Robert Downey Jr. is without a doubt one of the biggest and most successful actors in the entertainment industry and is also regarded as one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. The actor’s career did have some bumps on the way but he with his hard work and dedication managed to pull himself out of it and went on to become not only the biggest star but also an actor who is deeply admired and respected by the audience.
Downey gained global recognition after he starred as Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe beginning with 2008’s Iron Man. The actor has also appeared in movies including Sherlock Holmes, The Judge, Zodiac, Tropic Thunder and more cementing his place in the industry. His recent win at the 96th Academy Award gives a subtle nod to one of his fan-favorite characters showcasing that the actor was always meant to play that character on-screen.
Robert Downey Jr. appeared as Tony Stark coded after winning his first Oscar for Oppenheimer
Robert Downey Jr. played the character of Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer alongside Cillian Murphy. The actor was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor category at the 96th Academy Awards and managed to beat Sterling K. Brown for American Fiction, Robert De Niro for Killers of the Flower Moon, Ryan Gosling for Barbie, and Mark Ruffalo for Poor Things for the first Oscar of his life.
Downey had already won Golden Globes, Critics’ Choice Awards, SAG Awards, and BAFTA Film Awards for his brilliant performance as the antagonist in the movie. The actor gave a subtle nod to his fan-favorite character Tony Stark from MCU as he made the iconic ‘peace sign’ as soon as he walked up on-stage to accept the award. Robert Downey Jr. said (via Variety),
“I’d like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy—in that order. I’d like to thank my veterinarian- I meant my wife, Susan Downey over there. She found me a snarling rescue pet and you loved me back to life. That’s why I’m here.”
The actor went ahead to thank the cast and crew of Oppenheimer including director Christopher Nolan and producer Emma Thomas, actors Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, and more. He said,
“Here’s my little secret. I needed this job more than it needed me. Chris knew it. Emma made sure that she surrounded me with one of the great casts and crew of all time- Emily, Cillian. It was fantastic. And I stand here before you a better man because of it. What we do is meaningful and the stuff that we decide to make is important.”
Downey lastly added a special thank you to his entertainment lawyer Tom Hanson noting that he has spent half of their time trying to get him insured and bailing him out of Hoosegow. He didn’t leave out his stylist, manager, and publicist from the speech.
Robert Downey Jr. says Robert Downey Sr. would feel justice was done with his win
After his first Oscar win, Robert Downey Jr. appeared on the cover of People magazine where he opened up about the ups and downs of his career. He shared that he thinks that if individuals develop a moral psychology, things tend to get easier then adding that it’s hard for him to explain certain behavior when there are ways to heal.
“I both have a lot of empathy for, and I also am a little bit skeptical about anyone who doesn’t lean into what they can do to improve the state of their compass. That’s all.”
Susan Downey who has been a strong pillar of support emotionally and mentally for the actor added that she feels like anyone’s journey, no matter how fraught or positive, whatever it is, it is their journey and there is nothing they’d do differently. She also shared,
“He really does believe in giving back. And he does it through his actions. “
Robert Downey Jr. lastly added that with his win for his work on Oppenheimer, he believes that his father, the late Robert Downey Sr. would feel that justice was done and he can rest because he believed Downey Jr. was robbed for his work on Chaplin. The actor noted that the problem is, that his father never cared about any of this s*** anyway.
Oppenheimer is streaming on Peacock.
