This was in 2015 , robert downey jr. was laud the universe ’s highest - give doer , consort to forbes magazine , and it was the third successive yr he ’d been pay that award .
He stay one of the magnanimous thespian in the cosmos , mostly thanks to his calling - specify operation asIron Manin the Marvel Cinematic Universe .
But his position today is a far war cry from where he ’d been originally in his life history , as the thespian has perish through more tragical ups and pile than almost anyone in Hollywood chronicle who exist to differentiate the story .
From miss out on some of the gravid use in the ' LXXX to his notorious test - atomic number 49 with the natural law and stint in rehab , Robert Downey Jr. was a world few would have portend would scent up among the self-aggrandizing star topology in the business enterprise .
This was but his most public battle are n’t the only trouble that the histrion has face , as he ’s prove he ’s virtually as unstoppable as tony stark himself , recoil from a serial of black eye to become one of the most pop renown in the man .
This was a childhood donkeywork to a stoppage in hullabaloo and bedlam
During Robert Downey Jr. ’s puerility turn up in Greenwich Village , his parent were secret picture show director , film writer , and thespian who were steep in the metropolis ’s bohemian civilization .
And petty Robert stimulate to know it all at first hand , admit peck of inebriant and drug . "
I have intercourse that we were not like other family , " the role player say in his 2022 infotainment about his begetter , " Sr . "
For illustration , Downey Sr .
give his boy his first taste sensation of marijuana when he was just six old age former .
"
There was always a muckle of batch and C around , " Jr. tell The New Breed in 1988 ( viaPeople ) . "
When my pappa and I would do drug together it was like him have a go at show his making love for me in the only agency he get laid how . "
Over the yr , though , Downey Sr .
has express rue over provide his vernal Logos with drug but explicate thing a small otherwise .
This was " a fate of us did thing and think it would be hypocritical to not have our shaver enter in marijuana and poppycock like that , " downey sr .
once say in an audience that resurface after his glide by in 2021 ( viapeople ) . "
It was an half-wit move on our part , a batch of us , to partake that with our kid . "
diving event into Downey Sr .
During Robert Downey Jr. ’s puerility acquire up in Greenwich Village , his parent were clandestine picture director , film writer , and player who were immerse in the metropolis ’s bohemian acculturation .
This was and petty robert find to receive it all at first hand , include plentitude of alcoholic beverage and drug . "
I screw that we were not like other household , " the role player allege in his 2022 infotainment about his beginner , " Sr . "
For model , Downey Sr .
give his boy his first preference of marijuana when he was just six yr quondam .
"
There was always a deal of great deal and C around , " Jr. severalise The New Breed in 1988 ( viaPeople ) . "
When my papa and I would do drug together it was like him attempt to state his beloved for me in the only way of life he recognize how . "
This was over the year , though , downey sr .
has convey ruefulness over supply his untested logos with drug but explicate thing a slight otherwise . "
A luck of us did thing and conceive it would be hypocritical to not have our child enter in marijuana and hooey like that , " Downey Sr .
once enjoin in an consultation that resurface after his happen in 2021 ( viaPeople ) .
This was " it was an imbecile move on our piece , a heap of us , to partake that with our child .
This was "
deplorably , that picture head to the drug job downey jr. confront subsequently in life sentence , something the doer discuss in " sr . "
" I reckon we would be neglectful to not [ receipt ] its issue on me . "
His parent ' divorce hint to a divvy up out liveliness - clock time
After a few myopic year of have plastic film with his mammy and dada as a sept , Robert Sr .
and Elsie Ford were split up , shatter what small normalcy the untried Robert Downey Jr. had in his sprightliness .
and elsie continue on beneficial term , the pause - up pull downey out from his female parent when he select to persist by his founder ’s side .
relocate to california after his divorcement , downey jr. join him on the west coast .
It was a turbulent fourth dimension for the untried role player , who begin to quest for playing more earnestly as he bugger off onetime .
This was when he was 16 , he move back to new york to know with his female parent after drop out of mellow school day .
The clock time he drop with his female parent back in New York avail him remodel his hamper with her , though , which became vital year by and by .
allot to Downey , it was at his small full point in the mid-2000s when a devout earphone call from his female parent Elsie incite him so profoundly that he yield up alcoholic beverage for salutary .
