Robert Downey Jr.: Pure awesomeness

Robert Downey Jr., the star in Walt Disney Pictures' "Iron Man" franchise, seems to have quite a bit in common with the main character, Tony Stark. The actor has a comeback tale of his own.

Downey joined 'Saturday Night Live's" cast for a season. From left, Dennis Miller, Downey and Anthony Michael Hall act out a "Weekend Update" on April 14, 1986.

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker and Downey dated for years during the 1980s, and according to Downey, they broke up in 1991 because of his drug problem. Here, the couple attend a cocktail party for the Dukakis presidential campaign at Norman Lear's home in Beverly Hills, California, on September 15, 1988.

The actor's 1992 role as Charlie Chaplin in the film "Chaplin," in which he starred with Marisa Tomei, earned him a Best Actor Oscar nomination.

Also in 1992, Downey married actress Deborah Falconer. They had a son, Indio, in 1993.

Downey with his father, director Robert Downey, in 1995. The younger Downey reportedly had his first experience with drugs at age 6, when his father gave him a toke of marijuana (years later, the elder Downey would confess to regretting that decision).

From left, actors Lili Taylor, Downey, Chris Penn and Jennifer Jason Leigh on the set of the film "Short Cuts" in 1993.

In 1996, the actor was arrested for possession of heroin, cocaine and an unloaded .357-caliber Magnum. Despite his drug problems and frequent brushes with the law, Downey has performed in more than 30 movies by 1998. However, in 1999, a missed drug test landed him in the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and state prison in Corcoran.

Downey starred with Michael Douglas, left, and Michael Cavadias in "Wonder Boys," released in 2000. In August of the same year, he received an offer to play on the hit TV show "Ally McBeal."

Nearly four months after being released from prison, Downey was arrested in a Palm Springs, California, hotel room on charges of cocaine and Valium possession and being under the influence of drugs. He was released on $15,000 bail the following day. He returned to the "Ally McBeal" set shortly thereafter.

"Ally McBeal" star Calista Flockhart arrives with Downey at the 58th Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 21, 2001.

Downey wins a Golden Globe for best supporting actor in a television show for "Ally McBeal."

Downey was arrested in Los Angeles on a misdemeanor charge of being under the influence of a controlled substance on April 24, 2001. Police found Downey wandering in an alley. "Ally McBeal" producer David E. Kelly let the actor go after the arrest. Prosecutors later said they would treat the incident as a violation of Downey's parole from a prior string of drug convictions and send the matter to state corrections officials.

In 2005, he married producer Susan Levin, whom he met when she served as a producer on the 2003 movie "Gothika."

By 2005, he had critics raving with his performance in films like "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang," in which he starred with Val Kilmer.

In 2008, with actress Gwyneth Paltrow, Downey starred in the first "Iron Man" film.

Downey and his son Indio attend a Los Angeles Lakers playoff game in 2008.

In 2008, Downey (at right with Ben Stiller) was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in "Tropic Thunder," in which he portrayed an actor who had "pigmentation alteration" surgery.

In 2009, Downey took on the role of Sherlock Holmes.

From left, Downey's mother, Elsie, wife Susan, Downey and his mother-in-law attend a hand- and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood on December 7, 2009.

In 2012, Downey and wife Susan became parents of a son, Exton. The 48-year-old's resilience, charm and talent have earned him a high-ranking spot in the box office with "Iron Man 3," which had the second-best opening weekend, behind "The Avengers' " $207.4 million bow on this weekend a year ago. "The Daily Show's" Jon Stewart had a straight face when he told the actor "You are Iron Man. You are."

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• Robert Downey Jr. has transformed his life


• The actor went from troubled star to superstar


• He is reportedly reprising Iron Man role in "Captain America 3"

Editor's note: A version of this story was first published in May 2013.

(CNN) -- Bravo to you, Robert Downey Jr.

