Portrait · Philip Romano; existing crop by 4TheWynne / CC BY-SA 4.0

Robert Downey Jr.

Actor, producer, musician and author

Born 1965

Robert Downey Jr. is an American actor, producer, musician and author, born in New York City on April 4, 1965. His childhood unfolded around his father’s experimental filmmaking. In his Fresh Air conversation, he recalled an unconventional family setting in which movies were part of everyday life. Work outside acting and the move towards Los Angeles preceded the sustained professional career. Those early experiences help explain the familiarity with performance that existed before his better-known screen roles. At Santa Monica High School he performed in Oklahoma!, Detective Story and The Rivals, playing Captain Absolute in the latter. Ramon Estevez helped him learn tap dancing. He left school in the eleventh grade, but the productions and friendships had already given his interest in acting a practical setting. In his 1989 conversation with Kenneth Turan, Downey described his father’s example through improvisation and spontaneity. He also recalled Cybill Shepherd’s advice to avoid rushing a scene during Chances Are. The account shows an actor learning from collaborators as well as from family. His father’s Pound supplied an early screen appearance in 1970. Adult work moved through youth comedies into the dramatic performance in Chaplin, for which BAFTA recognised him in 1993. Television offered another substantial chapter as Larry Paul in Ally McBeal. The breadth of these roles preceded the large franchises that later made him internationally familiar. Tony Stark in Iron Man became a major screen role in 2008. Sherlock Holmes added a separate franchise and brought a Golden Globe in 2010. The Avengers films eventually reached Avengers: Endgame in 2019, retaining Tony Stark and Iron Man as central parts of his screen identity. Susan and Robert founded Team Downey in 2010. Producing became a professional strand alongside acting, giving their collaboration an organisational home. The Judge combined his performance as Hank Palmer with an executive-producer credit. Sweet Tooth extended that production work into television. Sr. placed him in a documentary about his father while also crediting him as a producer. Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer cast him as Lewis Strauss, moving his work into a historical drama with a very different register from Tony Stark. The performance brought the Academy Award for supporting actor in 2024. The Sympathizer subsequently gave him multiple roles in television. McNeal marked his Broadway debut in 2024. He played Jacob McNeal in the production that ran from September 30 to November 24, adding a sustained stage role to a career usually described through film. Music also has its own place in the story: The Futurist, his 2004 debut album, presented songs he wrote and performed. Cool Food, written with Thomas Kostigen, brought environmental questions into a book about everyday food choices in 2024. It represents another form of public work alongside film and production. His marriage to Susan dates to August 27, 2005. The couple celebrated their anniversary in August 2026. Avengers: Doomsday announces Doctor Doom; December 18, 2026 remains forthcoming.

Verified identityCore facts checked against named sources.

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Connected people

ConnectionSusan DowneyWife and Team Downey cofounder.

ConnectionRobert Downey Sr.Father and subject of Sr.

ConnectionThomas KostigenCool Food coauthor.

Robert Downey Jr. at the Air America premiere in 1990 — Profile image · Alan Light; existing crop and colour adjustments recorded on Commons / CC BY 2.0

NewProject30 Sept 2026

Doctor Doom announced

Disney+ confirms Doctor Doom; December 18, 2026 release remains forthcoming.

Latest Index

2026

NewsChecked against a primary source or trusted newsroom.

ScopeOnly attributable updates about Robert Downey Jr.'s work and public record.

News
Robert and Susan mark their anniversary
The August report documents their 21st wedding anniversary.
28 Aug 2026Source checked
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News
Lincoln Center Theater announces gala honorees
The March announcement names Robert and Susan for the planned May 18 spring gala.
6 Mar 2026Official source
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Project
McNeal casting announced
Lincoln Center Theater announces the company for Downey’s Broadway debut.
29 Jul 2024Official source
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Award
Supporting actor recognition for Oppenheimer
The Academy records his 2024 supporting-actor win.
10 Mar 2024Official source
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Award
Oppenheimer at SAG
Supporting role and cast recognised.
24 Feb 2024Official source
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Award
BAFTA supporting-actor award
The February winners announcement recognises his Oppenheimer performance.
18 Feb 2024Official source
VerifiedRead more
Project
A book about everyday food choices
Downey and Thomas Kostigen discuss their coauthored Cool Food on Good Morning America.
22 Jan 2024Source checked
VerifiedRead more

Selected Credits

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Year	Title	Role
2024	The SympathizerTelevision seriesIMDb	Multiple roles
2024	The SympathizerTelevision seriesIMDb	Executive producer
2024	McNealStage	Jacob McNeal — Broadway debut
2025	Play DirtyFilmIMDb	Executive producer
2026	Avengers: DoomsdayFilmIMDb	Doctor Doom — forthcoming

Timeline

1965—2026

1965Born April 4 in New York City.
1970Appears in his father’s Pound.
SchoolPerforms at Santa Monica High School.
1985Joins Saturday Night Live.
1987Plays Julian in Less Than Zero.
1992Stars in Chaplin.
1993Receives BAFTA recognition for Chaplin.
2000Plays Larry Paul in Ally McBeal.
2001Golden Globe for Ally McBeal.
2004Releases The Futurist.
2005Marries Susan on August 27.
2005Stars in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
2008Plays Tony Stark in Iron Man.
2009Stars in Sherlock Holmes.
2010Team Downey founded with Susan.
2014Acts in and executive produces The Judge.
2019Avengers: Endgame.
2019Named a Disney Legend.
2021Executive producer of Sweet Tooth.
2022Appears in and produces Sr.
2023Plays Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer.
202401 23: Cool Food hardcover published.
202402 18: BAFTA supporting-actor win.
202402 24: SAG supporting and cast wins.
202403 10: Academy supporting-actor win.
2024Multiple roles in The Sympathizer.
202409 30: Broadway debut in McNeal.
2025Executive producer of Play Dirty.
202608 28: Anniversary report published.
FutureAvengers: Doomsday scheduled December 18, 2026.

Doctor Doom announced

Latest Index

Robert and Susan mark their anniversary

Lincoln Center Theater announces gala honorees

McNeal casting announced

Supporting actor recognition for Oppenheimer

Oppenheimer at SAG

BAFTA supporting-actor award

A book about everyday food choices