Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr.
Downey at the 2014 San Diego Comic Con
Born
Robert John Downey Jr.

(1965-04-04) April 4, 1965 (age 59)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • producer
Years active1970–present
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1992; div. 2004)​
​
(m. 2005)​
Partner(s)Sarah Jessica Parker
(1983–1991)
Children3
Parent

Robert John Downey Jr. (born April 4, 1965)[1] is an American actor. One of his most famous roles is Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (2008-2019). He played Lewis Strauss in the 2023 Christopher Nolan movie Oppenheimer. He won an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and BAFTA Award for this role.

Personal life

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Downey was born in Manhattan, New York City, the younger of two children. His father, Robert Downey Sr. (1936 - 2021), was an actor, writer, producer, cinematographer, and director of underground films, and his mother, Elsie (nee Ford) (1934 - 2014), was also an actress and appeared in Downey, Sr.'s movies. His paternal grandfather was of Lithuanian Jewish ancestry and his paternal grandmother was of Irish Canadian and Hungarian Jewish ancestry. His mother is of Scottish, English, German, and Swiss German ancestry.[2][3][4] His father was born "Robert Elias", and changed his last name to "Downey" (after his stepfather James Downey), when he was a minor and wanted to enlist in the Army.[3][5] He and his older sister, Allyson, grew up in Greenwich Village.[6]

Soundtrack appearances

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Year Song Soundtrack Notes
1992 "Smile" Chaplin OST On The Futurist
1993 "The Star-Spangled Banner" Heart and Souls OST With B.B. King
2000 "White Christmas" Ally McBeal: A Very Ally Christmas With Vonda Shepard
2000 "River" Ally McBeal: A Very Ally Christmas
2001 "Every Breath You Take" Ally McBeal: For Once in My Life Featuring Vonda Shepard With Sting
2001 "Chances Are" Ally McBeal: For Once in My Life Featuring Vonda Shepard With Vonda Shepard
2001 "Snakes" Ally McBeal: For Once in My Life Featuring Vonda Shepard
2003 "In My Dreams" The Singing Detective OST
2004 "In My Dreams" The Futurist
2005 "Broken" Kiss Kiss Bang Bang OST On The Futurist

