“ Remember that just because you hit bottom doesn’t mean you have to stay there”.
Robert John Downey Jr. is an American actor and singer, born on April 4, 1965, at Manhattan, New York. He is the younger child of Robert Downey Sr., an actor and filmmaker, and Elsie Ann (née Ford), an actress. The 54-year-old is best known for portraying the role of Marvel Comics superhero Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. His other notable films include Chaplin, Sherlock Holmes and its sequel. Downey has received a number of awards and nominations over the years including three Golden Globe Awards, a BAFTA Award and two nominations in Academy Awards. He has topped the Forbes List of highest paid actors of Hollywood for three consecutive years from 2012 to 2015.
To say that Robert Downey Jr. is successful, rich and famous, is an understatement. However, just over a decade or so, his life was completely different. He suffered from various drug addictions from an early age and by 1996, he was running into complications with the law. He experienced numerous arrests and visited the rehab regularly and even found himself in prison. It seemed that there was no hope for him as he continued down a devastating and destructive path.
In 2002, RDJ took responsibility for his actions and he decided that he himself was the only one that could pull him out of the despair. He broke away from his addictions and surrounded himself with work and individuals that would help him stay on the right track.
Robert Downey Jr. is an inspiration for those who are struggling to overcome past mistakes and there are lessons to learn from the actor’s life to help them mount their own comeback.
One Step at a Time
Whether someone wants to vanquish their inner demons or escape from a bad time, like what Robert Downey Jr. went through in the late 1990s, they’ll have to have patience rather than wait for a miracle to happen. Downey’s comeback from rock-bottom to a superstar took seven years of struggle for which he worked hard to prove his commitment and regain his professional credibility.
He explained in an interview, “I found my way out of the woods by a subtler and subtler trail of bread crumbs.”
Accept Help
If help comes, one shouldn’t be ashamed or proud to accept it. It might be a blessing and a push that may do wonders for someone. Even when Downey had his addiction in check, producers were reluctant to hire him as they weren’t sure whether he would be able to finish a movie or not. Mel Gibson, an actor who was flying high at the time, stepped in and offered to put up Downey’s insurance bond, which enabled Downey to get the lead role in the 2003 movie, The Singing Detective. His work in the film turned out as excellent performance and he proved to Hollywood that his acting skills weren’t affected by his addiction.
Your Talent Will Overshadow Your Past Mistakes
Iron Man, the 2008 blockbuster was the turning point in Downey’s life and established him as a superstar. But Downey was an unlikely choice for the superhero as he was a recovering addict and he’d spent his career playing off-centre supporting roles. Jon Favreau, the director of Iron Man, however, was in favour of the actor and worked hard to persuade Marvel Comics that he was the man for the part.
Don’t Be Afraid to Work in a Team
Success is often thought to be an individual endeavour. But Downey resists the temptation to take over in the movie series, The Avengers, which brings together Marvel costumed icons and each movie of the franchise has been gaining positive reviews. Instead, Downey has disciplined himself in a way that he is able to gracefully hold himself back and Tony Stark’s snarky running commentary is the touch that the action sequences need.
Conclusion
“By following Downey’s lead and taking responsibilities of our own lives, we too can experience happiness, joy and the same level of success as the actor, and in doing so, we are creating ourselves as our own inspiration”!
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