Iron-Clad Facts About Robert Downey Jr.

October 26, 2023 | Kyle Climans

Iron-Clad Facts About Robert Downey Jr.


Robert Downey Jr. has had many ups and downs (no pun intended) during his career. Regardless of where he’s at, though, he has always been one of the more interesting people in Hollywood. These 43 facts will help shed light on this charismatic and sometimes controversial film star.


1. Born Into Hollywood

Both of Downey’s parents were well-known actors. Robert Downey Sr. is a long-time actor and filmmaker, while Elsie Ford was an actress who frequently appeared in Downey Sr.’s films. Downey Jr. would also appear in his father’s films during his youth before beginning his career proper.

Robertdowneyjr-Msn

2. I’ve Had Better Days

The 1985-1986 season of Saturday Night Live featured a young Robert Downey Jr. among its cast. Not only was the season lambasted, but Downey was ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the least successful performers in the history of SNL. To their credit, they blamed the show for wasting Downey’s talent, but there’s a reason why Downey rarely talks about his days on SNL.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Saturday Night Live, NBC

3. The Right Method

One of Downey’s big successes in the early part of his career was the 1992 film Chaplin, for which he was nominated for an Oscar. His dedicated preparation to playing the legendary Charlie Chaplin has been well noted. He watched all of Chaplin’s films, he learned to play the violin left-handed, hired a coach to help him imitate Chaplin’s walk and posture, and he even managed to persuade the Museum of the Moving Image to let him try on one of Chaplin’s original costumes. According to Geraldine Chaplin (who played her own grandmother in the film), she was so struck by how similar Downey looked to her father when she first saw him in costume that she had to take a moment to collect herself.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Chaplin (1992), TriStar Pictures

4. Surprising Connection

Very early on in his career, Downey encountered another son of actors trying to join the family business. Kiefer Sutherland was trying to break into Hollywood when he became Downey’s roommate for three years.

Darkest Roles Ever Played factsStand by Me (1986), Columbia Pictures

5. The Goose Laying Golden Eggs

From 2012 to 2015, Downey made #1 on Forbes’ list of the highest paid actors in Hollywood. Not only that, as of 2017, Downey’s films have made over $9.6 billion worldwide. This makes Downey the fifth highest-grossing American box office star of all time.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Wikimedia Commons

6. Downey's In Business!

In 2010, Downey and his wife, producer Susan Levin, co-founded a production company that they called Team Downey. The first film Team Downey released is the Oscar-nominated film The Judge, which also starred Downey alongside Robert Duvall.

Robert Downey Jr. facts The Judge (2014), Warner Bros.

7. Are You A Brat? Are You!??

Early in his career, Downey appeared in several 80s classics. He portrayed an intimidating character in John Hughes' Weird Science, took the lead role opposite Molly Ringwald in The Pick-Up Artist, and nearly secured the role of Duckie in Pretty in Pink. Some have argued that this technically means he should be credited as a member of the Brat Pack (alongside Molly Ringwald, Judd Nelson, and others), but this has never been fully decided.

Robert Downey Jr. facts The Pick-up Artist (1987),Twentieth Century Fox

8. True Love In Film

Downey met his current wife, Susan Levin, when they were both working on the film Gothika.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Shutterstock

9. The Costumes Are Awesome

Downey admitted to Seth Meyers on his show that he personally loves to attend Comic-Cons. This is in no small part because of the attention he gets while there. As he explained, he feels like “the mayor of Comic-Con” whenever he goes.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Wikimedia Commons, Gage Skidmore

10. Angering The Wrong People

Downey once escaped his mandatory rehabilitation. The judge who had sentenced him had broken his leg at the time, but when he found out that Downey had left rehab, he was so angry that he drove his car, cast and all, to the courthouse to put a warrant out for the actor.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Wikimedia Commons

11. Salary Bump

On the first Iron Man, Downey only made $500,000 for his performance. That payment jumped up to $10 million for the sequel, and a whopping $50 million for Avengers!

Robert Downey Jr. facts Iron Man (2008), Paramount Pictures

12. Interesting Hobby

While traveling around with his father, Downey Jr. spent a year in England during the 1970s. While he was there, he took ballet classes at the famous Perry House School in London.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Getty Images

13. Awkward Fan Recognition

According to Downey, he was once recognized while on the run after he had escaped from court-mandated rehab. At the time, he was wearing hospital pants and a Hawaiian shirt, and had wandered into a mariner's shop. He then asked the fan, who was the store clerk, to call him a cab to get further away from rehab.

