Robert Downey Jr. the lead role, member of an ensemble cast, or in a cameo. Each of these films, with the exception of "The Incredible Hulk", has grossed over $500 million at the box office worldwide; four of these—"The Avengers", "", "Iron Man 3" and ""—earned over $1 billion, while "" earned over $2 billion. Downey has also played the title character in Guy Ritchie's "Sherlock Holmes" (2009), which earned him his second Golden Globe win, and (2011), both of which have earned over $500 million at the box office worldwide. As of 2018, the U.S. domestic box-office grosses of Downey's films total
Robert Downey Sr. York City, the son of Elizabeth ("née" McLauchlen), a model, and Robert Elias Sr., who worked in management of motels and restaurants. His paternal grandparents were Lithuanian Jews, while his mother was half Irish, half Scot. The elder Downey was born Robert Elias Jr., but he later changed his surname for his stepfather, James Downey, when he wanted to enlist in the U.S. Army, but was underage at the time. Robert Downey Sr. initially made his mark creating basement budget, independent films aligning with the Absurdist movement, coming of age in counterculture anti-establishment 1960s America. His work in the late