Avengers: Endgame was one of the biggest movie premiers in history and reached a height of
success that the world didn't even know was possible.
The record-breaking movie was filled with an all-star ensemble cast such as Chris Evans,
Scarlett Johansen, Mark Ruffalo, and Chris Hemsworth.
The most memorable performance, however, was delivered by Robert Downey Jr. for his amazing
portrayal as the superhero Iron Man.
Now you may find yourself wondering who Robert Downey Jr was before he was Iron Man and lucky
for you he is the star of today’s video.
Robert Downey Jr., also affectionately known by fans as RDJ, is undeniably one of the biggest
stars of Hollywood.
Born on April 4th, 1965, he is the son of Robert Downey Senior and Elise Downey who
were both already well known in Hollywood at that time.
Robert Downey Senior was a renowned writer, director, and filmography who mostly worked
in Indie films.
His mother Elise was also an actor like Robert but discontinued her work after marriage.
RDJ has one sister, Alyson Downey, who like him started acting at a young age.
Due to their already filmy background, they were both well versed with the world of Hollywood
by the time they made their debut.
Robert started acting at the age of five in his father’s movie Pound (1970).
When asked by David Letterman on his acting debut RDJ said he in fact never felt special
on sets instead just felt the kid who was roped in because he was the director’s son.
He is a trained actor and studied at acting schools around the world.
He dropped out of Santa Monica High School to move to New York and start his acting career.
RDJ is classically trained in Ballet!
Robert Downey Junior may have acted as an extra in his father’s movies, but his real
acting role was as the main character’s sidekick in the movie Turf Turf.
Interestingly enough before he was acting in movies RDJ did a stint in the infamous
Saturday Night Live where he was described by Rolling Stones magazine as the worst SNL
cast member in history.
He was dropped soon after due to the low ratings.
Robert did not get his first lead role until 1987 when he played Jack Jericho opposite
of Molly Ringwald.
He is considered to be part of the infamous brat pack, a name used to describe actors
that often stared in coming-of-age movies.
His commercial success in serious roles leads him to be cast in higher-budget films throughout
the eighties and nineties.
In 1992, he played the titular role in Chaplin which earned him an Oscar nod and cemented
his place in Hollywood.
In the years following RDJ’s career was thoroughly jeopardized due to his multiple
arrests for drug possession.
After he was released from jail he started in a TV show called Ally Mcbeal which earned
an Emmy and a Golden Globe nomination for a best supporting character.
Years following his stint in prison he played many versatile characters including the Journalist
Paul Avery in the movie Zodiac and Harry Lockhart in the thriller Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
After years of playing serious roles, RDJ found himself compelled to audition for Iron
Man where he played the titular character Tony Stark and his alter-ego Iron Man.
Director Jon Favreau mentioned that RDJ had a way of elevating the character and his innate
extravagance.
I mean come on who better to play an egotistical billionaire than Robert Downey Jr.
It is hard to believe that such a serious and well-renowned actor also has such a notorious
past.
RDJ spent a good chunk of his life in jail after being caught multiple times with drug
possession.
Most notoriously he was caught trespassing on his neighbour’s property after not appearing
for a parole meeting and fell asleep on one of their beds.
After numerous counts of missed parole meetings and court dates, he was sentenced to three
years in prison.
After his release in 2000, he was again caught with cocaine and valium after an anonymous
tip was sent from the Givenchy Hotel and spa he was staying at.
The judge ordered him to finish his sentence at a rehabilitation center, but it was no
help as he got arrested again soon after.
Don’t worry because the story has a happy ending!
Everyone loves a good comeback story and RDJ’s might be one of Hollywood’s favourites.
His sobriety journey started in 2003.
This was when he met his now-wife Susan Downey (nee Levin) asked him to choose between her
or the drugs and luckily for both of them he chose her.
Robert Downey Jr. now credits his sobriety to a 12-step program, yoga, meditation, and
therapy.
Robert Donwey Jr. is a Hollywood favorite and household name.
You will remember him from his leading roles in movies like Iron Man, Sherlock Holmes,
and Chaplin.
In all of which he played the titular roles.
Now RDJ may not be as rich as the billionaire Tony Stark but has earned a pretty penny for
his roles.
He has an estimated net worth of a whopping $300 million dollars making him one the richest
actors in Hollywood.
His role as Iron Man in the first movie earned him just $500,000 but his portrayal of the
role must have impressed Marvel executives because for Iron Man 2 and Iron Man 3 he made
$10 million and $75 million dollars respectively.
His remuneration for the Avengers franchise was nearly $205 million dollars making him
one of the highest paid actors during the run of the movies.
Part of his net worth is his impressive real estate portfolio.
It is said that he owns about $50 million in just property.
The estate he now lives in is located in Malibu, it is worth nearly $14 million dollars.
It comes with an equestrian facility and encompasses a total of seven acres.
He uses the land to rescue endangered exotic animals.
In addition to his house in sunny California he also owns a beachfront property located
on Manhattan beach as well as many commercial and residential areas in Venice, California.
After meeting on the set of Firstborn, RDJ, and the sex and the city alum Sarah Jessica
Parker immediately hit it off.
The Hollywood IT couple met when they were both 18 years old and moved in together just
after eight weeks of dating.
They broke up in 1991 after nearly eight years of being together because of Robert Downey
Junior's drug addiction and alcohol abuse.
In 2008, when recalling the relationship he stated “I liked to drink, and I had a drug
problem, and that didn’t jibe with Sarah Jessica, because it is the furthest thing
from what she is.
She provided me with a home and understanding.
She tried to help me.
She was so miffed when I didn’t get my act together.
I was in love with Sarah Jessica . . . and love clearly was not enough.”
His drug addiction not only derailed his first serious relationship but his second one too.
In 1992 he married his first wife Deborah Falconer after only dating for forty-two days.
Their first and only child, Indio Falconer Downey, was born in 1993.
During this period, RDJ spent a lot of time in rehab and jail putting a strain on his
marriage and leading to its end in 2001.
All’s well end’s well because in 2003 he met his now-wife Susan Levin on the set
of the movie Gothika.
They married after being in a relationship for two years in New York.
They have two children together, Exton Elias and Avri Roel.
Much like his character Tony Stark, Robert Downey Jr. loves his supercars.
He owns a total of nine super cars which include Audi R8, an Audi e-tron GT & an Acura NSX.
RDJ is also an advocate for living a very healthy lifestyle.
What you may not have guessed is that this superhero actor has a blackbelt in Wing Chun,
a traditional chinese martial art.
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