Pete Davidson FactsShutterstock

14. The Heart Of A Warrior

In the aftermath of his addictions nearly destroying his career, Downey began practising the martial art known as Wing Chun. He credits his continued practise of it as a big reason why he has been able to stay sober.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Getty Images

15. Can’t Work With Him

Director Woody Allen had seriously considered Downey for his 2005 film Melinda and Melinda. Regrettably, Allen could not secure insurance for the film if he cast Downey due to his history with substance misuse and arrests, so he had no choice but to move on.

Sharon Stone factsWikimedia Commons

16. Well That’s One Way To Break The News

When he got engaged to his now-wife, Susan, Downey ended up delivering the news of his engagement in the middle of an interview with Frank Skinner while he was meant to be promoting The Singing Detective.

Robert Downey Jr. facts The Singing Detective (2003),Icon Productions

17. Growing Up On The Move

Due to the uncertainty and distance required for major filmmaking endeavours, Downey grew up in several different homes that lay on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. Among his hometowns are London, Paris, Greenwich Village in New York City, and Santa Monica.

George Villiers factsWikimedia Commons

18. Accidental Burglar

Among his many antics during his time battling drug addictions, Downey once found himself apprehended for unlawfully entering his neighbor's home while under the influence. The reason was that he had thought it was his own house and wanted to crash on the bed. The law enforcement officers supplied an alternative bed when they were summoned.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Getty Images

19. That’s Bleak…

In 1999, Downey was in the middle of his low point, going through several arrests and failed drug treatment programs. At one point that year, he stood before a judge and tried to explain himself. His alleged explanation was, "It's as though I have a firearm in my mouth, with my finger poised on the trigger, and I like the taste of metallic".

Robert Downey Jr. facts Getty Images

20. Turn Your Life Around

After he finished the film Less Than Zero, Downey wanted to take a symbolic step away from his Brat Pack life and reputation. His solution was to take his film costumes from the movie and bury them in the back yard. We can only imagine what he’ll bury when he decides to stop being Tony Stark.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Less Than Zero (1987), Twentieth Century Fox

21. Role Model

Downey has stated several times that the actor Peter O’Toole is one of his idols. Rather ominously, both Downey and O'Toole were known for their excessive use of substances.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Wikipedia

22. As Long As He Didn’t Replace Alan Rickman!

When they finally made a film adaptation of the classic novel The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Downey was considered for the role of Zaphod Beeblebrox. Ultimately, the role went to Sam Rockwell instead.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Shutterstock

23. Ferris Bueller’s Future Belle?

In 1984, Downey began a relationship with Sarah Jessica Parker after the two met on the film Girls Just Want to Have Fun. However, after being together for seven years, Parker ended her relationship with Downey due to his struggles with substance addiction.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Getty Images

24. Yeah, Can I Play A Crazy Murderer On The Show?

Downey once approached the Family Guy producers to appear in an episode of the show. His son was a big fan of the series, so Downey voiced the character of Lois Griffin’s murderous brother, Patrick Pewterschmidt.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Family Guy(1999-), 20th Century Fox Television

25. Take That, Lorne Michaels!

It’s already been stated how badly his time went at Saturday Night Live. But to this day in 2018, Downey is only one of two former SNL cast members to have been nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor (Downey did it for Chaplin, and the other is Bill Murray for Lost in Translation).

Robert Downey Jr. facts Shutterstock

26. Extra Credit In The Contract

For Captain America, Downey was paid $40 million plus backend for his involvement in the film. Not only that, an extra payout would be due to him if the movie outperformed the second Captain America film (since the contract stated that Downey’s presence would be the main reason for the success of the third film).

Robert Downey Jr. facts Captain America, Marvel Studios

27. Authentic Aussie?

While he was preparing to play the manic and self-absorbed news anchor Wayne Gale in Natural Born Killers, Downey hung out with the legendary Australian shock-jock Steve Dunleavy. Later, Downey convinced director Oliver Stone to let him play Wayne Gale with an Australian accent. He would later name Natural Born Killers among the favorites of his films, and he would also reprise his Australian accent in the film Tropic Thunder.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Natural Born Killers (1994), Warner Bros.

28. Narrowly Avoided Danger There

When the sequel to Sherlock Holmes was fast-tracked, Downey stepped away from appearing in the sci-fi western Cowboys & Aliens.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Sherlock Holmes (2009), Warner Bros.

