He gained global recognition for portraying Tony Stark/Iron Man in ten Marvel Cinematic Universe films from Iron Man (2008) to Avengers: Endgame (2019).

Robert Downey Jr. was born on April 4, 1965, making him an Aries. The American actor stands approximately 5'8" (173 cm) tall and has starred in films that grossed over $14.3 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. He was the highest-paid actor in the world from 2013 to 2015 and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer (2023).

Downey made his acting debut at age five in his father Robert Downey Sr.'s absurdist film Pound (1970), growing up immersed in New York's independent film scene. He joined Saturday Night Live's cast in 1985 alongside Anthony Michael Hall but was dismissed after one season due to poor ratings. His early career included Brat Pack films like Weird Science (1985) and Less than Zero (1987), where his portrayal of a drug-addicted youth foreshadowed his own future struggles.

Downey is married to film producer Susan Downey (née Levin) since 2005, and together they co-founded the production company Team Downey. He has three children: one son from his previous marriage to singer Deborah Falconer (1992-2004) and two children with Susan. After court-ordered rehabilitation, Downey has remained sober since 2003, crediting his wife and family as central to his personal transformation and career comeback.