The story of Robert Downey Jr., the prolific actor who’s given life to some of the most iconic characters on-screen like Sherlock Holmes and Iron Man, is nothing short of astounding. Owing to his success from the Marvel’s Iron Man franchise, Robert Downey Jr. has become a household name and is one of the highest-paid actors currently. 

Before reaching the glistening heights of Hollywood, he spent many years in and out of rehab and even got arrested on multiple occasions. It took him losing nearly everything — his beloved family, money, fame, and even his career — to ultimately face the demon he was running away from and take the challenge head-on with drug addiction in an uphill battle to get his life back. 

Now sober since 2003, Robert struggled with substance abuse for a long time as a direct consequence of many factors which led him down the dark path of drugs. The “Iron Man” as we know is just as strong-willed and dedicated in real life as he is on the big screens. His triumph over substance abuse is a profound tale of beating the odds when you are at your lowest.

Robert Downey Jr: His Early Years

Robert’s stint with drugs started pretty early on in life, when he was only a child. His father, Robert Downey Sr. (who also struggled with substance abuse) was the one who introduced him to drugs like marijuana when he was only eight years old. Downey Jr. spent most of his 20’s and 30’s getting blackout drunk and scouting peddlers despite mounting both personal and legal troubles. 

He made his acting debut at the age of five in Pound, a film produced by Robert Downey Sr., in 1970. Before reaching the big spotlight, Downey Jr. spent a year on SNL in 1985 and even played a young role in the movie The Brat Pack. He landed his first lead role in 1987 for playing Jack Jericho in The Pick-Up Artist, which marked the beginning of his success in Hollywood. 

The Rise to Fame

Robert Downey Jr. got plenty of screen time as a young actor when he was cast in a string of 80’s movies. Furthermore, his time spent on Saturday Night Live earned him a considerable amount of fame quite early on in his career. 

It wasn’t until the age of 22 – when he got offered to play the role of a young drug addict in the 1987 film adaptation of the Bret Easton novel Less Than Zero – did his relationship with alcohol and drugs start worsening. As Downey’s fame continued to rise following the Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Charlie Chaplin in the biopic Chaplin, so did his battle with illicit substances. 

A Private Struggle and the Road To Recovery

By the age of thirty, Downey Jr. was smoking heroin and freebasing cocaine on a daily basis which led to multiple arrests and warnings from law enforcement. In 1996, his drug and alcohol-fueled outbursts landed him in police custody multiple times within the span of a week. Downey Jr. hit rock bottom in 1999, when he was sentenced to 36 months in prison. 

Although he was paroled after only spending 12 months in the prison, it changed him in many ways, which would eventually lead to his recovery in the future. The coast was clear, and there was nothing more for him to lose, when his wife walked out on him and took their son. This essentially left Downey in a massive pool of debt and legal complications. 

The Future is Bright For Our Beloved “Iron Man”

Although he never released his sobriety date to the public, his conversations from interviews and other sources point that the actor has been serious about his decision to stay sober since 2003. In 2008, Robert landed the iconic role of Tony Stark – that is, the Iron Man – and as we all know it, the story pans out in his favor in every way possible after that point. 

No one is impervious to the dangers posed by substance abuse. This could happen to anyone, regardless of their faith, education, or history. However, asking questions like “Does insurance cover drug rehab?” and “Are there rehab facilities near me?” can be the first step toward recovery. Nonetheless, if there is anything to learn from this story, it’s how the Iron Man showed us to accept our shortcomings… and feel free to ask for help when we need it most. 

Do you find yourself constantly looking for the next hottest thing? Instead of trying to be on-trend all the time, why not add in some looks that are timeless. Style trends and beauty trends change all the time. One day thin eyebrows are in, and the next day thick and bushy is on point. It can be hard to keep up with it all. While you don’t want to feel like your look came out of 1985 in a bad way, you also don’t need to be trendy every moment of every day. There are plenty of beauty and style trends that never go out of style. So, if you want to be stylish, try these on for size, they never go out of style.

Great Skin

Want to know why great skin is so important? It’s because it’s the first thing people see when they look at you. While you don’t need to look like a porcelain doll, having skin that’s healthy and vibrant helps you look and feel confident in any atmosphere. Whether you’re struggling with acne or other redness, or you need to protect your skin from the sun, you need a good brush-on mineral sunscreen and healing lotion to help reduce your acne and redness. Great skin is the perfect palette to apply any makeup to whether you need a casual day look or a glam look for an evening out.

Natural Hair

Hair trends come and go almost faster than fashion trends. Things from asymmetrical hair to peek-a-boo highlights, to those baby bangs, are all here and gone in a moment. Do you know what doesn’t go out of style? Natural hair. Your hair is gorgeous and all you need is to learn how to care for it effectively. Whether you sport curly locks, long and straight hair, or something in between, learn to love your natural hair. While things like dye are okay to help cover grays and even out your color, all hair dye trends come and go. There was ombre hair and then reverse ombre. One day dark roots were faux pas, and then suddenly celebrities were letting their dark roots shine.

The Little Black Dress

Having your own little black dress is a style and beauty must-have. This never goes out of style. There may be changes to a few details like adding off-the-shoulder black dresses or letting the length go up or down a bit, but if you have a little black dress, you can wear it to almost any occasion or gathering. Got a black-tie event? Go with a floor-length option. Want a night out on the town, go for a length above the knee. You’d be amazed at how beautiful and amazing you feel in this simple style.

Tailored Pants

Let’s face it, pants off the rack never fit 100% perfectly. And if it does for you, count yourself lucky. Taking your pants, whether it be denim jeans or dressy attire, to get tailored can make you feel brand new. All the ways you felt uncomfortable in your pants will melt away. Not only will your pants be just the right length, but they will also fit around all your curves without making you look bulky or awkward. Getting your pants tailored is an investment in having beauty and style that’s timeless.

A Well-Fitting Pencil Skirt

A pencil skirt is one piece of clothing that never goes out of style. You can change up the look of it by adding shirts, jackets, and jewelry that dress it up or down, but the skirt itself is timeless. You can look effortlessly professional just by slipping into one of these. Pair it with a fitted jacket and you’ll walk into your business meetings or interviews with confidence. It’s not trendy, and it’s not frumpy.

Simple Black Heels

Whether you go for a more pointed or rounded toe, a simple pair of pumps will go with almost any outfit. And the good news is that black heels never go out of style. Find a pair that will last a long time because you’ll be wearing it with that little black dress, those tailored pants, and even that sleek pencil skirt. Being fashionable sometimes means finding simpler outfits that you can add some pizzazz to in other ways.