Summary
- Robert Downey Jr. won his first Oscar for
Oppenheimer
after overcoming past struggles with addiction. - Despite Kimmel’s joke at his expense, Downey Jr. remains gracious and supportive of the host.
- Downey Jr. is set to star in HBO’s
The Sympathizer,
showcasing his talent and versatility as an actor.
Robert Downey Jr. has shared his thoughts on that “on the nose” joke by host Jimmy Kimmel at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony. On the night, Downey Jr. capped off a stunning career turnaround by finally claiming his first Oscar for his supporting role in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. But there was one moment earlier in the night that had social media talking, when the actor became the butt of one of Kimmel’s opening monologue jokes.
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As always, the Academy Awards threw up a number of moments that caught the attention of social media, and none of them were about the awards themselves. Despite the potentially sensitive nature of the jest, Downey Jr.’s former drug addictions became the subject of one of Kimmel’s many swipes at members of the esteemed audience. As part of his interview with Esquire Magazine, Downey Jr. was asked about the jibe at his expense, and he had a very simple response to it. He said:
I don’t care. I love Jimmy Kimmel. I think he’s a national treasure.
It is hard to expect much less from Downey Jr., as someone who is well aware of his past failings, but also seemingly gracious and accommodating to his peers and costars. All in all, it seems that despite the initial reaction from online fans condemning Kimmel’s joke, Downey Jr. seems to have pretty much forgotten about it as soon as it happened.
Robert Downey Jr. Finally Claimed His First Oscar This Year
This year’s Academy Awards were significant for Downey Jr. not just because of the win but also for marking a milestone in a career that has witnessed dramatic highs and lows. Once known more for his off-screen addictions and brushes with the law than his on-screen talent, Downey Jr.’s journey from a troubled past to sobriety and critical acclaim is a story of redemption and transformation that could almost make a Hollywood movie of its own – an no doubt, one day will.
The joke made by Kimmel, while instigating a strong online reaction, served as a reminder of Downey Jr.’s past challenges, which have been well-documented over the last three decades, and of the journey he has been on to secure his latest achievement. Beating out the likes of Sterling K. Brown, Robert De Niro, Ryan Gosling, and his old MCU buddy Mark Ruffalo for the award, his win for Best Supporting Actor in Oppenheimer has become the crowning achievement – so far – for one of the industry’s biggest comeback stories.
HBO’s The Sympathizer: Plot, Cast, Release Date, and Everything Else We Know
High-profile and high-stakes, the epic adaptation of The Sympathizer employs the formidable forces of A24, HBO, Park Chan-wook, and Robert Downey Jr.
Of course, it doesn’t stop there for Downey Jr., who will next appear in the HBO Original series, The Sympathizer. Based on the award-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, the series will see Downey Jr. playing multiple antagonistic roles throughout the series. According to reports, much of the actor’s performance was improvised, and he even shaved his head for part of the production to avoid spending more time in make-up during the production. With another stand-out appearance on the cards, it would be hard to rule out Downey Jr. potentially adding an Emmy to his Oscar haul in the coming year.
The Sympathizer
will be available to stream from April 14 on Max.
