Don’t call it a career win because few would argue that Robert Downey, Jr. didn’t deliver one of his best performances ever as Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” That immense talent was rewarded with his first Oscar in the Best Supporting Actor category at the 96th Academy Awards. One of the most popular actors of the past two decades and a three-time Oscar nominee overall, Downey, Jr. earned his first nomination 30 years ago for “Chaplin.”
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Best known to global audiences for his role as Tony Stark in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Downey, Jr.’s prolific resume includes ’80s teen classics such as “Less Than Zero” and “Back to School,” cult ’90s comedies such as “Soapdish,” and celebrated films such as “Natural Born Killers,” “Short Cuts,” “Richard III,” “Wonder Boys,” “Bowfinger,” “Good Night, and Good Luck,” “Zodiac,” “A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints,” and “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.” Following the success of 2008’s “Iron Man,” Downey, Jr. earned raves and another Oscar nomination for “Tropic Thunder,” and starred in two massively popular “Sherlock Holmes” movies and the hit comedy “Due Date.” He appeared in 10 movies overall as Stark including two of the highest-grossing movies of all time, “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame.” As an actor, Downey, Jr.’s films have grossed over $2.4 billion worldwide to date.
For “Oppenheimer,” the New York City native won the SAG Award, the BAFTA Award, and the Critics Choice Award for Supporting Actor.
Much less prolific since he ended his reign in the MCU, Robert Downey, Jr. will be seen next in HBO’s adaptation of “The Sympathizer,” directed (mostly) by the celebrated Park Chan-wook. He is also an executive producer on the project. His production company Team Downey also shepherded “Perry Mason,” “Sweet Tooth” and the 2022 documentary, “Sr.,” based on RDJ’s relationship with his father.
The other nominees in this category included Sterling K. Brown (“American Fiction”), Mark Ruffalo (“Poor Things”), Ryan Gosling (“Barbie”), and two-time Academy Award winner Robert De Niro (“Killers of the Flower Moon”).
“Oppenheimer” is now available to stream on Peacock as well as all digital download services.