29. You’ve Got A Friend In Me

When Downey wanted to get back into acting after his troubles with the law, most producers in Hollywood considered him too risky. It was none other than Mel Gibson who paid Downey’s insurance bond so he could star in The Singing Detective. Despite the film being a failure, Downey’s performance was praised, and it opened the door to a career comeback.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Wikimedia Commons

30. You’ve Got A Friend In Me Too

Despite the controversy surrounding Mel Gibson, Downey continued to call Gibson a friend. When Downey was honored at the 2011 American Cinematheque Awards, he chose Gibson to present the award to him.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Getty Images

31. The Right Producer

Another person credited with helping Downey embark on a comeback is producer Joel Silver. He was responsible for getting Downey cast in the film Gothika on the condition that he withheld 40% of Downey’s salary until the film was completed as an insurance against Downey's destructive tendencies. After that film, Silver also helped Downey get cast in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Shutterstock

32. Kiss Kiss Comeback

While most people would say Iron Man was Downey’s big comeback role commercially, his critical comeback was arguably Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Shane Black’s neo-noir was not a huge hit, but was wildly popular with critics, and developed a strong cult following. Downey was highly praised for his performance in the film alongside Val Kilmer and Michelle Monaghan.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), Warner Bros.

33. Let’s Do That Again!

Downey had had such a good time on Kiss Kiss Bang Bang that he would later reunite with writer-director Shane Black on the third Iron Man film. The movie would go on to make over $1 billion worldwide.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Shutterstock

34. Life Imitating Art Too Well?

One of Downey’s most acclaimed early roles was that of Julian Wells in the film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’s novel Less Than Zero. Wells is the main character of the story, and his life slowly spirals out of control. Looking back on his performance, however, Downey revealed that playing this character felt like the Ghost of Christmas Future, and it escalated drug problems he had already been dealing with.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Less Than Zero (1987), Twentieth Century Fox

35. Looks Can Be Deceiving

Downey received great critical acclaim for his performance on the show Ally McBeal. However, Downey himself looks back on that time as his “lowest point,” and admits his addictions were out of control. He even remarked that he had lost any interest in acting at all. Thankfully, he was able to bounce back from that kind of thinking.

Robert Downey Jr. facts Ally McBeal (1997–2002), 20th Century Fox Television

36. Creating Tony Stark

During pre-production of Iron Man, director Jon Favreau collaborated with Downey on what they wanted to do with the movie. Downey worked hard to keep comedy throughout the film, rather than have Tony Stark turn into another “Dudley Do-Right” kind of superhero. His work paid off in the billions later.

Avengers: Infinity War factsAvengers, Marvel studios

37. Good Thing He’s Called “Junior”

When Downey first sought the role of Sherlock Holmes, director Guy Ritchie was initially uncertain about casting him. He was interested in casting a younger actor to give the film more of an origin story feel. However, he could neither deny that the role was perfect for Downey, nor that the actor had a flawless English accent.

Aladdin FactsGetty Images

38. He’s A DC Man After All!

In 2000, Downey was working on Ally McBeal and decided to celebrate Thanksgiving properly. When the authorities reached Downey's hotel room in Palm Springs to disperse the gathering, they found Downey in possession of illicit substances and accompanied by several exotic dancers, one of whom was clad as Wonder Woman.

Famous People FactsGetty Images

39. Yeah, Let’s Not…

For the third Sherlock Holmes film, Jude Law came up with a rather strange idea for the story: He thought that Sherlock Holmes and Watson should travel to the year 2024 through an edible time machine (that part was apparently Downey's idea). Guy Ritchie was unconvinced. When the guy who made King Arthur: Legend of the Sword doesn’t like your idea, you know it must be really bad.

Brie Larson FactsGetty Images

40. Quite The Rarity

Downey received his second Oscar nomination for his performance as the extreme method actor Kirk Lazarus in the film Tropic Thunder. This made him one of only two supporting actor nominations that were given to men for a comedic performance (the other went to Chris Cooper for Adaptation).

Robert Downey Jr. factsTropic Thunder (2008), DreamWorks

41. A Real Hero

In 2015, Downey became involved in providing a special present for Alex Pring. Pring was seven years old, he was a huge fan of superhero movies, and was missing his right arm above the elbow. Downey met with Pring and presented him with a robotic arm designed to look like an Iron Man arm.

Robert Downey Jr. factsShutterstock

42. Wrong Kind Of Family Bonding

Downey has admitted that the problem with his drug addictions began at a startlingly early age. His father urged Downey to experiment with THC prior to his teenage years. He would later venture into more potent substances.

Robert Downey Jr. factsGetty Images

43. Urination Uprising

Director David Fincher, recognized for his stringent perfectionism, took things to a new level while working on the thriller film, Zodiac. Switching from film to digital filmmaking meant that Fincher could indulge himself even further, much to the fury of actors such as Downey, who got fewer breaks during the long hours of filming. Stuck on set and needing to use the bathroom, Downey began peeing in jars and leaving them around the set as a protest of Fincher’s behavior and attitude.

Robert Downey Jr. factsZodiac (2007), Paramount Pictures

Sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19


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