Robert Downey Jr., born on April 4, 1965, is a renowned American actor and film producer who has become an iconic figure in Hollywood. RDJ gained widespread recognition through his involvement with Marvel, which provided him with a platform to revitalize his acting career following a challenging period in his personal life.
The turning point in Downey’s career came in 2008 when he debuted in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Tony Stark/Iron Man. This role continued until “Avengers: Endgame” (2019), which marked a monumental triumph in his artistic journey.
Before he collaborated with Marvel, Downey had already made notable appearances in various projects, including Chaplin (1992), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005), Zodiac (2007), and Tropic Thunder (2008), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, Other than Iron Man, Downey is also famous for playing Sherlock Holmes in Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes (2009), and Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011).
Robert Downey Jr Almost Played This Villain In Fantastic Four
Interestingly, it has recently been revealed that Downey was initially considered for a different character within the Marvel universe. During a meeting commemorating the 15th anniversary of the cinematic universe, director Jon Favreau disclosed that Downey had been approached for the role of Doctor Doom in Tim Story’s 2005 film, “Fantastic Four.” However, the part eventually went to Julian McMahon.
Although Downey missed out on the role of Doctor Doom, his portrayal of Iron Man became the cornerstone of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). He astoundingly appeared as the iconic character in 10 Marvel films, encompassing two Iron Man sequels and four Avengers installments. Favreau shed light on the casting journey for Downey, expressing that he immediately recognized “that spark” within him during the screen test. Favreau further elaborated:
“Once it was [Downey], that’s when my life got a lot easier because he understood the voice of the character. And then one by one, people were just signing on board because now it became something interesting.”
