Robert Downey Jr. was born on April 4, 1965, and became one of the defining movie stars of the modern blockbuster era. After early acclaim in the 1980s and 1990s, including an Oscar-nominated turn in Chaplin, his career later turned into a widely watched comeback story built on consistency, craft, and sharper role choices.
For many audiences, he is inseparable from Tony Stark in Marvel’s Iron Man and the wider Avengers saga, where his fast-talking charisma helped shape the tone of an entire franchise. In recent years, he added a major new peak with Oppenheimer (2023), earning top awards for his performance as Lewis Strauss and reminding viewers that his range extends far beyond superhero mythology.
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Quick Facts
| Real Name: | Robert John Downey Jr. |
| Profession: | Actor, producer |
| Born: | April 4, 1965 |
| Age: | 60 (as of February 2026) |
| Birthplace: | Manhattan, New York City, New York, United States |
| Nationality: | American |
| Known For: | Tony Stark / Iron Man in the Marvel films; award-winning performance in Oppenheimer; Sherlock Holmes; Chaplin |
| Notable Films: | Iron Man; The Avengers; Avengers: Endgame; Sherlock Holmes; Tropic Thunder; Oppenheimer |
| Awards: | Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award (notable wins include Oppenheimer) |
| Zodiac Sign: | Aries |
| Relationship: | Married to Susan Downey (since 2005) |
| Years Active: | 1970 to present |
Early Life & Education
Downey was born in Manhattan and grew up around filmmaking. His father, Robert Downey Sr., was a director, and his mother, Elsie Ann Ford, was an actress. He appeared on camera at a very young age and spent portions of his childhood moving between places including New York and California, with an early life shaped by both performance and the realities of an unconventional creative household.
As a teenager, he moved to California to pursue acting more seriously and did not follow a traditional college path. Instead, he focused on auditions and working roles, gradually building credits that positioned him for larger film opportunities in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Career Highlights and Milestones
Downey’s early run included standout performances that made him a recognizable screen presence well before the superhero era. He earned major acclaim for Chaplin (1992), showing he could carry a demanding biographical role, and he continued to take sharp supporting turns that balanced intensity with humor.
In the 2000s, he rebuilt momentum through a mix of television and film, then detonated into global stardom as Tony Stark in Iron Man (2008). That role became the foundation of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s modern success and turned him into a defining face of franchise filmmaking. Later, he proved his prestige range again with Oppenheimer (2023), earning top honors for a performance that emphasized control, restraint, and psychological pressure.
Selected film and TV highlights
- Less Than Zero (1987)
- Chaplin (1992)
- Ally McBeal (2000 to 2002)
- Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
- Tropic Thunder (2008)
- Iron Man (2008)
- Sherlock Holmes (2009)
- The Avengers (2012)
- Avengers: Endgame (2019)
- Oppenheimer (2023)
Major recognition
- Academy Award, Best Supporting Actor, Oppenheimer (won)
- BAFTA Film Awards, Best Supporting Actor, Oppenheimer (won)
- Golden Globe Awards, Best Supporting Actor (Motion Picture), Oppenheimer (won)
- Screen Actors Guild Awards, Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role, Oppenheimer (won)
- Academy Award nominations include Chaplin (Best Actor) and Tropic Thunder (Best Supporting Actor)
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Awards and Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Academy Awards | Best Actor | Chaplin | Nominated |
| 2001 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor (Series, Miniseries, or TV Film) | Ally McBeal | Won |
| 2009 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Tropic Thunder | Nominated |
| 2010 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor (Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy) | Sherlock Holmes | Won |
| 2024 | BAFTA Film Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Oppenheimer | Won |
| 2024 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor (Motion Picture) | Oppenheimer | Won |
| 2024 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance (Male Actor, Supporting Role) | Oppenheimer | Won |
| 2024 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Oppenheimer | Won |
Filmography / Notable Works
| Year | Title | Type | Role / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Less Than Zero | Film | Early breakout visibility. |
| 1992 | Chaplin | Film | Acclaimed lead performance; major awards recognition. |
