Robert Downey Jr. recently won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor – but his journey to success has been anything but straightforward.
For his work in Christopher Nolan’s movie Oppenheimer, Downey won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
This completes an awards season sweep, as the 59-year-old also won at the Golden Globes, Critic’s Choice Awards, SAG Awards and BAFTA Film Awards.
But his emotional acceptance speech has drawn attention to the tragedies of Downey’s past, and the incredible comeback he has made.
Downey Jr previously opened up to Vanity Fair about his ‘interesting’ childhood.
Both of his parents struggled with addiction, which it seems as though Downey inherited.
His dad, Robert Downey Sr., later admitted to The Guardian: “I passed him a joint. And suddenly I knew I had made a terrible, stupid mistake… giving a little kid a toke of grass just to be funny.”
Downey’s addiction worsened when he was cast in Less Than Zero.
“For me, the role was like the ghost of Christmas future,” he told The Guardian.
“The character was an exaggeration of myself. Then things changed, and, in some ways, I became an exaggeration of the character. That lasted far longer than it needed to last.”
Robert Downey Jr. found himself in trouble with the law before making his comeback and winning an Oscar. Credit: Alamy
Downey was sent to a state prison and spent time behind bars in Los Angeles.
On his time in prison, The Avengers star said in an exclusive interview with Vanity Fair‘s Steve Garbarino: “I’m just sinking deeper into my depression sessions. Sometimes I’m just dead, living in a f***ing warehouse. I’m ready to get out.”
But following his legal troubles, Downey managed to get clean and turn his life around.
And, upon winning the Best Supporting Actor award at the 96th Academy Awards last night, Downey made reference to how his troubled past got him where he is today.
“I’d like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy – in that order,” Downey quipped in his acceptance speech.
He added: “I’d like to thank my veterinarian – I meant wife, Susan Downey over there. She found me a snarling rescue pet and you loved me back to life. That’s why I’m here.”
