Robert Downey Jr. is an American actor and musician. Downey had a long history and well-publicized history with drug addiction and legal problems. However, he has managed to turn his life around and has landed increasingly larger roles including two 2008 films, Ironman and Tropic Thunder.
He received a 2009 Best Supporting Actor Oscar-nomination for his performance in Tropic Thunder, but Heath Ledger was posthumously awarded the Oscar for his role in The Dark Knight.
Sherlock Holmes Set Injury
Robert Downey Jr. was reportedly knocked out while filming a fight scene on the set of Sherlock Holmes in late November 2008. Medics treated Downey on the scene and a nurse sutured a cut in his inner mouth. A source for the film gave the following statement, "Robert was accidentally caught on the chin by a thundering hook. He went flying and was out cold. He didn't want to go to the hospital and kept trying to get up. He's a trooper. But there have been lots of other problems too."PerezHilton: Robert Downey Jr. Injured (November 30, 2008)
Life and Career
Downey Jr. was born in New York City to artist parents. His mother was a singer and dancer and his father was an actor, writer, producer, and director of independent films. He went to a performing arts high school during his teen years and was offered a role on the cast of Saturday Night Live at the age of 20.
After playing Charlie Chaplin in the movie Chaplin (1992), he was noticed by critics as a talent. The role also earned him an Academy Award nomination.
In 1997, Downey Jr.'s issues with substance abuse became public, and though he was hired in 2000 to be in the cast of Ally McBeal, he was fired from the television show before the first season had finished.
In 2006, Downey Jr. received his first producer credit for his involvement with the film A Guide To Recognizing Your Saints. He also played the main character in the film which was based on the book of the same name by Dito Montiel.
In the mid-2000s, he appeared in the acclaimed films Good Night, and Good Luck and Zodiac. He portrayed the character of Tony Stark in the Iron Man movie, which was released May 2, 2008.
Notable Works
- 1985: Weird Science
- 1987: The Pick-up Artist
- 1987: Less Than Zero
- 1994: Natural Born Killers
- 1997: Two Girls and a Guy
- 1999: Bowfinger
- 2000: Wonder Boys
- 2003: Gothika
- 2006: A Scanner Darkly
- 2007: Zodiac
- 2008: Iron Man, Tropic Thunder
- 2009: Sherlock Holmes
Featured Video
References
Fast Facts
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Full name
Robert John Downey Jr.
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Nickname
Bob
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Born
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Origin
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Spouse
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Fact:
Received an Academy Award nomination for the film Chaplin
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Fact:
Was a cast member of Saturday Night Live for one season
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Fact:
His father, Robert Downey Sr., is a film director
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Fact:
His mother, Elsie Ford, was a singer and dancer
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Fact:
Named "Sexiest Man Alive" by Salon Magazine in November 2008
