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Robert Downey Jr. Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 14, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birthApril 4, 1965

BirthplaceManhattan, New York, U.S.

ProfessionActor

NationalityAmerican

Marital statusMarried

SpouseSusan Downey (m. 2005)

FamilyFather: Robert Downey Sr.; Mother: Elsie Ann; Sister: Allyson

Net worth$170 million

Robert Downey Jr. Biography

Robert John Downey Jr. is an American actor whose career spans decades, marked by acclaimed performances, high-profile comebacks, and major roles in hugely

Early life and background

Robert John Downey Jr. was born on April 4, 1965, in Manhattan, New York, and grew up in Greenwich Village. The son of actor Robert Downey Sr. and Elsie Ann, he was exposed to the entertainment world from an early age. He attended Santa Monica High School but left before graduating to pursue acting full time.

Physical profile and heritage

Downey is listed at about 174 centimeters (roughly 5'8½") and around 78 kilograms (approximately 172 pounds). His reported measurements include a 43-inch chest, 32-inch waist, and 15-inch biceps. He has dark brown eyes and hair. His family background includes Scottish, German, Swiss, Lithuanian Jewish, Hungarian Jewish and Irish ancestry, and he identifies as American.

Career

Downey made his screen debut as a child in the 1970 film Pound, and he continued to develop a varied career that later included stage work, film and television. Early recognition came for challenging roles, including a widely noted turn as a wealthy, troubled young man in Less Than Zero. In 1992 he portrayed the title character in Chaplin, a performance that led to an Academy Award nomination and a BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Across his career Downey has been associated with several signature parts. He earned widespread attention and commercial success as Tony Stark/Iron Man, a role he played in multiple Marvel films, including entries in The Avengers series and Iron Man 3; several of these franchise films have crossed major box-office milestones. He also played Sherlock Holmes in a high-profile adaptation and earned supporting acting recognition for roles such as the one in Tropic Thunder, which brought an Academy Award nomination.

Television and music

On television, Downey has appeared on Saturday Night Live and won a Golden Globe for his guest role on Ally McBeal. He has recorded music as well: he released an album titled The Futurist on the Sony Classical label and collaborated on performances, including a televised duet with Sting.

Later recognition

In recent years Downey has continued to receive honors for his film work. For his role in Oppenheimer (2023) he won Best Supporting Male in Film at the Golden Globe Awards (81st) and Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the 77th BAFTAs. He was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the same film at the 96th Academy Awards.

Public profile

Downey’s career has included very public struggles with substance abuse in the 1990s and early 2000s, legal issues, arrests and periods in rehabilitation. These difficulties affected his employability at times and led to contractual and insurance provisions on certain projects. After sustained personal effort he resumed a successful acting career beginning around 2000 and has since been among the most prominent actors in contemporary Hollywood.

Personal life

Downey has been married twice. He was married to Deborah Falconer from 1992 until their divorce in 2004, and he later married Susan Downey in 2005. He has three children: a son, Indio; a daughter, Avri; and a son, Exton. He practices the martial art Wing Chun and has described Peter O'Toole as a favorite actor.

Latest updates

Downey’s performance in Oppenheimer earned him significant awards attention in 2024, including a Golden Globe win and a BAFTA win, and an Academy Award nomination announced in January 2024. These honors represent a late-career critical peak that builds on decades of notable film work.
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Recent Work

Oppenheimer

Supporting role (2023) — award-winning performance that earned Golden Globe and BAFTA wins and an Academy Award nomination.

2023
The Futurist (album)

Music album released on the Sony Classical label; Downey was involved in song selection and cover design.

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Career Highlights

  1. Film debut as a child in Pound (1970)
  2. Academy Award nomination and BAFTA win for Chaplin (1992)
  3. Portrayed Tony Stark/Iron Man in multiple blockbuster Marvel films
  4. Golden Globe win for a guest role on Ally McBeal
  5. Academy Award nomination for Tropic Thunder
  6. Golden Globe and BAFTA wins and Academy Award nomination for Oppenheimer (2023)
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Net Worth

$170 million

Figures are editorial estimates based on publicly available reporting and may change as new information emerges.

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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Robert Downey Jr. born?

April 4, 1965

What is Robert Downey Jr. known for?

Actor

What is Robert Downey Jr.’s marital status?

Married

Who is Robert Downey Jr. married to?

Susan Downey (m. 2005)

What is Robert Downey Jr.’s net worth?

$170 million