Filmography

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Movie

[change | change source]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1970 Pound Puppy [7]
1972 Greaser's Palace Unnamed Quasimodo-like child [8]
1975 Moment to Moment Himself Uncredited; also co-producer
Aka Two Tons of Turquoise to Taos Tonight 		[9]
1980 Up the Academy Boy on Soccer Team Uncredited [10]
1983 Baby It's You Stewart [7]
1984 Firstborn Lee [11]
1985 Tuff Turf Jimmy Parker [12]
1985 Girls Just Want to Have Fun Punk Party Crasher Uncredited [13]
1985 Weird Science Ian [14]
1985 Deadwait Short [15]
1986 Back to School Derek Lutz [14]
1987 The Pick-up Artist Jack Jericho [14]
1987 Less Than Zero Julian Wells [11]
1988 Johnny Be Good Leo Wiggins [14]
1988 Rented Lips Wolf Dangler [14]
1988 1969 Ralph Karr [14]
1989 That's Adequate Albert Einstein [16]
1989 True Believer Roger Baron [14]
1989 Chances Are Alex Finch [17]
1990 Air America Billy Covington [18]
1991 Too Much Sun Reed Richmond [19]
1991 Soapdish David Seton Barnes [20]
1992 Chaplin Charlie Chaplin [21]
1993 Heart and Souls Thomas Reilly [22]
1993 The Last Party Himself Also writer [23]
1993 Short Cuts Bill Bush [24]
1994 Hail Caesar Jerry [25]
1994 Natural Born Killers Wayne Gale [26]
1994 Only You Peter Wright / Damon Bradley [27]
1995 Richard III Earl Rivers [28]
1995 Home for the Holidays Tommy Larson [29]
1995 Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree Mr. Willowby [30]
1995 Restoration Robert Merivel [31]
1997 Danger Zone Jim Scott [32]
1997 One Night Stand Charlie [33]
1997 Two Girls and a Guy Blake Allen [34]
1997 Hugo Pool Franz Mazur [35]
1998 The Gingerbread Man Clyde Pell [36]
1998 U.S. Marshals Special Agent John Royce [18]
1999 In Dreams Vivian Thompson [37]
1999 Friends & Lovers Hans [38]
1999 Bowfinger Jerry Renfro [39]
1999 Black and White Terry Donager [40]
2000 Wonder Boys Terry Crabtree [41]
2002 Lethargy Animal therapist Short [42]
2003 Whatever We Do Bobby Short [43]
2003 The Singing Detective Dan Dark [11]
2003 Charlie: The Life and Art of Charles Chaplin Charles Chaplin [44]
2003 Gothika Pete Graham [45]
2004 Eros Nick Penrose Segment: "Equilibrium" [46]
2005 Game 6 Steven Schwimmer [47]
2005 Kiss Kiss Bang Bang Harry Lockhart [18]
2005 The Outsider Himself Documentary [48]
2005 Good Night, and Good Luck Joseph Wershba [49]
2005 Hubert Selby Jr Narrator Documentary [50]
2006 A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints Dito Montiel Also co-producer [51]
2006 The Shaggy Dog Dr. Kozak [52]
2006 A Scanner Darkly James Barris [53]
2006 Fur Lionel Sweeney [54]
2007 Zodiac Paul Avery [55]
2007 Lucky You Telephone Jack Cameo [36]
2008 Charlie Bartlett Principal Nathan Gardner [56]
2008 Iron Man Tony Stark / Iron Man [57]
2008 The Incredible Hulk Post-credits scene [58]
2008 Tropic Thunder Kirk Lazarus / Sgt. Lincoln Osiris [18]
2009 The Soloist Steve Lopez [59]
2009 Sherlock Holmes Sherlock Holmes [18]
2010 Iron Man 2 Tony Stark / Iron Man [60]
2010 Love & Distrust Rob Segment: "Auto Motives" [61]
2010 Due Date Peter Highman [62]
2011 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Sherlock Holmes [63]
2012 The Avengers Tony Stark / Iron Man [64]
2013 Iron Man 3 [65]
2014 Chef Marvin [66]
2014 The Judge Hank Palmer Also executive producer [18]
2015 Avengers: Age of Ultron Tony Stark / Iron Man [65]
2016 Captain America: Civil War [65]
2017 Spider-Man: Homecoming [67]
2018 Avengers: Infinity War
2019 Avengers: Endgame
2020 Dolittle Dr. Dolittle
2021 Black Widow Tony Stark /Iron Man
2021 All-Star Weekend Mexican Post-production

Television

[change | change source]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1985 Saturday Night Live Cast member 18 episodes [14]
1985 Mussolini: The Untold Story Bruno Mussolini Mini-series [68]
1996 Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "Robert Downey Jr./Fiona Apple" [69]
2000–02 Ally McBeal Larry Paul 25 episodes [70]
2005 Family Guy Patrick Pewterschmidt (voice) Episode: "The Fat Guy Strangler" [69]
2021 What If...? Tony Stark /Iron Man Guest star
Recording voice acting

Video game

[change | change source]
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2008 Iron Man Tony Stark Iron Man's dialogue filled in by Stephen Stanton [71]
2014 Iron Man 3: The Official Game

