Robert Downey Jr. is an American actor and producer whose career is one of the great comebacks in Hollywood history. Born on April 4, 1965, in New York City, Downey, 61, went from child actor to Oscar nominee, through well-documented personal struggles, to becoming Iron Man in the Marvel films and, in 2024, an Academy Award winner for Oppenheimer. His films as a leading actor have grossed more than $14 billion worldwide.
Quick Facts
| Full Name | Robert John Downey Jr. |
| Age | 61 years old |
| Date of Birth | April 4, 1965 |
| Birthplace | New York City, New York, USA |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (174 cm) |
| Partner | Susan Downey (wife, married 2005); previously married to Deborah Falconer |
| Net Worth | Approx. $300 million (Celebrity Net Worth, 2025) |
| Known For | Iron Man, Sherlock Holmes, Oppenheimer, Chaplin, Tropic Thunder |
Who Is Robert Downey Jr.?
Robert Downey Jr. is an American actor and producer, best known as Tony Stark / Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He is one of the highest-grossing actors of all time, and from 2013 to 2015 he was the highest-paid actor in the world, according to Forbes. He is also one of the most decorated actors of his generation, with an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, three Golden Globe Awards and two Primetime Emmy nominations.
Downey’s career began in the 1970s as a child actor, and he was an acclaimed young star in the 1980s and early 1990s before personal struggles interrupted his rise. He returned to the top in the late 2000s with Iron Man (2008), which launched the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and went on to play Sherlock Holmes and to win the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Oppenheimer (2023). Like Tom Cruise, he has headlined a blockbuster franchise for more than a decade, and like Brad Pitt, he has balanced franchise films with acclaimed dramatic work and producing.
Early Life & Background
Robert John Downey Jr. was born on April 4, 1965, in Manhattan, New York City, to Robert Downey Sr., an actor and filmmaker, and Elsie Ann Ford, an actress. He grew up in Greenwich Village and in Los Angeles, and appeared as a child in his father’s films, including Pound (1970). He attended Santa Monica High School, where he studied ballet and performed in school plays, but dropped out at 17 to move to New York and pursue acting full time.
Downey’s early adult career included roles in Weird Science (1985), Less Than Zero (1987) and Chances Are (1989). In the late 1980s and 1990s he struggled with drug addiction, and his arrests and time in prison and rehab became widely publicized. After treatment, he returned to acting with a recurring role on the television series Ally McBeal (2000-2002), for which he won a Golden Globe Award, and he has been open about his recovery since becoming sober in 2003.
Robert Downey Jr.’s Career
Downey’s breakthrough as a dramatic actor came with Chaplin (1992), in which he played Charlie Chaplin and earned his first Academy Award nomination, for Best Actor, and a BAFTA Award. He followed it with Short Cuts (1993), Natural Born Killers (1994) and Restoration (1995). After his comeback, he starred in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005) and Zodiac (2007), and earned a second Oscar nomination, for Best Supporting Actor, for his performance in Tropic Thunder (2008).
In 2008, Downey was cast as Tony Stark in Iron Man, a role that made him the face of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He played Iron Man in ten Marvel films, including The Avengers (2012), Avengers: Endgame (2019) and the Iron Man trilogy, and also starred as Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011). In 2012 he co-founded the production company Team Downey with his wife Susan Downey.
In 2023, Downey played Lewis Strauss, the head of the Atomic Energy Commission, in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, as well as a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for the role. In 2024 he starred in the HBO series The Sympathizer, playing multiple roles, and earned a Primetime Emmy nomination. In 2024 it was also announced that he would return to Marvel as the villain Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday (2026) and Avengers: Secret Wars (2027).
Facts About Robert Downey Jr.
- Robert Downey Jr. was born on April 4, 1965, in New York City, and is 61 years old.
- He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Oppenheimer in 2024.
- He played Tony Stark / Iron Man in ten Marvel films between 2008 and 2019.
- He was the highest-paid actor in the world from 2013 to 2015, according to Forbes.
- He is set to return to Marvel as Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday (2026).
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Robert Downey Jr.?
Robert Downey Jr. was born on April 4, 1965. He is 61 years old.
How tall is Robert Downey Jr.?
Robert Downey Jr. is 5 ft 8 in (174 cm) tall.
Who is Robert Downey Jr.’s wife?
Robert Downey Jr. has been married to producer Susan Downey since August 27, 2005. He was previously married to Deborah Falconer from 1992 to 2004.
What is Robert Downey Jr.’s net worth?
Robert Downey Jr.’s net worth is approx. $300 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth (2025).
What is Robert Downey Jr. best known for?
Robert Downey Jr. is best known for Iron Man, Sherlock Holmes, Oppenheimer, Chaplin and Tropic Thunder.
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