During the 69th annual Academy Award ceremony, actor Robert Downey Jr. (RDJ) won his first ever career Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in his role as Admiral Lewis Strauss, the antagonist in Christopher Nolan’s well-praised “Oppenheimer.” 

RDJ won the title over nominees Sterling K. Brown of “American Fiction,” Robert De Niro of “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Ryan Gosling of “Barbie,” and Mark Ruffalo of “Poor Things.”

Downey Jr.’s rise to stardom didn’t come easily. The actor was first arrested in June 1996 for possession of controlled substances. He struggled with addiction for years, which led him to bouts of jail time up until 2001 when he started his recovery and rehabilitation. In April of 2010, RDJ opened up about his struggles and released a novel titled, “The Fall and Rise of the Comeback Kid,” that focused on his life, addiction, and recovery.

Because of Downey’s record, the actor found it difficult to land roles in movies. After being fired from television show “Ally McBeal” in 2000 over drug charges, RDJ proceeded to make a more official comeback in 2003 with his role in the “Singing Detective,” where he played character Dan Dark, a role created specifically for him. by director Mel Gibson. Downey Jr. still thanks Mel Gibson to this day for restarting his career. 

After the “Singing Detective,” RDJ went on to act in more movies during his recovery, such as “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” in 2005, the thriller “Zodiac” in 2007, and the action-comedy “Tropic Thunder” in 2008. 

In the same year “Tropic Thunder” released, RDJ landed his most well-known role as Tony Stark in Marvel’s “Iron Man.” Since then, the actor has gone on to star in numerous other movies and television shows, bringing him the recognition of the renowned actor he is today. 

Though coming after his role as an opposing figure, Downey Jr’s. first Oscar win in his 54 years of acting highlights his resilient character and inspires others to see that they are capable of getting past their own worst moments.