Hollywood legend Robert Downey Jr. finally took home his first Academy Award on Sunday night, winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan’s atomic bomb drama “Oppenheimer.”
Accepting the award, an emotional Downey Jr. thanked his “terrible childhood” first before expressing gratitude to the Academy. He also gave a heartfelt shoutout to his wife and producer Susan Downey for supporting him throughout his turbulent career, crediting her for loving him “back to life.”
“She found me as a snarling rescue pet and loved me back to life. That’s why I’m here, thank you,” Downey said in his signature witty style.
This was Downey’s third Oscar nomination after previous recognitions for 1992’s “Chaplin” and 2008’s “Tropic Thunder.” In “Oppenheimer,” Downey Jr. took on the complex role of the hostile Atomic Energy Commissioner who serves as the main antagonist to J. Robert Oppenheimer, played by Cillian Murphy.
Downey called the job “fantastic” and praised his co-stars like Emily Blunt and Matt Damon as well as director Christopher Nolan and producer Emma Thomas for surrounding him with “one of the great casts and crews of all time.”
“Here’s my little secret: I needed this job more than it needed me,” admitted the 58-year-old actor. “I stand here before you a better man because of it.”
Downey’s transformative performance as the villainous bureaucrat intent on taking down Oppenheimer has already earned him Golden Globe, SAG and Critics Choice awards this season. He has used his previous acceptance speeches to joke about his troubled past and substance abuse issues, while expressing gratitude for his wife’s continuing support through ups and downs.
With his first Oscar win, the iconic “Iron Man” star has cemented his comeback in Hollywood after years of highly public struggles. As he said, “What we do is meaningful, and the stuff we decide to make is important.” For Downey Jr., this Oscar represents the culmination of both his personal and professional redemption.