The actor has transformed from a man who fans once feared would lose his life to substance abuse to a megastar who also happens to be a devoted husband and father. The wisecracking playboy daredevil has taken a back seat to a witty man enthralled with the woman in his life and clearly focused on his work.

Sound familiar?

It's hard to tell whether Robert Downey Jr. is channeling Tony Stark or whether moviegoers are buying into the actor's portrayal of "Iron Man" because the character is not that much of a stretch. And we aren't the only ones who think so. EW posed the question "Anyone else got a sneaking suspicion that Robert Downey Jr. and Tony Stark are actually the same person?" in a story about his 2013 appearance on "The Daily Show."

Robert Downey Jr. talks 'Iron Man 3'

With the Internet going gaga over reports that the actor is in final negotiations to appear as Iron Man in "Captain America 3," we can yet again marvel at the fact that there was a time when Downey was beyond down and out in Beverly Hills. In fact, he was pretty much the Lindsay Lohan of his time: an incredibly talented artist who seemed to attract trouble the moment he stepped out the door.

Report: Robert Downey Jr. to suit up for major role in 'Captain America 3'

He reportedly had his first experience with drugs at age 6 when his father, director Robert Downey, gave him a toke of marijuana (years later, the elder Downey would confess to regretting that decision.) In the 1980s, roles in films like "Less Than Zero" and "The Pick-up Artist" gave him honorary status in the Brat Pack, a group of hot young actors who dominated the movie scene.

He also had a highly publicized romance with Sarah Jessica Parker, who would go on to find fame as the star of "Sex and the City." But for all his luck in love and on screen (a turn as the iconic Charlie Chaplin in the 1992 film "Chaplin" earned him a best actor Oscar nomination) the dark side of show business resulted in multiple arrests for everything from driving under the influence to gun possession.

"It's like I have a shotgun in my mouth, and I've got my finger on the trigger, and I like the taste of the gunmetal," the actor famously told a judge in 1999.

His lifestyle not only took a toll on his reputation (he became fodder for jokes when in 1996, after a night of partying, he wandered into a neighbor's home in Malibu and fell asleep in a child's bed), it helped end his relationship with Parker.

"I was so selfish," he said in a 2008 interview. "I liked to drink, and I had a drug problem, and that didn't jibe with Sarah Jessica, because it is the furthest thing from what she is. She provided me a home and understanding. She tried to help me. She was so miffed when I didn't get my act together."

Even a stint on the then very popular show "Ally McBeal" didn't stop his addiction, and in 2001, he was fired from the series after yet another drug arrest.

But like Tony Stark, Downey wrapped himself in the armor of his work and pulled himself out of the depths of addiction. By 2005, he had critics raving with his performance in films like "Wonder Boys" and "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang." That same year he married producer Susan Levin, whom he met when she served as a producer on the 2003 movie "Gothika."

Levin (now Susan Downey) told Harper's Bazaar that she made it clear to her now-husband that he would have to clean up his act.

"I did meet Darth Vader (what she calls his troubled persona), for like a minute," she said, "right after the movie wrapped, and I said immediately, 'This isn't gonna work.' I made it clear that to stay with me, nothing could happen."

The couple became parents of a son in 2012 and announced in July 2014 that they were expecting their second child. Downey also has an older son from a previous marriage.

Celebs expecting in 2014

Such stability has clearly helped Downey reach the pinnacle where there is awards buzz for his new film "The Judge." It's no wonder Buzzfeed produced a piece titled "32 reasons Robert Downey Jr. is the most perfect man in the universe."

"You're very handsome; don't let anyone tell you different," Jimmy Kimmel said to the actor, to which he responded: "They don't."

"Iron Man" co-star Gwyneth Paltrow went so far as to rank Downey's Stark above another popular movie superhero, the "Man of Steel."

"(Tony Stark's) gorgeous," Paltrow said. "I'm still not convinced with the man in tights and the cape."

And with all Downey's toughness, resilience and charm, it's no wonder "The Daily Show's" Jon Stewart had a straight face when he told the actor, "You are Iron Man. You are."