12 Fascinating Facts About Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr.’s dad is a actor, writer and film director doing underground films such as the cult classic Putney Swope.

He had his screen debut in 1970 when he was just five years old. He appeared in his dad’s film Proud. He also appeared in seven of his dad’s other films Greaser's Palace, Moment to Moment, Up the Academy, America, Rented Lips, Too Much Sun, Hugo Pool.

His dad, who had a drug problem, gave Robert Jr. marijuana at the very young age of six. Robert Downey Jr. once said, “When my dad and I would do drugs together, it was like him trying to express his love for me in the only way he knew how.”

Robert Downey Jr. served almost a year behind bars at the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison in 2000 (he had been sentenced to three years but got out early).

His real family name is Elias, his father had changed it to Downey (his step father’s name) so he could enlist in the army.

At the age of ten, he lived in England and studied classical ballet. He also lived in Greenwich Village and went to the Stagedoor Performing Arts Training Center in upstate New York when he was a teen. After his parents divorced, he moved to LA to be with his dad and attended Santa Monica High School but dropped out in 1982 to move back to New York to pursue acting.

Robert Downey Jr. has been arrested many times for possession of marijuana, cocaine and heroin and had been in and out of rehab. He once told a judge of his problem, "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."

Robert Downey Jr. likes to sing too! Not only has he contributed several songs to soundtracks of his movies but he released a CD in 2004 called The Futurist.

After he was released from prison, he scored a come back gig on Ally McBeal but was fired after he was arrested for drugs two more times. This was a big low point for him.

He dated Sarah Jessica Parker but she broke up with him due to his drug problems.

After a whirlwind romance, he married actress Deborah Falconer in 1992. They had a son together born on September 7, 1993 who they named Indio Falconer Downey. Deborah left him due to his drug problems.

Robert Downey Jr. met his future wife Susan Levin on the set of Gothika. The couple was married on August 27th, 2005. He credits her for helping beat his drug and alcohol demons saying, "There's no understanding for me of the bigger picture in real time in a hands-on way without her. Because it was the perfect, perfect, perfect matching of personalities and gifts.”