Born in New York City. Gifted actor who made his first screen appearance at age five, playing a puppy in POUND (1970), directed by father, underground filmmaker Robert Downey (b. 1937). Downey Jr. dropped out of high school and began working odd jobs, including being a piece of living art in a Soho nightclub in NY. He received his first break from his father with a small part in AMERICA (filmed in 1982, but released in 1986), but first appeared on movie screens in John Sayles's BABY, IT'S YOU (1983). After a series of small roles in slight teen films, (WEIRD SCIENCE, 1985; BACK TO SCHOOL, 1986), Downey landed his breakthrough role as the tragic cocaine-addicted Julian in LESS THAN ZERO (1987). Downey went on to give mature performances as the idealistic lawyer opposite James Woods in TRUE BELIEVER and as the confused romantic hero of CHANCES ARE (both 1989). He gave a tour-de-force performance as the title character in Richard Attenborough's biopic CHAPLIN (1992). Though the film was not well received at the box office, Downey was universally praised for his ability to capture the essence of the world's favorite little tramp. He followed up with HEART AND SOULS (1993), a light comedy co-starring Charles Grodin and Kyra Sedgwick, and also appeared in the large ensemble cast of Robert Altman's SHORT CUTS (1993). During a traffic stop for speeding in 1996, he was arrested for drunk driving, possession of heroin, and possession of an unloaded pistol in his pickup truck. This was his first reported brush with the law at age 31. He was given a suspended prison sentence of 3 years, and granted probation with requirements of random drug testing and drug counselling. Downey's problems with his probation and drug use have been well documented in the popular press. Other notable credits include NATURAL BORN KILLERS and ONLY YOU (both 1994), RICHARD III, HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS and RESTORATION (all 1995), DANGER ZONE (1996), ONE NIGHT STAND (1997), U.S. MARSHALS (1998), WONDER BOYS (2000), "Ally McBeal" (2000-2001, TV series), WHATEVER WE DO, THE SINGING DETECTIVE and GOTHIKA (all 2003), EROS (2004), GAME 6, KISS KISS BANG BANG and GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK (all 2005), THE SHAGGY DOG, FUR: AN IMAGINARY PORTRAIT OF DIANE ARBUS and A GUIDE TO RECOGNIZING YOUR SAINTS (all 2006), ZODIAC, LUCKY YOU and CHARLIE BARTLETT (all 2007), and IRON MAN, TROPIC THUNDER and THE SOLOIST (all scheduled for 2008).  Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 1992: CHAPLIN 1 nomination