Here are a few things about Robert Downey Jr. we bet you never heard about.
From Chaplin to Tony Stark, the road that led Robert Downey Jr. to become everyone’s favorite superhero was not at all smooth. Though he came from a renowned family, a lot of personal issues distracted him and kept his true potential hindered. A middle age crisis followed his incredible career as youth. However, our beloved RDJ had always been a man of sheer will. This eventually brought him back immeasurable success in both reel and real life.
For records, Robert Downey Jr. was born on April 4, 1965. He is the son of renowned filmmaker Robert Downey Sr. and Elsie Ann Ford, Sr.’s first wife and most of his films’ actress. At the age of 10, his parents divorced. He was soon exposed to drugs and alcohol, his father being an addict and supporter of the act. This had a major impact on Downey’s life and career.
While Downey had given us major commercial success in his youth, his addiction soon led him to the path of exile from Hollywood. He also winded up in major legal troubles in that period. But like a pheonix rises from its ashes, Downey threw all his drugs into the ocean in order to have a refreshed start. He resurged as one of the most successful actors of present times.
Check out these cool facts about RDJ which, we bet, you didn’t know till now.
1. Inherently his title should be Elias
His father, Robert Downey Sr., was born to Elizabeth McLoughlin and Robert Elias. He was named Robert John Elias Jr. at birth. But in order to enlist himself in the US Army, he changed his surname to that of his stepfather’s, James Downey. And so, our Mr. Stark was also named after his father although it should have been Elias if direct bloodline was referred to. You surely didn’t see that coming!
2. His nickname is Bob
While fans like us call him RDJ in short, his friends usually call him by the name, Bob. And after all he has built and all he has done as Tony Stark, can’t we call him Bob The Builder? We surely can!
3. He learnt ballet as a kid
Yes! No matter how odd it may sound but Robert Downey Jr. learnt classical ballet. He was just 10 when he got himself into learning this dance form in Perry House School in London. No wonder he mastered it like a champ.
4. He is an outstanding singer
Not only outstanding but RDJ is a gifted singer. When he released his first solo album in 2004 under the banner of Sony, titled “The Futurist”, the album went off the charts selling over 16k copies in the very first week. He had even lent his magical voice to a few background scores of his own movies. Way to go RDJ!
5. He knows Wing-Chun
Just when you thought that surprises had left your home, here’s another. Apart from learning ballet and having a talent for singing, Robert Downey Jr. is also a martial artist. He practices a form of Kung Fu called Wing-Chun. He credits it as one of the supports that helped him get rid of his drug addiction.
6. His performing clothes are either buried or kept as an asset of his career
RDJ has been known to keep much of his vintage clothing he wore in films in the 1990s to remind himself how he flourished in his career. However, he has also admitted to have buried the clothes he wore in the critically acclaimed film, Chaplin. He supports this act by saying that it helps him to stay away from the reckless life he was once into. Hope the Iron Man suit is at your home Robert!
7. He owns Chaplin’s house
Even before Robert Downey Jr. fitted into the pants of the legendary comedian, Charlie Chaplin, in a film by Richard Attenborough, he bought Chaplin’s house in 1988. Following that, he got cast in the movie which won him much praise for the titular role. He even got nominated in the Academy awards as the Best Actor for portraying Chaplin.
8. He feels himself to be the Mayor of Comic Con
You absolutely read it right! That’s what Downey thinks of himself whenever he attends a Comic Con event. He first attended a Comic Con back in 2008 after emerging as Iron Man on screen. Recently he exclaimed in a show that he felt like the Mayor of the event every time he visited because of the love and praise he received from the attendees.
9. An Oscar would surely reach RDJ’s hands one day
Those who regularly follow Robert Downey Jr. on his social networks, they are quite well-acquainted with his part-self-obsession. However, this is what we love about RDJ. In an interview, he had said that he is sure to win an Oscar one day. And even if he doesn’t win it during his years of being active as an actor, he will be awarded one as an honor in his old age. We believe you too RDJ.
10. He is the highest paid actor of 2015
Marvel and its owner, Disney, know very well that RDJ is their trumph card to success. This is the reason they never hesitate to pay RDJ 10 times more than his co-stars. Although he is not the richest actors of Hollywood in terms of net worth, he has constantly been one of the highest paid actors since his debut as Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes. He had been paid about $50 million for his appearence in the first Avengers movie, followed by earning $75 million from Iron Man 3 and then the biggie, Avengers 2 earned him as high as $80 million making him the highest paid actor of 2015. It has been rumored that the next Avengers film would earn him as much as $200 million. Whoa!
You may now choose to explore more facts about RDJ – The real life Tony Stark or alternatively read our article on the 10 Most Expensive Robert Downey Movies.
Do share your thoughts by commenting below.
