12 Greatest Roles of Robert Downey Jr.

      Robert Downey Jr., an Oscar winner for Oppenheimer, is set to reprise his role next year in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Doctor Doom, also known as Victor Von Doom.

      Here are the 12 top roles played by Robert Downey Jr., including his most notable role as Tony Stark in the Iron Man and Avengers series.

      Here we go.

      Back to School (1986)

      Orion – Credit: C/O

      Robert Downey Jr. is the son of a well-known cult filmmaker (you might guess who), and as a child, he appeared in a couple of his father's films, beginning with the 1970 movie Pound at the age of five.

      As a young adult, he sought to establish himself. He was briefly part of the Saturday Night Live cast starting in 1985 and also appeared that same year in Weird Science.

      He became linked with the group of young actors dubbed The Brat Pack, alongside stars like Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall. One of his first significant roles was in Rodney Dangerfield's campus comedy, Back to School.

      While he doesn't portray Dangerfield's character’s son (that role belongs to Keith Gordon), Downey played Derek Lutz, the witty, partying best friend of Gordon's character.

      Less Than Zero (1987)

      20th Century Fox – Credit: C/O

      On the other end of the comedic spectrum from Back to School (a film that culminates in Dangerfield winning a diving contest) is Less Than Zero. Based on a Bret Easton Ellis novel, it's a dark tale. This film allowed Downey to reveal his serious dramatic talent.

      He takes on the role of Julian, who comes from wealth but succumbs to addiction. During a 2024 career retrospective at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Downey referred to the role as a “bit of a Ghost of Christmas Future,” reflecting on the addiction struggles he would later face.

      He starred alongside Andrew McCarthy, who portrayed his best friend, Clay. Although the film has mixed reviews, their performances shine.

      Chaplin (1992)

      Tri-Star – Credit: C/O

      To establish his credentials as a serious actor, Robert Downey Jr. did what many before him had done: He starred in a prestigious biopic.

      Charlie Chaplin was arguably the biggest film star of his era, and Downey portrayed him from youth to old age, under director Richard Attenborough, known for Gandhi.

      While Chaplin did not perform well commercially, Downey received accolades, earning an Oscar nomination for Best Actor and winning a BAFTA in the same category.

      Natural Born Killers (1994)

      Warner Bros. – Credit: C/O

      Natural Born Killers is an Oliver Stone film originating from a story by Quentin Tarantino, making it undoubtedly wild. Woody Harrelson and Juliette Lewis star as Mickey and Mallory Knox, a couple who are also mass murderers.

      They gain notoriety, fueled by satire, of course. It’s Stone, so subtlety is not a strong suit — and the final product is somewhat chaotic. Tarantino has mentioned that the film depicted is not what he originally wrote.

      Nonetheless, Natural Born Killers was successful and left its mark on the culture. Downey played Wayne Gale, an Australian tabloid journalist responsible for transforming the Knoxes into notoriety; he stands out in the film.

      Oh! And it’s the second film he starred in with Rodney Dangerfield.

      U.S. Marshals (1998)

      Warner Bros. – Credit: C/O

      The Fugitive was a massive success and earned Tommy Lee Jones an Oscar, leading to a sequel, U.S. Marshals, which saw Jones return as Sam Gerard, accompanied by most of his team from The Fugitive. The notable new additions to the cast include Wesley Snipes as the fugitive and Downey as DSS Special Agent John Royce, who joins Gerard’s team but may have his own secrets.

      Yes, spoiler alert: Royce is hiding something. It's a sequel to The Fugitive, after all! Naturally, the presumed villain isn't the true culprit.

      U.S. Marshals is decent. While it doesn't quite match the quality of The Fugitive, it's still linked to a popular film and provided Downey with a significant role during a period when he was fading from the limelight. Don't worry: His comeback was on the horizon.

      Wonder Boys (2000)

      Paramount – Credit: C/O

      Wonder Boys marked Downey's last prominent film role prior to his resurgence. He might not be the star, but he made a strong impact in a supporting capacity.

      In this adaptation of a Michael Chabon novel, Michael Douglas stars as a college professor and novelist struggling with writer's block, while Tobey Maguire (pre-Spider-Man) embodies a promising yet troubled student.

      Downey plays Douglas’ editor and delivers a commendable performance in a flashy yet limited role. At that time, Hollywood