31 Little Known Facts We Bet You Never Knew Before About Robert Downey Jr.

Robert Downey Jr, in his four-decade long career, has won over millions of fans by portraying roles ranging from an out-of-control rich kid, to a gritty lawyer, an iconic superhero, and the most renowned fictional detective ever. However, the journey was rough, as Downey was continually discounted by the industry due to his run-ins with the law. But despite all of this, he has managed to emerge stronger, gaining the trust of his fans. Here are a few interesting things to know about the award winning actor, which will make you love him even more:

1. The phrase “I Love You 3000,” which his character of Tony Stark exchanges with his daughter Morgan in the movie “Avengers: Endgame,” was in reality said by one his own children to him. He shared that with the directors Anthony Russo and Joe Russo, who liked it and added it in the film.
2. In one scene of “Captain America: Civil War,” his character Tony Stark remarks how attractive Spider Man’s Aunt May is, played by Marisa Tomei. In the 1990s, Downey Jr was involved in a relationship with Tomei, and they even starred together in two films.
3. It was revealed that Geraldine Chaplin met Downey Jr in full costume for his titular character of “Charlie Chaplin.” She was awestruck how much he resembled her late father, the legendary Charles Chaplin. She claimed that she needed a moment to compose herself to even speak to him.
4. He claims his 1993 movie “Heart and Souls,” directed by Ron Underwood, was his favorite films that he has starred in.
5. With his appearance as Iron Man/Tony Stark in the “Avengers Endgame,” he officially set the record for most appearances in film as a single superhero, with a total of 10 appearances. The record was previously held by Hugh Jackman, who portrayed Wolverine over 17 years, while Downey Jr took only 11 years to do so.
6. He is a known horologist, owning watches including Omega, Rolex, Breitling, Patek Philippe, and LeCoultre. He also owns a Baume & Mercier watch, which is said to be his grandfather’s.
7. He is the first ever actor to have won a Golden Globe for portraying the famous detective Sherlock Holmes, in the 2009 movie “Sherlock Holmes.
8. He met his wife Susan Downey, the producer of his movie “Gothika,” on the set of the movie, and fell in love with her. Downey Jr proposed to her on her 30th birthday and the couple was married on August 27, 2005 at Amagansett, New York. Sting and Billy Idol reportedly performed at his wedding.
9. It was reported that during the filming of “Zodiac,” he was not accustomed to director David Fincher’s multiple takes, as well as the new process of filming digitally. Thus, he is said to have rebelled against the director for having no time at all to pull himself back in his trailer.
10. During the shooting of the “Avengers: Endgame,” Downey Jr. reportedly hid his personal snacks at different spots all over the set. The scenes from the movie, in which he is seen eating or offering his co-stars snacks, are said to be improvised by him.
11. “Captain America: Civil War” was the first movie from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, in which Downey Jr, though a major character, did not receive top billing.
12. Just like his character of Kirk Lazarus in the movie “Tropic Thunder,” Downey Jr, is said to be method actor. During filming, he had stayed in character as Lazarus, even when the cameras were not rolling.
13. While filming the “Avengers: Endgame,” simultaneously with “Avengers: Infinity War,” he would reportedly bring musicians during lunch time, providing live music for the shooting crew.
14. In preparation for his titular role in “Charlie Chapin,” he visited the Museum of the Moving Image in London, England and convinced the staff to allow him to try one of Charlie Chaplin’s “Little Tramp” suits and boots. In one of the suit pockets, he reportedly found a cigar stub that may have been from the late actor.
15. For the movies “Avengers: Infinity War,” as well as the “Avengers: Endgame,” it was reported that Downey Jr was the only actor who had the entire script, while some of his co-stars were given only portions. His co-star Tom Holland was reportedly unaware of many things in the movies.
16. In the movie “Captain America: Civil War,” the scenes in which the younger Tony Stark appears were also played by Downey Jr, with Lola FX providing the “de-aging” visual effects on his face and hair, referencing photos from early in Downey Jr’s career.
17. After filming “Avengers,” he asked the Marvel production manager if he could have the letter “A” that was on the Stark Tower, but he was declined. However, the manager gifted him that same letter on his next birthday.
18. Under the guidance of Sifu Eric Oram, he has been training in Wing Chun for several years and can be seen using it in Sherlock Holmes. He actually started practicing the martial art in an effort to get over his drug addiction problem.
19. He also revealed in a November 2010 interview with Playboy Magazine that he was enrolled for Kung Fu at the Los Angeles Wing Chun Kung Fu Academy and practices it three times a week for three hours a session.
20. In the movie “Sherlock Holmes,” in the scene in which his character is disguised as a cross-dresser, it was actually Downey Jr who came up with the idea, as the script originally had him disguised as a priest.
21. In the original shot of the final battle scene of “Avengers: Endgame,” in which Thanos says “I am inevitable”, his character Iron Man does not respond. This was re-shot as the editor Jeffrey Ford felt this response didn’t do Iron Man justice. This scene was re-shot with Iron Man responding “I am Iron Man” and the re-shot scene was added just three months before release.
22. At first Downey Jr was reportedly quite hesitant for the re-shoot as he found it hard to get into the emotional state, but it was his friend, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang producer Joel Silver, who persuaded him to do it, when they bumped into each other over a dinner meeting.
23. The said scene, which is also the last scene for his iconic character of Iron Man, was re-shot at the Raleigh Studios in January 2019, on a stage adjacent to the one on which Downey Jr screen-tested for the role of Iron Man, nearly twelve years before.
24. It was reported that his character of Kirk Lazarus from “Tropic Thunder” was originally intended to be an Irish native, but Downey Jr requested it to be changed to an Australian, as he could easily improvise the Australian accent he developed for his 1994 movie “Natural Born Killers.”
25. During the filming of “Avengers: Infinity War,” Downey Jr actually requested the movie studio to ship the furniture from his Los Angeles house to the filming location in Atlanta.
26. While filming the hospital interrogation scene with Halle Berry for the movie “Gothika,” he was supposed to grab her arm and twist it lightly, but unfortunately he twisted really hard, resulting in snapping of the arm.
27. Before the filming of the fight scene between his character and Winter Soldier played by Sebastian Stan in the “Captain America: Civil War,” Stan reportedly sent a video which shows him doing intense bicep curls in front of an Iron Man suit with its head decapitated.
28. For his role of Charlie Chaplin, he learned how to play the violin and tennis left-handed and also took guidance from a coach to help him perfect the Chaplin’s posture and mannerisms. He also watched all of the legendary Chaplin’s movies and studied his every action in detail. Still, when asked how he felt about doing the role, he claimed that “they scared the hell out of” him.”
29. In the movie “Captain America: Civil War,” Marvel initially decided for Tony Stark to have a small role with only three weeks of work. But Downey insisted on a bigger role in the movie.
30. This reportedly made Ike Perlmutter, the Marvel Entertainment CEO, furious and ordered the screenwriters to remove his character totally out of the script, However, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige insisted on hiring Downey for a bigger role, as his character could pave the way for sequels, new franchises, and drive future storylines in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
31. Robert Downey Jr. Net Worth: $300 Million