Robert Downey Jr. was born in 1965 in New York to writer/director Robert Downey Sr. and actress Elsie Downey. He was immersed in film from a young age and studied performing arts before dropping out of high school to pursue acting full-time. Downey Jr. struggled with drug abuse for decades after being exposed to drugs at a very young age by his father. After successfully taking the lead role in Iron Man, he became one of the most successful and highly paid stars in Hollywood.

1. BIOGRAGHY
Downey was born April 4, 1965 in Manhattan, New York, the son of writer,
director and filmographer Robert Downey Sr and actress Elsie Downey. Robert
and his sister, Allyson Downey, were immersed in film and the performing arts
from a very young age, leading Downey Jr. to study at the Stagedoor Manor
Performing Arts Training Center in upstate New York, before moving to California
with his father following his parents' 1978 divorce. In 1982, he dropped out of
Santa Monica High School to pursue acting full time. Downey Sr., himself a drug
addict, exposed his son to drugs at a very early age, and Downey Jr. would go on
to struggle with abuse for decades. Downey Jr. made his debut as an actor at the
age of five in the film Pound, written and directed by his father, He built his film
repertoire throughout the 1980s and 1990s.
In the early 90s, critics called Robert one of the most promising actors. After the
actor successfully coped with the main role in the film "Iron Man", the studios
flooded him with other job offers, and now Robert has the status of one of the most
successful and highly paid stars in Hollywood.