Robert Downey Jr. » Trivia

Ranked #60 in Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People in the world (2008).

On the set of A Guide to Recognizing Your Saints (2006) he took co-star Adam Scarimbolo under his wing.

Met wife Susan Downey on the set of Gothika (2003). He proposed to her on her 30th birthday

Was in attendance at Chris Penn's funeral

He's the first regular cast member of "Saturday Night Live" (1975) to be nominated for an Academy Award in the category "Best Actor in a Leading Role." Joan Cusack and Dan Aykroyd were also nominated for Academy Awards some years before Downey, but both were nominated for supporting roles.

Sting ("Every Breath You Take") and Billy Idol performed at his wedding to Susan Downey.

Was approached to do the part as Zaphod Beeblebrox in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (2005).

Downey enjoyed working with the director of the Elton John music video--contemporary artist Sam Taylor Wood--so much that he suggested that they work together again on an art piece. The result was an art video called "Pietà," made in the manner of Michelangelo's famous Pietà sculpture in Rome. It was included in Sam Taylor Wood's exhibition "Mute" at the White Cube 2 art gallery in London, November 23 to January 12, 2002.

Dropped out of Santa Monica High School at age 17 and moved to New York to become an actor. First jobs in the city included bussing tables at Central Falls restaurant, working in a shoe store, and performing as "living art" at SohHo's notorious underground club Area.

At the age of 10, while living in London, Robert attended the Perry House School in Chelsea and studied classical ballet.

As a result of his father's work (Robert Downey Sr. was (and is) an independent filmmaker), Downey the younger spent a great deal of his childhood on the move. He lived at various points in Connecticut, New York, California, London, Paris, and Woodstock.

In a symbolic attempt to bury his decadent 1980s Brat Pack image and begin a new phase of his life and career after filming Chaplin (1992) in 1991, he (literally) buried the clothes that he wore in 1987's Less Than Zero (1987) in the backyard of his house.

Parents divorced when he was 11.

Downey pleaded no contest to drug charges. The judge sentenced him to remain in rehabilitation for one year and to three years' probation. (16 July 2001)

Downey pleaded not guilty to the November 2000 drug charges. Next hearing will be on July 16. He is being held in a drug rehab center until his case is decided. (24 May 2001)