Robert Downey Jr. is an entertainer.
Robert John Downey Jr. ( born April 4 , 1965 ) is an American actor . For three consecutive years from 2012 to 2015 , Downey has topped the Forbes list of Hollywood 's highest-paid actors , making an estimated $ 80 million in earnings between June 2014 and June 2015 . Making his acting debut at the age of five , appearing in his father 's film Pound ( 1970 ) , Downey Jr. appeared in roles associated with the Brat Pack , such as the teen sci-fi comedy Weird Science ( 1985 ) and the drama Less Than Zero ( 1987 ) . He starred as the title character in the 1992 film Chaplin , which earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor and won him the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role . Downey Jr. 's career prospects improved when he featured in the mystery thriller Zodiac ( 2007 ) , and the satirical action comedy Tropic Thunder ( 2008 ) ; for the latter he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor .