School in 1982 and moved to New York at age 17 to pursue acting full-time.
• Worked various jobs, including waiting tables and performing in nightclubs, while auditioning and landing small theater and film roles.
• Landed his first credited film role in Baby It’s You (1983), and gained wider attention after joining the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1985 and appearing in Weird Science the same year.

Robert Downey Jr.’s family has been closely tied to the entertainment industry and played a major part in his personal and professional journey.

• His father, Robert Downey Sr., was a filmmaker known for underground films, and his mother, Elsie Ann Ford, was an actress who appeared in several of his father’s projects.
• He has one older sister, Allyson Downey.
• He dated actress Sarah Jessica Parker from 1984 to 1991 after meeting her on the set of Firstborn; they lived together for several years before separating due to his drug issues.
• Downey married actress and singer Deborah Falconer in May 1992, and they had a son in September 1993 before separating in 1996 due to his legal and substance problems.
• He finalized his divorce from Falconer in 2004, with Falconer receiving custody of their son.
• In 2003, he met producer Susan Levin on the set of Gothika; they married in August 2005 in a Jewish ceremony.
• With Susan Downey, he has two children: a son born in February 2012 and a daughter born in November 2014.