In the late 90s, the talented actor Robert Downey Jr. was going through a difficult period provoked by drug addiction. Few believed that after all the trials he would be able to restore his life, health and career. However, meeting with charming producer Susan Levin literally raised Downey from the ashes. They got married in 2005 and are raising two children. In addition, the couple created a rather successful working tandem, in which Susan often produces films with her husband's participation.
"Bad Boy" Hollywood
The actor owes his problems in adult life, in many respects, to a difficult childhood. He was born into the family of the famous director and producer Robert Downey Sr. The head of the family had a pernicious addiction: every day he began by smoking marijuana. It is not surprising that already at the age of 8, the father invited his son to share this bad ritual with him. In addition, Robert's mother suffered from alcohol addiction. In such conditions, it was certainly difficult for him to grow up without adopting the addictions of his parents.
In the movie "Chaplin"
The family gave Downey a head start in Hollywood. However, the bright and convincing acting performance is undoubtedly his personal merit. He managed to make a name for himself as early as 22 years old, playing the role of a teenage drug addict in the film "Less than zero" (1987). Robert's next successful project was the painting "Chaplin", based on the autobiography of the famous comedian. The actor perfectly coped with the role of the great Charlie Chaplin, for which he received a lot of rave reviews and nominations for the most prestigious awards.
However, further the life of the rising Hollywood star rolled downhill. Downey lost his job due to drug addiction. In 1996 he was sentenced to 16 months in prison for possession of illegal substances. Once the deranged actor even wandered into a neighbor's house and lost consciousness in the children's room, for which he received a three-year suspended sentence. He then skipped mandatory drug tests twice. The first time, Robert got off with 6 months in prison, and in the second case he was sentenced to three years. As a result, he spent a year in a California prison, which contains exclusively convicted drug addicts.
In 2000-2001, the actor had relapses several times, which is why he was kicked out of the series "Ellie McBill". At a difficult moment, Downey's close friend Mel Gibson extended a helping hand. Thanks to his intervention, the troubled Robert was taken to the musical "The Singing Detective", where they made a wonderful duet with Mel.
Revival
Over the years of struggling with addiction, the actor's personal life was also in decline. His first high-profile romance was a 7-year relationship with Sarah Jessica Parker, whom Downey met in 1984 on the set of The Firstborn. In the end, the girl could not stand Robert's addiction and broke up with him.
Then the actress and singer Deborah Falconer appeared in his life. This meeting ended in marriage on May 29, 1992 - just 42 days after they met. A year later, the couple had a son, Indio. For a long time, Robert's wife put up with his addiction, but in 2001, after another court verdict, the woman's patience snapped, and she left her problematic husband. The marriage was officially dissolved in April 2004.
Meanwhile, following the success of The Singing Detective, Downey landed a role in the thriller Gothic. On the set, he met Susan Levin, vice president of the production company Silver Pictures. At the first meeting, the actor seemed very strange to the girl. Therefore, she did not at all seek to establish a relationship with him and at first even resisted Robert's courtship. However, he managed to find a way to Susan's heart, and after finishing work on "Gothic" the lovers were already inseparable.
Downey's future wife said that she once faced his addiction and immediately made it clear that she did not intend to put up with this lifestyle of her chosen one. For her sake, the actor decided to end drugs forever. Fortunately, another attempt was successful.
Shortly before the girl's 30th birthday, in November 2003, Robert proposed to her. They were married in August 2005 in a New York suburb in a fun and lavish ceremony in keeping with Jewish tradition. On that day, the newlyweds were serenaded by Sting and Billy Joel.
On top again
After meeting with his second wife, Downey's career took off again. The series of films "Iron Man" and "Sherlock Holmes: A Play of Shadows" finally returned him to Hollywood Olympus. By the way, Robert worked on the film about the adventures of the famous detective in tandem with his wife, who was one of the producers of the project. After "Gothic" the couple also together participated in the creation of the black comedy "Kiss Through Kiss" (2005).
According to the couple, they try not to be apart for more than two weeks, so they gladly use the opportunities for joint work. In 2010, Downey and his wife started their own production company, Team Downey. And in 2014 they released their first joint project - the drama Judge, where Robert played the main role.
The actor is so devoted and in love with his wife that he even got a tattoo on his bicep in honor of her. In February 2012, the Downey family had a long-awaited replenishment: the couple had a son, Exton. And two years later, in November 2014, his younger sister Avery was born. Robert's second marriage has long turned into a clear proof of how much a person can change for love and be reborn for a new life even after a destructive and protracted fall.
