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.