The One Tragedy That Changed Robert Downey Jr Forever

There's no question that Robert Downey Jr. is one of the most successful actors of his generation. Thanks to his outstanding work in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Iron Man or Tony Stark, Guy Ritchie's "Sherlock Holmes" trilogy as the titular character, and a smattering of other widely-watched films like "Chaplin," "Tropic Thunder," and "Zodiac," he became a household name, amassed a global fanbase, and is regarded as one of the most well-loved actors in the world. On top of all that, he was also once among Time Magazine's 100 most influential people and was the highest-paid actor in the world at various points in time.

While his stint in the MCU has come to an end, Downey continues to enjoy the same level of success and popularity until today. But this wasn't always the case; even though he was already in the public eye ever since he was a child, he wasn't widely acclaimed as he is now. As a matter of fact, it was quite the opposite.

Downey has quite a remarkable comeback story. Throughout his career, his initial bout of fame nearly went down the drain as he dealt with substance addiction and spent time in prison. Before Downey became one of the world's most bankable celebrities, he hit rock bottom.

Robert Downey Jr. had always been open about getting high since he was young, but the actor spiraled just when he was gaining popularity. Per ABC News, his first run-in with the law was in 1996 when the police had found multiple kinds of drugs and a gun in his car. There was also a point where he trespassed into a neighbor's home and passed out in one of their beds.

Downey was then sentenced to spend time in rehab twice and served time in jail. It wasn't until 2003 that he decided to become clean, thanks to his then-girlfriend Susan Levin, also known as the "Miracle That Saved Robert Downey Jr." per Harper's Bazaar.

Downey and Susan met on the set of "Gothika" in 2003. While the two didn't hit it off right away, they eventually clicked and started dating. At the time, Downey wasn't quite finished with what he called his "Darth Vader" phase, but Susan gave him an ultimatum: either he pull himself together or they will break it off. "I did meet Darth Vader, for like a minute," Susan divulged. "...I said immediately, 'This isn't gonna work.' I made it clear that to stay with me, nothing could happen." It worked, and in July of 2003, Downey threw his drugs in the ocean and started his road to complete recovery. "I think he saw what we had," Susan confided. "There was something magical there."

After getting clean and sober, Robert Downey Jr. didn't rise to superstardom right away. He was considered unemployable up to the point where Mel Gibson had to spring for his insurance for "The Singing Detective" so he could get hired, per Variety. In his work for "Gothika," he even agreed to have a huge chunk of his salary withheld until they finished filming.

He wasn't the first choice for Iron Man, either. According to director Jon Favreau, Marvel had outright rejected his pitches for Downey to play the role. "Under no circumstances are we prepared to hire him for any price," they said at the time, per GQ. But Downey had persisted until the company was convinced to do a screen test, and that sealed the deal. 

Years later, during the "Infinity War" world premiere, Downey referenced his battle with addiction. "I want to talk about the past, present, and future," Downey said (via People). "The past for me was 30 years of dependency, depravity, and despair... otherwise known as 'An Actor Prepares!'" He went on to say that it's better to dwell in the present and that anyone can conquer the future if you surround yourself with good people. "The present is this moment of glory for all of us. And the future...? That is always uncertain," he expressed. "But looking at these friends behind me — it seems like things might brighten up after all."

If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).