References

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  1. ↑ "Robert Downey Jr. Biography". The Biography Channel. Retrieved April 26, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Robert Downey, Jr". 26 December 2007.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Diamond, Jamie. (December 20, 1992). "FILM; Robert Downey Jr. Is Chaplin (on Screen) and a Child (Off)". New York Times.
  4. ↑ Stated on Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., PBS, April 22, 2012
  5. ↑ "Rosemary Rogers, Robert Downey". New York Times. May 10, 1998. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Actor's toughest role". CNN. 2004. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lily Rothman (1 July 2014). "Robert Downey Jr.'s First-Ever Movie Appearance Was Pretty Absurd". Time. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  8. ↑ Paul Green (2009). Encyclopedia of Weird Western: Supernatural and Science Fiction Elements in Novels, Pulps, Comics, Films, Television, and Games. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., Publishers. p. 103. ISBN 978-0-7864-4390-1.
  9. ↑ Stuart Klawans (29 August 2008). "The Resurrection of a Renegade's Scotch-Tape Films". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  10. ↑ Erickson, Hal (2012). Military Comedy Films: A Critical Survey and Filmography of Hollywood Releases Since 1918. Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Co., Publishers. p. 261. ISBN 978-0-7864-6290-2.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Robert Downey Jr. Credits". TV Guide. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  12. ↑ Steve Davis (25 January 1985). "Tuff Turf". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  13. ↑ Jessica Roake (20 September 2013). "How 1985's Girls Just Want to Have Fun Set the Template for All Future Dance Movies". Vulture. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 Lynn Hirschberg (19 May 1988). "Robert Downey Jr.'s Weird Science of Acting". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 29 August 2014.[permanent dead link]
  15. ↑ "Deadwait (1985)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 29 April 2015. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  16. ↑ Riper, A. Bowdoin Van (2011). A Biographical Encyclopedia of Scientists and Inventors in American Film and TV since 1930. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield Pub. Group. p. 200. ISBN 978-0-8108-8129-7.
  17. ↑ Roger Ebert (10 March 1989). "Chances Are Movie Review & Film Summary". Roger Ebert. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 18.5 Chris Heath (April 2013). "Profile: Robert Downey Jr". GQ. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  19. ↑ Vincent Canby (25 January 1991). "Too Much Sun (1990) Review/Film; When You're Gay But Must Beget an Heir". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  20. ↑ Roger Ebert (31 May 1991). "Soapdish Movie Review & Film Summary". Roger Ebert. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  21. ↑ Jamie Diamond (20 December 1992). "FILM; Robert Downey Jr. Is Chaplin (on Screen) and a Child (Off)". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  22. ↑ Ty Burr (13 August 1993). "Heart and Souls (1993)". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  23. ↑ Chris Heath (April 2013). "Robert Downey Jr: 21 Years Ago". GQ. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  24. ↑ Peter Travers (3 October 1993). "Short Cuts". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  25. ↑ "Hail Caesar (1994)". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  26. ↑ Britt Hayes. "See the Cast of 'Natural Born Killers' Then and Now". Screen Crush. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  27. ↑ Roger Ebert (7 October 1994). "Only You Movie Review & Film Summary (1994)". Roger Ebert. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  28. ↑ Owen Gleiberman (19 January 1996). "Richard III Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  29. ↑ Roger Ebert (3 November 1995). "Home for The Holidays Movie Review (1995)". Roger Ebert. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  30. ↑ Lawrie Mifflin (26 November 1995). "Signoff;They're Not All Just Merry Little Reruns". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  31. ↑ Alex von Tunzelmann (6 September 2012). "Doctor, doctor, can anyone save Robert Downey Jr's Restoration?". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  32. ↑ "Danger Zone Review". Entertainment Weekly. 17 January 1997. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  33. ↑ Tim Robey. "Wesley Snipes interview: 'Robert Downey Jr called me for advice about Iron Man" (9 August 2014). The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  34. ↑ Paul Tatara (26 May 1998). "Review: Downey scores with 'Two Girls and a Guy'". CNN. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  35. ↑ Jack Mathews (12 December 1997). "'Hugo Pool' Doesn't Reflect Well on Downeys Jr. and Sr". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 Peter Howell (27 August 2014). "Robert Downey Jr. returns to TIFF as its leading man". Toronto Star. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  37. ↑ Roger Ebert (15 January 1999). "In Dreams Movie Review & Film Review (1999)". Roger Ebert. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  38. ↑ Roger Ebert (30 April 1999). "Friends & Lovers Movie Review". Roger Ebert. