VivaVibe

Robert Downey Jr., then and now

Beginning his career as a child actor, Robert Downey Jr. rose to fame in his 20s, doing a stint on Saturday Night Live, and picking up gigs in Weird Science, Back to School, and Tuff Turf. Decades later, he is one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood, thanks to his franchise turns as Iron Man and Sherlock Holmes. In honor of Downey's long-lasting career, see the movie star through the years, ahead.

Anthony Michael Hall, Robert Rusler, Robert Downey Jr., and Ilan Mitchell-Smith in Weird Science in 1984

Robert Downey Jr. with Sarah Jessica Parker in the mid-1980s

Dennis Miller, Robert Downey Jr., and Anthony Michael Hall on Saturday Night Live on April 14, 1986

Robert Downey Jr. on Saturday Night Live on Jan. 18, 1986

Robert Downey Jr. with Molly Ringwald for The Pick-Up Artist in 1987

Robert Downey Jr. with Sarah Jessica Parker at a benefit cocktail party for Democratic candidate Michael Dukakis on Sept. 15, 1988

Robert Downey Jr. with Christian Slater in Los Angeles on Nov. 16, 1988

Robert Downey Jr. in Chances Are in 1989

Robert Downey Jr. with Sarah Jessica Parker at the London premiere of L.A. Story on May 10, 1991

Robert Downey Jr. with Moira Kelly in Chaplin in 1992

Lili Taylor, Robert Downey Jr., Christopher Penn, and Jennifer Jason Leigh in Short Cuts in 1993

Robert Downey Jr. on The Tonight Show With Jay Leno on Aug. 25, 1994

Robert Downey Jr. with his then wife Deborah Falconer on Dec. 7, 1994

Robert Downey Jr. at the MTV Movie Awards in 1995

Robert Downey Jr. in The Gingerbread Man in 1998

Robert Downey Jr. at the Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 21, 2001

Robert Downey Jr. with his son Indio Falconer Downey at the premiere of Austin Powers in Goldmember on July 26, 2002

Robert Downey Jr. in Park City, Utah on Jan. 18, 2003

Robert Downey Jr. with Susan Levin at the Los Angeles Gothika premiere on Nov. 13, 2003

Robert Downey Jr. in L.A. on Nov. 23, 2004

Robert Downey Jr. with Susan Levin at their wedding on Aug. 27, 2005

Robert Downey Jr. at the Cannes Film Festival on May 25, 2006

Robert Downey Jr. in New York on Nov. 5, 2006

Robert Downey Jr. at the 79th annual Academy Awards on Feb. 25, 2007

Robert Downey Jr. with his father Robert Downey Sr. at TIME's 100 Most Influential People gala on May 8, 2008

Robert Downey Jr. at the 17th annual MTV Movie Awards on June 1, 2008

Robert Downey Jr. in California on Feb. 2, 2009

Robert Downey Jr. with his mother Elsie on Dec. 7, 2009

Robert Downey Jr. at Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Dec. 7, 2009

Robert Downey Jr. with Jude Law at the New York premiere of Sherlock Holmes on Dec. 17, 2009

Robert Downey Jr. with his wife Susan at the 67th annual Golden Globe Awards on Jan. 17, 2010

Robert Downey Jr. at Spike TV's Scream Awards on Oct. 15, 2011

Robert Downey Jr. at San Diego Comic-Con on July 14, 2012

Robert Downey Jr. with Gwyneth Paltrow in Los Angeles on April 22, 2013

Robert Downey Jr. at the 50th Chicago International Film Festival on Oct. 5, 2014

Robert Downey Jr. at the British Academy Britannia Awards on Oct. 30, 2015

Robert Downey Jr. with Chris Evans at the Kids' Choice Awards on March 12, 2016

Robert Downey Jr. and Tom Holland at the premiere of Spider-Man: Homecoming at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on June 28, 2017

Robert Downey Jr. and Josh Brolin at the Avengers: Infinity War press junket in Los Angeles on April 22, 2018

Robert Downey Jr. at the 2019 E! People's Choice Awards at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica on Nov. 10, 2019

Robert Downey Jr. at the Dolittle special screening at Cineworld Leicester Square in London, England on Jan. 25, 2020

Robert Downey Jr. at Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica on March 13, 2021

Robert Downey Jr. at the Sr. New York Film Festival premiere screening on Oct. 10, 2022

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