ACTOR · BORN 1965
Robert Downey Jr.
- Born
- 4 April 1965
- Known for
- The Incredible Hulk (2008), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), Iron Man (2008), Oppenheimer (2023)
46 archived facts 6 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Robert Downey Jr. (born 4 April 1965) is an actor best known for The Incredible Hulk, Avengers: Infinity War and Iron Man.
Robert Downey Jr. over the years
46 Interesting Facts About Robert Downey Jr.
Interesting Facts (3)
- #001
According to an interview he gave to Newsweek in February 2009, when Downey went to Japan for their opening of Iron Man (2008), he was detained on entry because Japanese authorities ran his passport and found it linked to some incredible criminal activity (namely Downey's multiple arrests and incarcerations on drug-related charges in the 1990s and 2000s). For failing to disclose these convictions, Downey was interrogated for six hours and was almost barred from entry into Japan. It was finally decided that he could enter Japan for the Iron Man premiere but he is never to be allowed into Japan again.
- #002
- #003
Production Story (5)
- #004
- #005
Kevin Feige considered him for the role of Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four (2005), before the late Julian McMahon was ultimately cast. Downey would later be cast as the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), Avengers: Doomsday (2026), and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).
- #006
- #007
- #008
Behind the Scenes (6)
- #009
He has worn lifts at his directors' requests in his recent leading man roles, namely Iron Man (2008) and its sequel and in Sherlock Holmes (2009), in order to enhance his height.
- #010
He starred in Elton John's music video for the song "I Want Love". Downey was let out of rehab for one day in late July specifically to shoot the video (which was filmed in one long continuous take at Greystone Manor in Beverly Hills). This was Downey's first work since being fired from the television series Ally McBeal (1997) in April 2001.
- #011
- #012
- #013
- #014
Starred in Elton John's music video for the song "I Want Love". Downey was let out of rehab for one day in late July specifically to shoot the video (which was filmed in one long continuous take at Greystone Manor in Beverly Hills). This was Downey's first work since being fired from the television series Ally McBeal (1997) in April 2001.
Characters & Cast (3)
- #015
- #016
- #017
Kevin Feige considered him for the role of Victor Von Doom/Doctor Doom in Fantastic Four (2005), before the late Julian McMahon was ultimately cast. Downey would later be cast as the character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025), Avengers: Doomsday (2026), and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).
Career & Awards (10)
- #018
- #019
During the promotion of Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), he famously walked out of an interview with Krishnan Guru-Murthy when pressed about his "dark" past because he felt it was inappropriate that children would be watching. He told Howard Stern he would leave again if that ever happened in the future.
- #020
Has played the role of Tony Stark/Iron Man a total of ten times: Iron Man (2008), The Incredible Hulk (2008) in a cameo, Iron Man 2 (2010), The Avengers (2012), Iron Man 3 (2013), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) in a small role, Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019). Six of those ten films grossed over $1 billion at the worldwide box office.
- #021
- #022
- #023
He is the first regular cast member of Saturday Night Live (1975) to be nominated for an Academy Award in the category of Best Actor in a Leading Role. Joan Cusack and Dan Aykroyd were also nominated for Academy Awards some years before Downey, but both were nominated for supporting roles.
Robert Downey Jr.: Robert Downey, behind the scenesImage: Wikimedia Commons · Photo by Sgt. Michael Connors, Public domain - #024
Downey enjoyed working with the director of the Elton John music video - contemporary artist Sam Taylor-Johnson - so much that he suggested that they work together again on an art piece. The result was an art video called "Pietà", made in the manner of Michelangelo's famous Pietà sculpture in Rome. It was included in Sam Taylor-Johnson's exhibition "Mute" at the White Cube 2 art gallery in London, November 23 to January 12, 2002.
- #025
- #026
- #027
Downey re-arrested on drugs and weapons charges in Palm Springs, California, at the luxurious Merv Griffin resort, after an anonymous tip to police. Downey was found alone, with cocaine and methamphetamines. He cooperated with police, spent the night in jail, and was released the next morning on $15,000.00 bail. Downey had been on a career upswing with his successful stint on Ally McBeal (1997), and his upcoming stage performance as Hamlet, set for January 2001 in Los Angeles, to be directed by his friend Mel Gibson.
Life & Family (19)
- #028
- #029
Downey was re-arrested on drugs and weapons charges in Palm Springs, California, at the luxurious Merv Griffin resort, after an anonymous tip to police. Downey was found alone, with cocaine and methamphetamines. He cooperated with police, spent the night in jail, and was released the next morning on $15,000.00 bail. Downey had been on a career upswing with his successful stint on Ally McBeal (1997), and his upcoming stage performance as Hamlet, set for January 2001 in Los Angeles, to be directed by his friend Mel Gibson.
- #030
- #031
- #032
- #033
- #034
Downey's lawyers petitioned the State Court of Appeals in Los Angeles, stating that Downey had already served enough time because the Malibu judge had made errors in calculating his sentence. The judge had not given credit for the several times Downey spent in lockdown rehab units and in pre-sentencing confinement. Downey's lawyers claimed that he should have been released in February 2000.
- #035
According to an interview he gave to Newsweek in February 2009, when Downey went to Japan for the opening of Iron Man (2008), he was detained on entry because Japanese authorities ran his passport and found it linked to some incredible criminal activity (namely Downey's multiple arrests and incarcerations on drug-related charges in the 1990s and 2000s). For failing to disclose these convictions, Downey was interrogated for six hours and was almost barred from entry into Japan. It was finally decided that he could enter Japan for the Iron Man premiere but he is never to be allowed into Japan again.
- #036
- #037
- #038
- #039
- #040
- #041
After Downey committed three probation violations for drug and alcohol abuse in a three-year span since he was spared a prison sentence and placed on probation, Malibu Judge Lawrence Mira stated that he was out of options. He said he was sentencing Downey to prison to save his life, because Downey would not take on the responsibility of refraining from alcohol and drug use on his own. The judge invoked the three-year state prison sentence that had been suspended in 1996. Downey spent two weeks at a state prison reception center in Wasco, California, for orientation. On August 25, 1999, he was transferred to a Department of Corrections prison named SATF (Substance Abuse Treatment Facility) for drug-dependent prisoners in Corcoran, California. His scheduled release date was November 2, 2000. SATF is across the street from the other Corcoran prison, where inmates were shot to death in the exercise yard during fights in the 1990s. Downey's lawyers approached the Malibu judge several times in the last 11 months to request Downey's release, but the judge refused.
- #042
- #043
In order to get over his drug addiction, he began studying Wing Chun in 2003 under Sifu Eric Oram, who served as a fight and martial arts consultant on Guy Ritchie's Sherlock Holmes (2009).
- #044
During the promotion of Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), famously walked out of an interview with Krishnan Guru-Murthy when pressed about his "dark" past because he felt it was inappropriate that children would be watching. He told Howard Stern he would leave again if that ever happened in the future.
- #045
During traffic stop for speeding, he was arrested for drunk driving, possession of heroin, and possession of an unloaded pistol in his pickup truck. This was his first reported brush with the law at age 31. He was given a suspended prison sentence of three years, and granted probation with requirements of random drug testing and drug counselling.
- #046
Related pages
- Zodiac — Robert Downey Jr. comes up in the facts on that page
- Captain America: The Winter Soldier — Robert Downey Jr. comes up in the facts on that page
- Deadpool & Wolverine — Robert Downey Jr. comes up in the facts on that page
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Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
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