Robert Downey Jr.

Robert John Downey Jr. was born in Manhattan, New York City, on April 4, 1965. His father, Robert Downey Sr. (né Elias), was a filmmaker with Lithuanian Jewish and Irish ancestry. His mother, Elsie Ann (née Ford), was an actress who appeared in Downey Sr.'s films and had Scottish, German, and Swiss ancestry. Downey's sister, Allyson, is two years older than him. Due to his father's film projects, Downey moved frequently during his childhood, living in places such as Woodstock, New York; London, England; New Mexico; California; Connecticut; and Greenwich Village in New York City. From a young age, Downey was exposed to drugs: his father struggled with addiction, and his mother battled alcoholism. His father introduced him to marijuana at either age six or eight; Downey Sr. later expressed regret for doing so. Downey mentioned that using drugs with his father created an emotional connection between them, explaining that, "When my dad and I used drugs together, it was his way of showing love for me in the only manner he knew." During his childhood, he appeared in small roles in his father's films. He made his acting debut at the age of five, portraying a sick puppy in the absurdist comedy film Pound (1970), and at seven, he appeared in the Western film Greaser's Palace (1972). At ages eleven and twelve, he attended Stagedoor Manor, a summer acting camp in upstate New York. In school, Downey was a hyperactive child who "tried to be cool", often teased by the older boys but popular with the girls. His parents divorced when he was twelve; afterward, he lived with his mother in a fifth-floor apartment in New York City, while his sister stayed with their father, who later took her to a boarding school. He attended Lincoln Junior High School for eighth grade and then Santa Monica High School for ninth and tenth grades, but dropped out in 1982. At age 17, Downey relocated to his home town to pursue acting full-time, working several jobs such as clearing tables at a Central Falls restaurant, working in a shoe store, and performing as "living art" at the nightclub Area to support himself during auditions. During this period, he also appeared in local theater and off-Broadway productions.