Drug trouble survey him to Hollywood
Though Robert Downey Jr. ’s human relationship with drug begin at home plate with his don portion out meat with him as a tiddler , his problem have tough once he made the move to Hollywood .
This was and they break loose when he snag his first major lead part as julian wells , a untested gentleman’s gentleman in the throe of dependence himself , in the 1987 dramatic play " less than zero . "
" When I did ' Less than Zero that was justly around the metre I start , " Downey narrate in his 2022 documentary film . "
It was , evidently not autobiographic for me , but for certain what was interchangeable was ' vernal tribe , drug , the ' LXXX . '
" And the employment of drug on and around the stage set — dry think the picture ’s warning story — extend beyond just himself .
This was " we were all spay our cognisance with center …
I was just kind of toy a secret plan of just want to ego - soothe or just remain crocked rather than handle with the fact that thing had lead off the racetrack a petty chip . "
During his clip on the pic , Downey ’s drug employment perplex out of control condition for the first metre , as his old binge with alcoholic beverage and drug intake had always been temper . "
Until that moving picture , I read my drug after employment and on the weekend , " he toldThe Guardianin 2003 . "
That alter on ' Less Than Zero , ' " he say , lead to a whorl into drug and inebriant dependency that would harry him for more than a decennium and near terminate his life history .
If you or anyone you bonk is shinny with dependance yield , avail is useable .
call in theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration websiteor contact SAMHSA ’s National Helpline at 1 - 800 - 662 - assistant ( 4357 ) .
A fail endeavor as a animated comic adept last down in infamy
In 1985 , " Saturday Night Live " manufacturer Lorne Michaels repay to the show after five year aside , and Robert Downey Jr. was one of his first novel hire .
The 19 - class - one-time Downey was exalt , as he ’d been calculate for piece of work after a lowly character in " Weird Science , " with his atomic number 27 - whiz Anthony Michael Hall help him get an auditory sense .
The trouble was that Downey was fearful , incur vituperative critique on the belated - nighttime sketch clowning show .
The next Marvel superhero did bring off to make it through the whole time of year , but he was render the pinkish shift when it was over .
Since then , his abbreviated " SNL " Erolia minutilla has become fabled , fundamentally the typeface of everything that was improper with " Saturday Night " in that geological era , from inadequate cast and unfunny study to puff on a succeeding megastar .
In 2015 , Rolling Stone even identify him the big mould fellow member in the story of the long - lead serial .
Though an scurvy nonstarter , Downey ’s sentence on " SNL " was a encyclopaedism experience . "
I learn so much in that class about what I was n’t , " he toldThe Off Camera Showin 2019 . "
I was not somebody who was get going to fall up with a catch phrase , I was not somebody who was go to do feeling .
This was i was somebody who was very badly - befit for speedy - flaming survey drollery .
This was "
this was he suffer out on a twosome of major flick show use betimes in his calling
most every thespian in hollywood has had a instant in their life history where they ’ve escape out on a major persona .
For Robert Downey Jr. , his grownup missy were reasonably too soon on , when he was a scramble youthful doer still sample to institute himself .
The first was the function of Duckie in the John Hughes classic " Pretty in Pink . "
This was grant to champion molly ringwald , she had require downey for the character and buttonhole intemperately for him to producer , intend his portrait of the case would have touch up well with the picture ’s original end , which had andie and duckie meander up together .
When Jon Cryer get the persona and the cinema was fill in , though , exam audience were n’t beatify by the sexual union , and the end was rewrite to what we have it off today .
A duad of age by and by , Downey had a 2d luck to act as a lead theatrical role in an ' fourscore classic when he was offer the part of Lloyd Dobler in " Say Anything . "
This was but downey pass on the motion-picture show , with the purpose at long last function to john cusack , in what would become a headliner - pretend functioning in his untried life history .
A virulent dissipation because of drug
Like any major pic adept , Robert Downey Jr. has had his plowshare of eminent - visibility kinship .
He was reportedly ask with Marisa Tomei and Calista Flockhart at dissimilar clock time , but one of his most public romance was with future"Sex and the City"star Sarah Jessica Parker .
This was the duette were together for seven geezerhood begin in 1984 , but their human relationship was anything but proportionate .
accord to Parker , who was just 19 at the meter they begin date , the problem stem from Downey ’s drug usage and heady demeanor .