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  39. ↑ Nick Clement (22 August 1999). "Murphy Never Better Than In Oz's 'Bowfinger'". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  40. ↑ Roger Ebert (5 April 2000). "Black and White Movie Review & Film Summary (2000)". Roger Ebert. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  41. ↑ Kevin West (March 2007). "Robert Downey, Jr? Call Him Mr. Clean". W. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  42. ↑ Francesca Gilberti (9 March 2012). "A Visual Feast: An Interview with the Director of Jiro Dreams of Sushi". Vogue. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  43. ↑ Arthur Bovino (31 July 2005). "A Leap of Faith Produces a Do-It-Yourself First Album". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  44. ↑ "Charlie: The Life & Art of Charles Chaplin Saturday, August 2". TCM. Archived from the original on 16 August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  45. ↑ Tatiana Morales (21 November 2003). "Robert Downey Jr.'s 'Gothika'". CBS News. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  46. ↑ Roger Ebert (8 April 2005). "Eros Movie Review & Film Summary". Roger Ebert. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  47. ↑ Randy Laist (2010). Technology and Postmodern Subjectivity in Don DeLillo's Novels. New York: Peter Lang. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-4331-0841-9.
  48. ↑ Jason Guerrasio (16 June 2006). "Agent Provocateur". Filmmaker Magazine. Retrieved 12 May 2013.
  49. ↑ Roger Ebert (20 October 2005). "Good Night, and Good Luck Movie Review". Roger Ebert. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  50. ↑ Lisa Nesselson (14 September 2005). "Review: 'Hubert Selby Jr.: It/ll Be Better Tomorrow'". Variety. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  51. ↑ A. O. Scott (29 September 2006). "The Old Neighborhood Never Looked So Grim". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  52. ↑ Roger Ebert (9 March 2006). "The Shaggy Dog Movie Review". Roger Ebert. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  53. ↑ Manohla Dargis (7 July 2006). "'A Scanner Darkly': Keanu Reeves, Undercover and Flying High on a Paranoid Head Trip". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  54. ↑ Jim Emerson (16 November 2006). "Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus". Roger Ebert. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  55. ↑ Paul Harris (14 April 2007). "So Who Was the Zodiac Killer?". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  56. ↑ Stephen Holden (22 February 2008). "High School's the Same; the Drugs Have Changed". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  57. ↑ Graeme McMillan (15 November 2013). "Terrence Howard Accuses Robert Downey Jr. of 'Iron Man' Sabotage". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  58. ↑ Eric Eisenberg (2 August 2011). "New Marvel Short Film Explains The End Of The Incredible Hulk". Cinema Blend. Archived from the original on 14 September 2014. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  59. ↑ Will Lawrence (14 September 2009). "Robert Downey Jr on The Soloist". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  60. ↑ Todd Leopold (23 July 2014). "More 'Iron Man'? Sounds good to me, Robert Downey Jr. says". CNN. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  61. ↑ Matt Goldberg (2010). "False Advertising: Poster for Love & Distrust "Starring" Robert Pattinson, Robert Downey Jr., and Sam Worthington". Collider. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  62. ↑ Brad Wete (15 July 2010). "Robert Downey Jr. and Zach Galifianakis comedy 'Due Date': Can We Be Part of this Wolf Pack?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  63. ↑ A.O. Scott (15 December 2011). "Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows – Review (2011)". The New York Times. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  64. ↑ Kevin Noonan (28 August 2014). "Robert Downey Jr. Calls 'Guardians of the Galaxy' the Best Marvel Movie Yet". Variety. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  65. ↑ 65.0 65.1 65.2 Anthony Breznican (22 July 2014). "Robert Downey Jr. on 'Iron Man 4': 'Why Give Up the Belt?'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  66. ↑ Inkoo Kang (7 May 2014). "'Chef' Review: Jon Favreau Cooks for Himself, But Where's the Flavor?". The Wrap. Archived from the original on 8 March 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2014.
  67. ↑ Kit, Borys (21 April 2016). "Robert Downey Jr. Joins 'Spider-Man: Homecoming'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 21 April 2016.
  68. ↑ Miki Turner (18 November 2000). "'Ally' Creator Hopes Downey Jr. Helps Ratings". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on 11 April 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  69. ↑ 69.0 69.1 Megh Wright (21 February 2012). "Saturday Night's Children: Robert Downey Jr. (1985-1986)". Split Sider. Archived from the original on 5 April 2016. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  70. ↑ Steve Vineberg (18 March 2001). "Television/Radio; Delivering Something Real To 'Ally McBeal'". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  71. ↑ "Iron Man Video Game Cast Revealed!". Marvel. 21 March 2008. Retrieved 29 August 2014.

Other websites

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