THE MAN BEHIND IRON MAN: Robert Downey Jr.'s Super Comeback

If you didn’t have a mom who grew up in the 80s and 90s loving popular culture (like mine), then you might not know the MARVELous journey of Robert Downey Jr.. My mother, like myself, is a true pop culture fanatic and knew the good, the bad and the ugly of Downey Jr. But you might also be like my dad, who exclusively knows Downey Jr. as Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man. Whether he is Tony, Robert or nobody to you, the story of this celebrity’s journey to stardom, struggle with addiction, becoming a beloved superhero and how he managed his reputation through it all deserves to be heard and understood.

 

We have dove into the mysterious nine lives of celebrity reputation, but these "down on their luck" celebrities have another trick up their sleeves – reputation reincarnation. Now, let’s take a look at the transformation of the man behind the iron!

 

Our story begins in 1965 when Downey Jr. was born in New York City, his relationship with his filmmaker father proved to be a hallmark in the trials he would soon go through in his life. The father and son duo began doing drugs together at a very young age, try 8 years old, and this became their “family bonding.” This twisted family time would lead to many drunken years and battles with severe addiction. And in the midst of it all Downey Jr. was trying to be anything but himself – an actor. Downey Jr. landed iconic roles in classics like Less Than Zero, Weird Science and Chaplin. The latter film earned Downey Jr. an Oscar nomination and critical acclaim from his fellow peers. But just as success came knocking on his door, Downey Jr. began to shed his skin of teen heartthrob to struggling addict.

 

By 1996 Downey Jr. had transformed into a man that many did not recognize, his reputation was behind bars - just like him. He was caught intoxicated with opioids and a weapon on hand; Downey Jr. was the embodiment of drunk and disorderly and this was only the beginning. Just three years after his initial arrest Downey Jr. began his journey through the prison system, parole, then back to being arrested and ultimately landing at rock bottom before reaching rehabilitation centers. While this time in rehab was court-mandated, these crucial moments saved both his life, his acting career and his reputation. With a massive debt, terrible addiction, an unstable marriage and child looming over his head, it was time for Downey Jr. to shed this skin and fly into heroic red and gold armor.

 

Just six years after the hardest times of his life, Downey Jr. began his journey back to acting through films in Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang, Zodiac and Gothika. It was also during this time that he found love and even more reasons to remain on his rehabilitation path. He now had a wife, a child and the role of a lifetime right in his grasps. In 2008, Downey Jr. embarked on portraying the legendary Iron Man in the film Iron Man. He would go on to play this iconic superhero for 11 years, but the real hero was Downey Jr. himself. His great “reputation skin” was that of his very own, it might have taken years to realize but in the cinematic journey of his life - he was his own hero.

 

Now you might be asking yourself, how did his reputation survive three starkly reincarnations? Would my reputation be able to survive? Have I already shed one of my skins? Am I a snake? ... While I might not be able to answer every question you have, I can shed some light on Downey Jr.’s magical ways. The answer to this magician’s tricks is simple – authenticity. Authenticity in the day and age of plastic things and plastic people is rare and Downey Jr. was this rarity then and now. He has built his reputation on being himself, no matter how dark or messy it gets, and owning both his mistakes and triumphs.

 

The social media channels of Downey Jr. today are filled with friends, family, fun, fitness, film and a lens towards the future. His posts feel “normal” with sparks of activism, celebrity cameos and an “I don’t take myself too seriously” attitude. Downey Jr.’s social media use feels relatable and friendly, and as one of the highest paid actors in the industry that is a hard feat to accomplish. He has sustained the fans he has had since day one, like my mother, and gained new faces, like my father. Each member of my family knows a different Downey Jr., but all know the man behind the role – and that is the power of reputation reincarnation.