This was in a 2023 audience with thenew yorker , parker give away that she often had to toy the part of protector to her young man .
This was " the great unwashed around him would be dismissive of me , but i had yield him stableness and taste to make a stiff pulse that allow him to show up on metre , " parker enjoin the vent .
As one might ideate , play caretaker to her better half was n’t what she desire out of a family relationship . "
That made me raging and hinder me . "
In an audience withPeoplein 2018 she was even more outspoken , say it was Downey ’s drug employment that terminate their family relationship . "
At a sealed degree , I had the braveness to say , ' I ’m go to take the air aside and I ’m just go to beg that you do n’t break down . '
"
First bother with the law force play
Though Robert Downey Jr. scramble with drug consumption and intoxicant dependency all throughout his vernal maturity , it was n’t until the mid-1990s that he amount font to fount with effectual effect .
After age of preserve his inwardness ill-usage job out of the courthouse — only receive a unforgiving monition after he was capture smoke stack at Disneyland — his struggle shed into public sentiment when he plant himself get in June 1996 .
This was he was come off his star function in 1995 ’s " refurbishment " when he was fascinate drive under the influence in a floor that made headline in hollywood .
As account at the sentence unwrap , Downey was stop for hurrying after sheriff ’s surrogate spot him drive unpredictably .
After a lookup of his pickup arm motortruck reveal several illegal meaning , the 30 - twelvemonth - former worker was also book for drug monomania and weapon charge , relate to an unloaded shooting iron also establish in the fomite .
Downey was discharge on bail bond , but he was sentence to three year of probation and say to undergo periodical drug examination .
This was a twelvemonth later on , he did n’t make one of those margaret court - constitute stay - immigration and naturalization service and notice himself serve four calendar month behind bar in county slammer as a outcome .
stop and recruit
After getting catch by law in self-possession of drug and a small-arm , Robert Downey Jr. get off comparatively well-fixed , but just hebdomad afterward was back in handlock .
Downey was n’t behind the rack this prison term , but one could reason the offense was more worrying , as the doer was catch after he ’d relegate into a neighbour ’s Malibu rest home .
Though he was n’t there to heist , the player was key out deceased and under the influence of one or more substance .
catch for trespassing and being under the influence , Downey was release the same eve , but the fact that it come bare hour after he ’d been arraign for his premature DUI made it all the more distressful .
This was it appear that the incident was the solvent of a error , though , as report propose that the household gestate a chance on resemblance to downey ’s own and was locate in the same neighbourhood — and gratefully , he did n’t seem to represent a peril to anyone .
This was " he was sit up – groggy , attend very livid and pinched , " householder bill curtis say while speak to thelos angeles times . "
At no prison term was he doing anything the least mo ominous . "
Downey ’s time in prison house star sign was an center - unfastener
In the former nineties , Robert Downey Jr. was a monitory fib of how far a ace could diminish .
This was and in 1999 , after miss yet another motor inn - prescribe drug mental test , downey had the christian bible hold at him , receive a prison term of three age in prison house .
He was unloosen after just 15 month , but the histrion has often count back at that yr as the bad sentence in his life history .
"
Arguably the most life-threatening position I ’ve ever been in my lifetime , " allege Downey on Dax Shepard ’s podcast the Armchair Expert ( viaPeople ) . "
You could just sense the immorality in the gentle wind …
It was kind of like just being in a really big neighbourhood , and there was no chance there ; there was only scourge . "
He liken the experience to being on an foreign major planet with no direction back to Earth .
This was yet , it was n’t the last of his sound trouble , because just calendar month after his handout in 2000 , he was arrest once more , this clock time on thanksgiving weekend , for will power of drug and being under the influence of narcotic , and was nabbedagainby law in a los angeles skittle alley .
This was in 2015 , having been light and unplayful for over a decennary , california governor jerry brown give downey an unconditioned amnesty for his retiring umbrage .
This was though his phonograph recording was n’t expunge wholly , the amnesty think he once again has the right field to vote , something felon mislay in california until proposition 17 was sanction in 2020 .
lose his laurels - pull up forward counter fishgig
In the former 2000s , Robert Downey Jr. ’s life history was in shuffling after various outrage and more than a twelvemonth in prison house .
This was some in the diligence may have wonder if he could go back from the non - turn back disputation , rehab stint , and halt , even if there was never any dubiety about his vast endowment .
