If Hollywood ever needed proof that real life can produce better comeback stories than the movies themselves, they need only point towards Robert Downey Jr. The man has lived about three different lifetimes' worth of experiences and somehow emerged from all of it with an Oscar, a Marvel-sized fortune and enough charisma to power the National Grid. In an industry where careers can disappear quicker than free buffet food, Downey has managed one of the greatest second acts in entertainment history.
Long before he became the bloke responsible for launching the Marvel Cinematic Universe into the stratosphere, Downey was already regarded as one of Hollywood's brightest young talents. He earned huge praise for Chaplin, where his uncanny portrayal of the silent film legend earned him his first Oscar nomination. Even back then, people could see that beneath the quick wit and cheeky grin was an actor with serious chops.
Of course, life wasn't always plain sailing. By the early 2000s, plenty of people had sadly written him off altogether. Which makes what happened next all the more remarkable. In 2008, he swaggered onto cinema screens as Tony Stark in Iron Man and completely changed modern blockbuster cinema. Armed with little more than sunglasses, sarcasm and enough confidence to fill Wembley Stadium, he turned a relatively obscure Marvel character into one of the most beloved heroes in film history.
The funny thing is, Tony Stark worked so well because there was already a bit of Robert Downey Jr. in him. The quick-fire jokes, the restless energy and the habit of talking faster than everyone else can think all felt wonderfully natural. Over the next decade, he became the face of the biggest franchise on Earth and somehow made being a billionaire genius with questionable patience seem strangely relatable.
And now, after conquering the superhero world, winning an Oscar and completing one of cinema's greatest redemption arcs, Downey still seems to be enjoying himself more than anyone else. Which is probably why audiences have never stopped rooting for him.
• Robert Downey Jr. was introduced to drugs by his own father when he was just six years old. Years later, he openly spoke about his struggles and ultimately completed one of Hollywood's most extraordinary recoveries.
• When Marvel wanted him for Iron Man, many studios thought hiring him was far too risky. Director Jon Favreau fought hard to cast him, and it's fair to say that decision worked out alright. Somewhere, there are executives still pretending they believed in him all along.
• Downey's friendship with fellow Avengers stars became legendary, but none more so than his bond with Chris Evans. In fact, Downey personally gifted Evans one of the custom cars used during the Marvel years after filming wrapped.
Robert Downey Jr. is living proof that charisma can't be taught. The bloke could probably read the instructions on a microwave and somehow make it entertaining. Whether he's playing a billionaire genius, Charlie Chaplin or trading sarcastic insults with superheroes, he brings an energy that very few actors possess. And honestly, cinema is far more fun when Robert Downey Jr. is in the mood to cause a bit of chaos.
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