| 2000 to 2002 | Ally McBeal | TV | High-profile TV arc; awards-season momentum. |
| 2005 | Kiss Kiss Bang Bang | Film | Career-reset role blending comedy, noir, and edge. |
| 2008 | Iron Man | Film | Introduced Tony Stark; cornerstone of the Marvel era. |
| 2008 | Tropic Thunder | Film | Supporting performance; major awards attention. |
| 2009 | Sherlock Holmes | Film | Franchise hit; stylized leading-man turn. |
| 2012 to 2019 | The Avengers films | Film | Expanded Tony Stark across the ensemble saga. |
| 2023 | Oppenheimer | Film | Lewis Strauss; award-winning supporting performance. |
Net Worth, Income, & Lifestyle
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Net Worth (2026) | Public estimates vary, and Downey has not published a verified figure. A commonly cited estimate is around $300 million, but it should be treated as an approximation. |
| Income Sources | Acting fees and backend participation (notably tied to Marvel films), producing via Team Downey, and brand or media appearances. |
| High-Earning Era | Forbes reporting has repeatedly placed him among top-earning entertainers during peak franchise years. |
| Properties & Assets | He keeps many specifics private. Coverage typically focuses on career earnings rather than itemized holdings. |
| Lifestyle | Publicly associated with family life, long-form producing, and selective acting roles, with fewer but higher-impact on-screen appearances. |
Social Media & Online Presence
| Platform | Details |
|---|---|
| Commonly listed as @robertdowneyjr. Verification markers can change, so confirm inside the platform. | |
| X (Twitter) | Commonly listed as @RobertDowneyJr. Confirm inside the platform for current status. |
| IMDb | Filmography reference: IMDb. |
| Production | Team Downey: teamdowney.com (site availability can vary). |
Fan communities on social media (unofficial)
NOTE: In addition to any official accounts listed above, many fan-run pages and clip accounts exist. These are not confirmed to be affiliated with Robert Downey Jr. Links and usernames can change at any time.
Trivia & Lesser-Known Facts
- He worked with his father, filmmaker Robert Downey Sr., early in life, appearing in films connected to that indie film circle.
- His “career reset” era is often associated with sharp mid-2000s roles that leaned into comedy and noir before the Marvel run.
- Team Downey, founded with Susan Downey, expanded his work behind the camera into producing for film and TV.
- He has played both iconic real people (Chaplin) and long-running franchise characters (Tony Stark).
- His awards-season sweep for Oppenheimer added a prestige “late-career peak” to a filmography already defined by blockbuster reach.
Quotes
“I’d like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy, in that order.”
— Academy Awards acceptance remarks (2024)
“I needed this job more than it needed me.”
— Academy Awards acceptance remarks (2024)
“They loved me back to life.”
— Remarks referencing his support system during awards season (2024)
“I think you end up doing the stuff you were supposed to do at the time you were supposed to do it.”
— Attributed interview quote (commonly circulated)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What is Robert Downey Jr.’s age?
A: He was born April 4, 1965, and is 60 as of February 2026.
Q: What is Robert Downey Jr. best known for?
A: Many viewers know him as Tony Stark in Marvel’s Iron Man and the Avengers films. He is also known for Sherlock Holmes and award-winning work in Oppenheimer.
Q: Is Robert Downey Jr. married?
A: Yes. He is married to producer Susan Downey (married in 2005).
Q: Did he win an Oscar for Oppenheimer?
A: Yes. He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Oppenheimer.
Q: What is he working on next?
A: Marvel Studios lists him in the cast of Avengers: Doomsday, set for release on December 18, 2026.
Upcoming Projects
- Avengers: Doomsday (Release date: Dec 18, 2026) – Marvel Studios lists Downey in the cast, returning to the Marvel universe in a new capacity tied to Victor von Doom (Doctor Doom) in official Marvel coverage.
Interviews & Features
- Esquire, “Robert Downey Jr. Doesn’t See Things the Way You Do” (Apr 2024), a long-form feature focused on his performance, career arc, and late-career momentum.
Public Appearances & Festivals
- Golden Globe Awards (Jan 2024): Awards-season appearance and win for Oppenheimer supporting performance.
- BAFTA Film Awards (Feb 2024): Attended in London and won Best Supporting Actor for Oppenheimer.
- Screen Actors Guild Awards (Feb 2024): Appeared in Los Angeles and won Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for Oppenheimer.
- Academy Awards (Mar 2024): Appeared in Los Angeles and won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for Oppenheimer.
