Robert Downey Jr. Is Grateful He Didn’t Win The Oscar When Nominated At 27

Summary

• Robert Downey Jr. is grateful he didn’t win an Oscar for Chaplin because it would’ve made him think he was on the right track.
• Downey Jr. overcame drug addiction and legal troubles to revive his career.
• Landing the role of Tony Stark in Iron Man turned Downey Jr. into one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors.

Robert Downey Jr. recently earned his third Oscar nomination for his role as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer, but he earned his first nod in 1993, playing Charlie Chaplin. Reflecting on the moment now, the actor is grateful that he did not take home the prize when he was nominated at the age of 27.

While appearing on ABC’s The View, co-host Joy Behar expressed how great she thought he was in 1992’s Chaplin, which saw the actor playing the acclaimed silent film star. While speaking about the film and his nomination for Best Actor for the role, Downey Jr. revealed that he was grateful he didn’t win the award because the win would’ve led him to believe his life “was on the right track.”

“I was young and crazy…[Winning] would have put me under the impression that I was on the right track.”

Related Robert Downey Jr.’s Best Performances That Aren’t Iron Man Robert Downey Jr. is best known as Tony Stark, however, the actor has an accomplished career spanning four decades. Here are his best performances.

Robert Downey Jr. Has Overcome Years of Addictions To Be One Of The Hollywood Elite

It is no secret that Downey Jr. struggled immensely with drug addiction, and it’s something that derailed his career on several occasions. The actor went through years of legal troubles because of his addictions and, despite all of his talent, made it difficult for studios to want to hire him. After a stint at the Corcoran Substance Abuse Treatment Facility due to drug charges, the actor was given another chance after a series of missteps when he joined the cast of Ally McBeal, a turn that earned him a Golden Globe Award. Unfortunately, Downey Jr. was fired from the show following more drug charges in 2000 and 2001. This appears to be the turning point for the actor because, after going to a court-ordered drug treatment program, Downey. Jr. got clean in 2003 and has maintained his sobriety ever since.

Despite being clean, it was hard to hire the actor for films because completion bond companies would not insure him to appear in projects. It wasn’t until Mel Gibson paid his insurance bond for 2003’s The Singing Detective that this would all change. From there, Downey Jr. began receiving more roles in films such as Kiss Kiss Bang Bang and Zodiac, but his fortunes turned completely around when he landed the role of Tony Stark in Iron Man. As a part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the actor gained global recognition and quickly became one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actors.

In addition to the MCU, Downey Jr. has still been able to take on other dramatic and comedic roles. The actor earned his second Oscar nomination for the comedy Tropic Thunder, oddly enough losing to the late Heath Ledger in Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight. Now, it’s possible Downey Jr. will earn his first Oscar for his performance in Nolan’s Oppenheimer, a film that the actor has said is the best film he has ever been in.

Oppenheimer will be available to stream on Peacock on Feb. 16.

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