A great Hollywood comeback story, Robert Downey jr is now one of the highest paid actors not only in Hollywood but also the whole world. Substance abuse ran in the downey family.
The filmmaker Robert Downey sr allowed his son to smoke marijuana at the age of six, this later on in life led to him drinking every day.
Despite being an addict at the time, Robert Downey made a name for himself in the mid 80’s after he joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” which led to him getting roles in films like Weird Science and The Pick – Up Artist. In that same year, Downey also gave a memorable performance within the movie edition of the Bret Easton Ellis novel, much less Than zero, in which a gambling rich kid whose existence went off the rails amid a extreme heroin dependence. Downey’s off-display screen lifestyles would soon uncannily resemble that role.
Downey’s performance in the 1992 Chaplin biopic earned him an Academy Award nomination and his profession seemed to be in an upward trajectory until 1996, when he was arrested for possession of cocaine and heroin. According to the New York Times, Downey was arrested multiple times for drug offenses and cycled in and out of prison.
*Hitting Rock Bottom
Downey Jr. cycled in and out of rehab for addiction in the state of California. He was in prison for up to to 36 months, where he spent 12 months serving time before being let out on parole. He was imprisoned two more times within eight months before being sent to rehab for six months. Robert Downey, Jr called this period of his life , “rock bottom,” this was the time when he reached the lowest point of addiction and lost everything. His family left him. He was fired from his job. He was in debt. It was then that he decided it was time to take a year and fully address his substance abuse. It was time for recovery.
*Rise of A Superstar
Downey’s spouse Susan Downey (née Levin) instructed Harper’s Bazaar that he gave up drugs for good in 2003 after she gave him an ultimatum. Apparently, it stuck. According to a 2013 Daily Mail article, the actor credits a combination of 12-step programs, yoga, meditation and therapy with keeping him sober.
His profession didn’t pick up once more until Mel Gibson underwrote Downey’s liability insurance…
He additionally credits sobriety for the phenomenal profession momentum he has enjoyed during the last few years. It became practically impossible for Downey to get any roles given that most filmmakers wouldn’t or couldn’t pay the exorbitant insurance bonds it required to have him on set. His career didn’t pick up once more till Mel Gibson underwrote Downey’s legal responsibility coverage so that the actor could star in 2003’s The Singing Detective.
From there, Downey started performing regularly in movies such as Gothika, A Scanner Darkly, Zodiac and Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang.
*A Marvelous Comeback.
Downey’s star-power rose in 2008 when he starred in the first iron man movie earning him his 2nd Oscar nomination. Downey then starred in The Avengers in 2012. He has since starred in the MCU portraying Iron Man in several films making him a vital participant for Marvel. In addition, he has performed roles in Sherlock Holmes movies and more that showcased his skills and talent as an actor.
Where once he was viewed as toxic, Downey now finds himself in a place where studios and directors are seeking him out. Now living sober for more than 15 years, Robert Downey Jr.’s career has skyrocketed. This makes his comeback one of the most impressive and inspiring stories ever.
