He’s kissed Meryl Streep and hugged Jennifer Aniston, taken a dance break with Reese Witherspoon and made Cillian Murphy laugh. Take a look back at some of his most animated moments so far.
It’s barely mid-January, but Robert Downey Jr. is already proving to be MVP of awards season.
Not only is the veteran actor picking up trophies left and right — he triumphed at the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards for his turn as Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer — he’s dishing out some of the best energy along the way. Fortunately, there’s photographic evidence to prove the point. The beloved Marvel star has kissed Meryl Streep, cozied up to both Jennifer Aniston and Bradley Cooper, yanked on Martin Short‘s tie, cut a rug with Reese Witherspoon, pinned a note on Cillian Murphy‘s chest (which read, “No Irish jokes”), caused a trio of actors to crack up, and had more than a handful of swoon-worthy moments with wife Susan Downey.
His speeches also seem to be hitting the right notes. Before thanking his “Oppenhomies” at Sunday’s Critics Choice Awards, Downey zeroed in on some memorable comments he’s fielded about his work over the years from critics. “The first one is kind of like Haiku: ‘Sloppy, messy and lazy.’ The next one is more metaphoric: ‘Like Pee-Wee Herman emerging from a coma.’ This was from a Brit: ‘A puzzling waste of talent.’ And lastly, and this one lingered: ‘Amusing as a bed-locked fart.’”
The audience, filled with critics and A-listers alike, erupted with laughter. That’s not a new experience for Downey, as joy seems to follow him wherever he goes, at least based on the responses that he gets from peers and collaborators. Don’t take our word for it, see for yourself below.
Downey at the AFI luncheon at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on Jan. 12, 2024. STEVE GRANITZ/FILMMAGIC
With Jennifer Aniston (and FIJI Water) at the AFI Awards lunch. STEFANIE KEENAN/GETTY IMAGES
Emily Blunt, Bradley Cooper and Robert Downey Jr. (with FIJI Water) at the AFI Awards lunch. STEFANIE KEENAN/GETTY IMAGES
Tie-ing hard with Martin Short at the AFI Awards lunch. MICHAEL KOVAC/GETTY IMAGES
This guy! Downey presents Sterling K. Brown. FRAZER HARRISON/GETTY IMAGES
Steve Martin and Robert Downey Jr. at the AFI Awards lunch. JAY L. CLENDENIN / LOS ANGELES TIMES VIA GETTY IMAGES
On bended knee with Florence Pugh and wife Susan. JAY L. CLENDENIN/LOS ANGELES TIMES/GETTY IMAGES
Walking the line with Reese Witherspoon. MONICA SCHIPPER/GETTY IMAGES
Downey poses with his “Oppenhomies” at the Golden Globes after their best picture win. Florence Pugh, Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas, Downey, Charles Roven, Matt Damon and Ludwig Göransson. TODD WILLIAMSON/CBS/GETTY IMAGES
Look, ma, I won a Golden Globe (for best supporting actor). TOMMASO BODDI/GOLDEN GLOBES 2024/GOLDEN GLOBES 2024/GETTY IMAGES
Vibing at the Oppenheimer table. CHRISTOPHER POLK/GOLDEN GLOBES 2024/GOLDEN GLOBES 2024 VIA GETTY IMAGES
The happy couple. ROBERT GAUTHIER/LOS ANGELES TIMES/GETTY IMAGES
Though he is referred to above as the MVP of awards season, Downey said during his Golden Globes acceptance speech that the victory marks a “a most improved player thing.” RICH POLK/GOLDEN GLOBES 2024/GOLDEN GLOBES 2024 VIA GETTY IMAGES
“He is an anomaly. He’s been an actor’s actor for over 20 years and nobody dislikes this guy. That’s not easy,” Downey said of Cillian Murphy while presenting him a trophy during the Palm Springs Film Awards. MATT WINKELMEYER/GETTY IMAGES
As the kids would say, “Caption this.” PRESLEY ANN/GETTY IMAGES
While presenting Murphy with his trophy, Downey admitted that he didn’t really prepare a full speech but managed to jot down some “broad stroke stuff” and was “just going to fucking wing it.” His one note: “No Irish jokes.” KEVIN WINTER/GETTY IMAGES
Fist bumps with Justin Theroux at Critics Choice. FRAZER HARRISON/GETTY IMAGES
