Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr. (also known as RDJ or Bob Downey) is an American screen actor born on April 4, 1965, in New York City. Celebrated for quicksilver charisma and range, he has anchored blockbuster franchises and prestige dramas alike, becoming one of cinema’s most bankable leading men.

Downey began acting as a child in his father Robert Downey Sr.’s film Pound (1970) and broke out in 1980s youth hits before earning major acclaim as Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin (1992), a performance that brought top awards recognition. After a turbulent period, he rebuilt his career with standout television work on Ally McBeal and a return to film in The Singing Detective (2003), followed by long-term sobriety from 2003 onward.

Global superstardom arrived with Tony Stark in Iron Man (and Iron Man 2, plus an uncredited turn in The Incredible Hulk), a role he carried across the Marvel era. He also headlined Sherlock Holmes as the iconic detective and delivered memorable work in films like Natural Born Killers and Short Cuts.

In recent years, Downey added fresh accolades for his performance as Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, and he continues to expand his creative footprint through producing and other ventures.