For his supporting actor performance in "Oppenheimer," Robert Downey Jr. receives his first Oscar

Los Angeles (AP) — After three decades of waiting for his first acting nomination, veteran actor Robert Downey Jr. finally won an Oscar on Sunday.

For his depiction of Rear Adm. Lewis Strauss in "Oppenheimer," which was praised as one of his best performances in years, Downey won best supporting actor.


For one of Hollywood's most diverse actors, whose career has been characterised by severe disappointments, it was the third overall Oscar nomination. 

 

Downey made a lighthearted address, pausing for laughs from the audience, saying, "I'd like to thank my terrible childhood and the academy — in that order."

He also thanked Susan, his wife. "I'm here because you brought me back to life with your love."


Downey has been transparent about his previous battles with substance abuse. In his 2022 documentary "Sr.," he disclosed that he had a heroin addiction by the age of eight, honouring his father, the filmmaker.
After Downey's first Oscar nomination 30 years ago, at the age of 28, he was arrested several times for drug-related offences and served a year in prison.


The actor expressed his gratitude for not winning best actor in 1993 for "Chaplin" in an interview with "The View."

He remarked, "I was crazy and young." "It would have given me the feeling that I was headed in the right direction."

In 2008, Downey was nominated for an Oscar for his supporting performance in "Tropic Thunder."


With his victory on Sunday, Downey cemented his lead in this year's Oscar race. Additionally, he won the best supporting actor prize at the Critics Choice, SAG, BAFTA, and Golden Globes.

"Why me? Why this time? "Why am I getting all the luck in the world?" he asked as he accepted his SAG Award.


For "American Fiction," Downey defeated Robert De Niro, Mark Ruffalo, Ryan Gosling, and Sterling K. Brown. For "Barbie," Downey defeated Mark Ruffalo.

Seven Oscars were awarded on Sunday for Christopher Nolan's three-hour in-depth examination of the creation and aftermath of the atomic bomb during World War II, "Oppenheimer." Nolan's wins included best picture, best director, and best actor for Cillian Murphy. The movie had thirteen nominations going into the evening.


Downey declared on stage on Sunday that "what we do is meaningful and the stuff we decide to make is important."



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Beyond the Trophy: [Actor's Name]'s Post-Oscar Journey
 

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Carving a Niche in History: A Lasting Impact

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