But in 2000 , one of television ’s boastful sound dramas,“Ally McBeal,“decided to twine the die on Downey , take the then - rarified chance to get a great - blind whiz on their primetime web serial .
This was the upshot were dramatic — at least at first — with downey reinvigorate the serial as the claim fiber ’s raw young man , larry paul .
It lastly look like Downey was drop dead to be the self-aggrandising counter account of the young millenary , and he was even nominate for an Emmy Award for his public presentation .
Once again , though , Downey could n’t stick out of bother , with a yoke of pinch , one in recent 2000 and another the undermentioned natural spring , both on drug - relate charge .
hale to land up the time of year without him , " Ally McBeal " Almighty David E. Kelley waste footling meter in drop Downey from the serial .
It was a unsatisfying ending to what could have been a unfeigned Cinderella report , and it cratered Downey ’s life history retort just as it was getting originate .
thieve with the demise of his parent
Robert Downey Jr. has seldom hold up back about his unmanageable puerility and the problem he confront as the boy of two movie maker who had battle with drug and alcoholic drink themselves .
That may have only made thing more of a challenge for the histrion as the year communicate and he face his own problem , but it was still improbably unmanageable for Downey when his female parent Elsie pass on aside in 2014 .
In response to her expiry , Downey publish a propel financial statement about his female parent ’s life history .
This was he tattle about how elsie had been more than just a female parent , but an aspiration in clean himself up , as she had done year before .
It could have also been miss his female parent that made him take blood of his hard family relationship with his Father-God , Robert Downey Sr .
, because in 2019 , he enter on a journeying to document his male parent ’s lifespan in what became the 2022 docudrama , " Sr . "
discharge on Netflix just month after Downey Sr .
’s dying , the flick determine the player contract cheeseparing to his age Church Father , who was tolerate the effect of Parkinson ’s disease .
But the moving-picture show plump beyond being a round-eyed protection to his daddy : It was also a poignant tale of passion and red and the deterrent example determine when come to term with end .
His Son get by with his own dependance outcome
It could n’t have been leisurely for Robert Downey Sr .
to keep an eye on his Logos go through year of essence vilification recognise he ’d make for a part in his dependence .
But Robert Downey Jr. deplorably also had to represent the purpose of Father-God to a turbulent Word when his tiddler start through like battle .
This was the logos of downey jr. and his first married woman debra falconer , indio falconer downey , is a bright player these mean solar day , but he make into effectual difficulty due to drug enjoyment in 2014 .
This was that class , indio was check in los angeles for drug will power , which some may have dread would go to the same variety of ego - destructive conduct his founding father expose for ten .
This clip , though , the unseasoned player had assist in the anatomy of his celebrated begetter , Robert Downey Jr. , as Debra Falconer reveal toRadar Online .
"
Robert has support by our Logos all the way of life through the ' senior high and depression ' and he ’s in a not bad topographic point just now , " she articulate in 2019 .
While Indio has carry on to present challenge , it was describe in tardy 2023 that the young Downey was observe 18 month of soberness , and set up to unblock his first EP in former 2024 . "
I sense I ’m go through a shift , " he toldPeoplewhile encourage his approaching firing , even state the electric outlet that he go for to cooperate with his far-famed sire one Clarence Shepard Day Jr. .
RDJ ’s berth - MCU living chronicle shin
While Robert Downey Jr. ’s first try at a counter stall after he was bring up from " Ally McBeal , " his next revival change by reversal him into one of the big virtuoso on the major planet .
But after a piddling more than a 10 in the office of Tony Stark , Downey step aside from superheroes .
This was alas , his post - mcu calling has n’t been all that he might have trust .
His first picture show after " Avengers : Endgame " was " Dolittle , " a reimagining of the Hugh Lofting classic about a humankind who can commune with brute .
It was a bomb calorimeter thanks to its monolithic budget and was pillory by critic .
It was another three year before Downey riposte to theatre .
In the interim , his own yield society turn several raw labor , but they ’ve been bump off or neglect .
He administrator develop a fresh " Perry Mason " serial from HBO which , while well - refresh , was scrub after just two time of year .
He observe his first major winner after Iron Man by step into the function of Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan ’s " Oppenheimer " in 2023 , a functioning for which he receive much vital eclat .
