Robert Downey Jr. 2007, Downey was cast as the title character in the film "Iron Man", with director Jon Favreau explaining the choice by stating: "Downey wasn't the most obvious choice, but he understood what makes the character tick. He found a lot of his own life experience in 'Tony Stark'." Favreau insisted on having Downey as he repeatedly claimed that Downey would be to "Iron Man" what Johnny Depp is to the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series: a lead actor who could both elevate the quality of the film and increase the public's interest in it. For the role Downey had to
Robert Downey Sr. résumé includes appearances in eight films directed by his father ("Pound", "Greaser's Palace", "Moment to Moment", "Up the Academy", "America", "Rented Lips", "Too Much Sun", "Hugo Pool"), as well as two acting appearances in movies where his father was also an actor ("Johnny Be Good", "Hail Caesar"). Downey has been married three times. His first marriage was to actress Elsie Ann Downey ("née" Ford), with whom he had two children: actress-writer Allyson Downey and actor Robert Downey Jr. The marriage ended in divorce in 1978. His second marriage, to actress-writer Laura Ernst, ended with her 1994 death from Lou Gehrig's