Robert Downey Jr Biography
Celebrity kid Robert John Downey, Jr. was born to film stars Elsie Ford and Robert Downey Sr. on April 4 1965 in the Manhattan neighbourhood of New York, USA. His childhood was spent between New York and England and he was schooled at the Santa Monica High School and the Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center in New York. Childhood life for Downey was star-studded as he spent time among his parents’ celebrity workmates and when he was not at school he would spend time on set while Robert and Elsie worked.
This early life of glamour served Downey well as he was able to receive mentorship from all the stars he encountered on tricks of the acting business, these tips would help the young boy in his future roles in films. The downturn to being exposed so early to the life of partying and fun that is part of stardom was that Downey became a drug user from as early as the age of six. Downey sr. was good in film production but he failed as a father when he introduced Downey Jr. to alcohol and marijuana and went on to engage in the use together with his son. Downey Jr. soon became and addict and he quit school.
Downey Jr. first appeared on the box office in the minor film ‘Pound’ and later in ‘Greaser’s Palace in 1970 and 1972 respectively. Following films included ‘Pretty in Pink’ in 1986, ‘Less Than Zero’ and ‘The Pick-Up Artist’ both in 1987. Downey was cast alongside Whoopi Goldberg, Kevin Kline and Mel Gibson in the 1991 film titled ‘Soapdish’ , this was Downey’s big career starter after he had sailed through the 70’s and 80’s on low-budget unpopular films. Downey was able to cement his place rightfully next to the names of the established actors he had co-starred with.
A year later and ‘Chaplin’ premiered with Downey on the lead role as Charlie Chaplin, the film was an instant best-seller and Downey got himself a substantial fan base. His portrayal of Charlie Chaplin was defined as genius with a complete link between the actor and title. For his work in the film Downey received a Best actor nomination at the 1992 Academy awards.
Although highly successful at the time Downey’s career faced an end in 1999 with the actor’s childhood drug problems appearing later in his life. Downey was put in lock-up for a period not exceeding three years in addition to a rehabilitation centre. The charges for his lock up were possession of illegal substances namely cocaine, marijuana and worst of all an unlicensed fire-arm.
Downey’s career stalled during this period as he struggled and failed repeatedly to rid himself of the bad habit. Three years later he was clean and he picked up his now tarnished career from a worse off place than he had left it with a roles in ‘Air America’ in 2003 and ‘Gothika ‘in2005. In 2004 the actor took on his second passion and later came out with a 2004 music album title The futurist.
His career as a musician was not as a successful as that of film, and Downey went on with film appearing in ‘Iron Man’ in 2008 and ‘The Soloist’ in 2009.
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