Robert John Downey Jr. is an American actor and singer. His career has included critical and popular success in his youth, followed by a period of substance abuse and legal troubles, and a resurgence of commercial success in middle age. For three consecutive years from 2012 to 2015, Downey topped the forbes list of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors, making an estimated $80 million in earnings between June 2014 and June 2015. The Internationally acclaimed actor stepping on his 53rd birthday today. Let us go through some of the interesting facts about him!!

[wp_ad_camp_1]

10. First time drug

Robert did drugs the first time with his father when he was a child and fell into a cycle of addiction. He spent four months in jail in 1997 and another year in 1999 for drug possession.

9. Car Lover

Some people collect stamps; Robert collects cars. He has a Corvette, Bentley, Volvo, a Mustang, some Audis, a Porsche, a Mercedes and more!

[wp_ad_camp_1]

8. His “Chaplin” Performance

His performance in 1992’s Chaplin received the royal stamp of approval from Queen Elizabeth herself, who attended the London premiere in Leicester Square.

7. Tony Stark

The people love him! He has taken home three People’s Choice Awards – all for his work as Tony Stark aka Iron Man.

6. Drug-Free Downey

Downey maintains that he has been drug-free since July 2003, and has credited his wife with helping him overcome his drug and alcohol habits, along with his family, therapy, meditation, twelve-step recovery programs, yoga and the practice of Wing Chun kung fu; in the martial art, he learned from Eric Oram, who is also a fight consultant in several of Downey’s movies.

[wp_ad_camp_1]

5. Robert Studied ! Yes !!

He never graduated from high school but earned his GED during one of his stints in jail.

4. His First Realization that he is not invicible

He might play a super hero on screen, but Robert recalls the moment he realized that he isn’t invincible, telling Deadline, “I was doing a wire jump [on the set of Iron Man 3 ] and I got to the top of the stairs and I tripped, and banged my ankle. Susan came around the corner, she goes, “All right. Are you finally going to accept the fact that you’re injured and that you’re not a kid. Just look at you on the floor there. Look at you!”

[wp_ad_camp_1]

3. Coincidence

Coincidentally, the star purchased the former home of Charlie Chaplin a few years prior to landing the role of the silent film legend.

2. His Debut

Acting is in his blood. He’s the son of director Robert Downey Sr. and actress Elsie Downey and made his debut in his father’s film, Pound (1990). Robert played a puppy.

[wp_ad_camp_1]

1. Nominated Oscar Twice !!

Robert has courted the Academy twice. He was nominated for a best actor for Chaplin in 1993 and best supporting actor in 2009 for Tropic Thunder.