Robert John Downey Jr.ย (born April 4, 1965), also known asย RDJ, is an American actor. A son of a filmmaker, Robert Downey Srย and one of theย highest-grossing actors of all time,ย his filmsย as a leading actor have grossed over $14 billion worldwide. In 2008, Downey was named byย Time magazine as one of theย 100 most influential people in the world, and from 2013 to 2015, he was listed byย Forbesย asย Hollywood'sย highest-paid actor. He is the recipient ofย numerous accolades, including anย Academy Award, anย Emmy Award, threeย Golden Globe Awards, twoย BAFTA Awards, and threeย Screen Actors Guild Awards.
At the age of five, Downey made his acting debut in his fatherย Robert Downey Sr.'s 1970 filmย Pound. He subsequently worked with theย Brat Packย in the teen filmsย Weird Scienceย (1985) andย Less than Zeroย (1987). Downey's portrayal ofย Charlie Chaplinย in the 1992 biopicย Chaplin earned him aย BAFTA Award for Best Actorย and his firstย Academy Awardย nomination. Following a stint at theย Corcoran Substance Abuse Treatment Facilityย on drug charges, he joined the TV seriesย Ally McBealย in 2000. He won aย Golden Globe Awardย for the role. Downey was fired from the show in 2001 in the wake of additional drug charges. He stayed in a court-ordered drug treatment program and has maintained his sobriety since 2003.
Downey made his acting comeback in the 2003 filmย The Singing Detective, afterย Mel Gibsonย paid his insurance bond, and went on to star in the black comedyย Kiss Kiss Bang Bangย (2005), the thrillerย Zodiacย (2007) and the action comedyย Tropic Thunderย (2008). He also playedย Sherlock Holmesย inย Guy Ritchie'sย Sherlock Holmesย (2009), which earned him his second Golden Globe, and inย its 2011 sequel. Downey gained global recognition for starring asย Iron Manย in tenย Marvel Cinematic Universeย films, fromย Iron Manย (2008) toย Avengers: Endgameย (2019).
Downey received acclaim for his role inย Christopher Nolan'sย Oppenheimerย (2023), winning anย Academy Award, aย Golden Globe, and aย BAFTA Awardย for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal ofย Lewis Strauss. He was nominated for aย Primetime Emmy Awardย for playing multiple characters in the black comedy miniseriesย The Sympathizerย (2024). He made hisย Broadwayย debut that year, playing the title role inย Ayad Akhtar'sย McNeal.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Robert Downey Jr., licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.