I am Iron Man

Everyone loves a good comeback story. This can be seen all throughout today’s society. People adore stories about comeback stars like Rocky or even the Mighty Ducks. However, perhaps one of the most prominent comeback stories in real life is that of movie star Robert Downey Jr. One of Hollywood’s most prolific and successful stars was once an ex con and a cocaine addict.

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At the young age of 8 Downey was introduced to drugs by his father. Unfortunately, by the team he was in his 20s he had become addicted to them. For a time, the addiction was manageable and his addiction actually played into his roles. In a movie called Less Than Zero, Downey played a gay junkie who was struggling through life. This would be a partial glimpse into what the future may hold for the young Downey.

He was on the rise with movies like Chaplin. Here he portrayed the life of Charlie Chaplin, a British comedic actor. The role earned him a nomination for an Academy Award for best actor. However, this was in 1993. He would soon fall hard into drugs and lose himself.

Over the next several years, Downey became practically a nobody. He was arrested on multiple drug charges and spent some time in prison. However, eventually he would come clean after three years on probation. This step would set him up to be one of Hollywood’s greatest actors.

His big break came with the production of the hit film Iron Man. Here Downey’s work is truly incredible. He plays the role of genius billionaire philanthropist Tony Stark. He builds himself an iron suit and fights evil in his free time. Downey plays this part exactly how it is meant to be played. He is arrogant and cocky to the point where it often gets him in trouble. However, at the same time he still shows the loving and caring qualities that come with being a superhero. During this casting, Downey showed his determination by eating 5,000 calories per day and packing on 25 pounds of muscle. Overall, this became a truly versatile role.

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This part would cast him into two sequels and another series involving Iron Man entitled The Avengers. However, along the way Downey proved to play parts consisting of more than just a superhero. He would go on to play Sherlock Holmes in a duo of movies that showed his ability to be a witty and clever detective who can seemingly solve any crime. Additionally, he recently took on a role with co-star Robert Duvall in The Judge. Here he plays a lawyer determined to keep his aging father out of prison while the two have barely spoke in years. His emotions of hatred and at the same time love make the movie come to life.

              As of today, Downey has reached #8 on Forbes highest paid celebrities, making $80 million last year alone. He has since won the Academy Award for best actor and is without a doubt one of the best actors in Hollywood. Overall, his story truly is a one of superhero magnitude.