▲He is the son of director Robert Downey Sr. and actress Elsie Downey. His mother passed away in 2014, and his father recently passed in 2021. In 2022, the documentary 'Sr.' was released, in which RDJ pays homage to his father.

▲The actor's parents divorced when he was just 11 years old.

▲Downey Jr.'s family name used to be Elias, but his dad changed it legally to Downey in the 1950s.

▲His first acting role came at the age of five. The actor appeared in a movie directed by his father, called 'Pound' (1970).

▲Throughout his childhood, Robert Downey Jr. traveled and lived in various places, including New York, London, and Santa Monica.

▲The actor went to the Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center in New York, and studied at Santa Monica High School, California.

▲Downey Jr. left high school in Santa Monica at the age of 17 to become an actor. He moved back to New York to live with his mother.

▲At the age of 20, he landed his first acting role on the comedy team of 'Saturday Night Live.' One year later, however, he was fired due to low viewing numbers.

▲One of Robert Downey Jr.'s best performances came in 'Less Than Zero' (1987). He played Julian Wells, a cocaine addict.

▲In an interview with The Guardian in 2003, the actor revealed how the movie 'Less Than Zero' turned out to be a taste of his own future. He became an even worse addict than his character later on in life.

▲In 1996, according to the Los Angeles Times, he got into such a state that he ended up breaking into a neighbor's house and sleeping in one of their beds.

▲He then married Susan Nicole Downey in 2005. They have been together ever since and have two children.

▲The actor has a son from his first marriage. Indio Falconer Downey was born in 1993.

▲With Susan, the actor has two kids. Exton, born in 2012, and Avril, born in 2014.

▲About 150 guests were invited to the actor's second wedding in 2005. Among those invited were Keanu Reeves, Billy Joel, and Sting.

▲In 2001, he won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television, for his role in 'Ally McBeal.'

▲In 2010, he won a Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy, for 'Sherlock Holmes.'

▲Robert Downey Jr. revealed in an interview with Oprah that doing martial arts, especially Wing Chun, had helped him tackle his drug addiction.

▲The actor is also a big musical talent. In 2004 he launched an album called 'The Futurist.'

▲In 2008, Downey Jr. became a world-renowned movie star when he played Tony Stark in 'Iron Man.'

▲The actor's favorite accessory is a pair of shades, and it's rare to see him without them.

▲The actor's current net worth is over US$300 million!

▲In 2009, the actor had his hand and footprints immortalized at Grauman's Chinese Theater.

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It was in 1992 that the actor played the legendary comedian Charlie Chaplin in 'Chaplin,' for which he learned to play the violin and tennis left handed. Downey Jr. was nominated for an Oscar for his performance.

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His first starring role came in the movie 'The Pick-up Artist,' where he played a charming womanizer, alongside Molly Ringwald.

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In 2009, the actor played one of the most critically-acclaimed roles of his career in 'Sherlock Holmes.'

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The actor played the iconic superhero in subsequent Marvel movies, including 'Iron Man 2,' 'The Avengers,' 'Iron Man 3,' 'Avengers: Age of Ultron,' 'Captain America: Civil War,' 'Spider-Man: Homecoming,' 'Avengers: Infinity War,' and 'Avengers: Endgame.'

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The new Sherlock Holmes movie was expected to premiere in 2021 but production was delayed due to the pandemic. Director Dexter Fletcher explained that they're waiting for Downey Jr.'s schedule to free up before they continue.

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Robert Downey Jr. and Sarah Jessica Parker started dating in 1984 and were together for seven years. Their relationship ended because of Downey Jr.'s substance addictions.

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The actor was married to Deborah Falconer, from 1992 to 2004.

▲His first acting role after rehab in 2001 was in Elton John's music video for 'I Want Love.'

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When he was 10 years old, the actor lived in London and went to Perry House School, where all pupils had to take ballet lessons.

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Best known for playing Tony Stark/Iron Man on the big screen, Robert Downey Jr. has been part of the Hollywood luxury set for many years now. The actor has also played roles as diverse as Sherlock Holmes and Charlie Chaplin, and is loved by fans all over the world. However, his career, and life, wasn't always as smooth as it is now.

Curious to know more? Browse through the gallery and discover more about the highs and lows of Robert Downey Jr.

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Robert Downey Jr. was born on April 4, 1965, in New York City.