Are you a fan of the Iron-Clad genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist Tony Stark and his alter-ego Ironman? Then you are most likely a fan of the man who plays the role and exemplifies it completely, Robert Downey Jr. RDJ has definitely impressed both film critics as well as Marvel comic lovers with his adaptation of the Invincible One due to his very strong connection with the character and his ability to portray that onscreen with his exemplary acting ability. However, RDJ has not always had the lifestyle of a superhero, in fact he almost lost everything just a few years before the pre-production of the first Ironman film. Here is a highlight and summary of the struggles, trials, tribulations, successes, and some things you didn't know about one Robert Downey Jr.
1. Hollywood Beginnings
Robert Downey Jr. got his start in Hollywood building off of theatre roles in such productions as the short-lived off-broadway musical "American Passion" at the Joyce Theatre in 1983. 2 years later, Downey was named to be one of the newer talents for Saturday Night Live, but was quickly met with much criticism.
Rolling Stone Magazine named RDJ the worst Saturday Night Live cast member in the show's entire run stating that Downey "fails to sum up everything that makes SNL great." However, in that same year, Downey got his dramatic acting breakout by playing James Spader's Sidekick in Tuff Turf and then a bully in John Hughes' Weird Science. He then provided critically acclaimed roles in films such as The Pick-Up Artist, Soapdish, Chances Are, Air America, and Chaplin. Downey's career began to take off in the 1990's when he starred in more acclaimed films such as Heart and Souls, The Last Party, Only You, Natural Born Killers, Restoration, Richard III, Two Girls One Guy, Black and White, and U.S. Marshalls among others. It was at around this time that RDJ was having a great bit of success and was at the peak of his career, but this success wouldn't last for long.
2. Trouble in Paradise
Between 1996 and 2001, RDJ was arrested multiple times on drug related charges due to his possession and use of heroine, cocaine, and marijuana and went through several drug rehabilitation programs unsuccessfully. He explained to a judge in 1999 during one of his cases that "It's like I've got a shotgun in my mouth with my finger on the trigger, and I like the taste of the gun metal." His drug troubles didn't start here however, as in his youth, his father introduced him to marijuana at age six, and the drug quickly started to become an emotional bond between RDJ and his father.
Eventually, Downey began to spend his nights abusing alcohol and making dozens of calls a night concerning drugs. Because of this extreme exposure and easy access from his father, the young Downey quickly became addicted to several different drugs and began going down a dark path in his life. Skip forward back to 2001, and Downey has had dozens of arrests, court cases, jailings, and incidents ranging from speeding down Sunset Boulevard with a .357 magnum under the influence of cocaine and heroine, to trespassing on a neighbor's property and falling asleep in one of their beds, to being fired from several job opportunities for failure to show up for rehearsal, to wandering barefoot in Culver City. It was at this point in time that RDJ had truly hit rock bottom.
3. Road to Recovery
After five years of arrests, rehab and relapse, and after an entire lifetime of substance abuse, RDJ finally began the road to recovery and a return to his career in late 2001. In discussing his failed attempts to control his own addictive behavior in the past, Downey told Oprah Winfrey in November 2004 that "when someone says, 'I really wonder if maybe I should go to rehab?' Well, uh, you're a wreck, you just lost your job, and your wife left you. Uh, you might want to give it a shot." He added that after his last arrest in early 2001, when he knew he would likely be facing more time in prison or another form of incarceration such as court-ordered rehab, "I said, 'You know what? I don't think I can continue doing this.' And I reached out for help, and I ran with it. You can reach out for help in kind of a half-assed way and you'll get it and you won't take advantage of it. It's not that difficult to overcome these seemingly ghastly problems...what's hard is to decide to do it." It was then that Downey's career began to get back on track with projects such as lip-syncing a video for Elton John's "I Want Love", a role in The Singing Detective, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and The Shaggy Dog.
4. From The Bottom To The Top
With all of the critical success Downey had experienced throughout his career, he had never appeared in a "blockbuster" film. That changed in the middle of 2008 when RDJ starred in two critically and commercially successful films, Iron Man and Tropic Thunder. His role in Tropic Thunder was thoroughly appreciated for what it was, but his role in Iron Man propelled Downey to new heights, so much so that because of this role, Downey is often credited for launching the much beloved Marvel Cinematic Universe. 
Since this launch, Downey has enjoyed much success as his character, Tony Stark from Iron Man, in other films featuring the character such as the Iron Man sequels, The Avengers, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Captain America: Civil War, which were all blockbusters as well. Downey has also been kept busy by other well-received projects such as Sherlock Holmes and will be appearing in other blockbusters such as Spider-Man: Homecoming and Avengers: Infinity War.
Downey maintains that he has been drug free since July 2003, a full 13 years. He credits this success to his family, friends, wife, therapy, meditation, twelve-step recovery programs, yoga, and the practice of Wing Chun Kung Fu. He has also received a full and unconditional pardon from the Governor of California, Jerry Brown, for his convictions and past drug activities in 2015. The road to recovery is one of the hardest things a human being that is facing addiction has to do, especially when they have been exposed to and addicted to drugs for as long as RDJ was. However, it is truly inspiring to see this man overcome such adversity and end up being one of the most beloved actors in Hollywood today, and it can truly be a message to anyone facing addiction that addiction can be beaten. Robert Downey Jr. is truly a shining example of the human spirit and the human endeavor and is truly a force to be reckoned with.
