He has been open about his past struggles with alcohol and drug abuse in the past.
And Robert Downey Jr. certainly appeared to be putting success story of coming back from that troubled period to good use as he accepted an awards at the MTV Movie Awards on Sunday night in LA.
He was flanked by his Avengers Ensemble co-stars Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth who all got down on their knees to listen to his captivating speech.
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‘Keep your noses clean’: Robert Downey Jr. makes poignant speech at MTV Awards
‘In the 34 years that have passed since the birth of MTV, I’ve grown up, I’ve struggled, I’ve failed. I’ve partied way too much,’ he said.
‘I begged for second chances and literally clawed my way to the top.’
Looking at his co-stars on the floor, he said: ‘If a man is judged by the company he keeps, then I must be doing something right, because look at who I’m rolling with.’
He’s the man! Robert was joined by his Avengers Ensemble co-stars Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth
Sending out a message: Robert appeared to talk about his incredible comeback story when accepting the award
It was certainly a poignant speech for Robert, who opened up last year to Vanity Fair about his past struggles with drugs and alcohol.
The Iron Man star – who struggled with substance abuse in the past and was charged with the possession of cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin before being ordered to complete multiple stays in rehab – said he believed becoming ‘obsessive’ about something is simply a phase of life.
On the topic of battling his past demons, he told Vanity Fair magazine: ‘For some folks it’s just a function of age.
We’re not worthy! Scarlett bowed as she handed the gold popcorn statue to the star
Aw, you guys: The co-stars got down on their knees to listen to Robert’s stirring speech
‘It’s perfectly normal for people to be obsessive about something for a period of time, then leave it alone.”
The 49-year-old actor – who also spent time in jail after breaking out of court-ordered rehab – finally recognises the ways in which addicts can successfully tackle their issues, although he admitted he took a slightly different path to getting clean.
He explained: ‘Job one is get out of that cave. A lot of people do get out but don’t change. So the thing is to get out and recognise the significance of that aggressive denial of your fate, come through the crucible forged into a stronger metal. Or whatever. But I don’t even know if that was my experience.
Action heroes night off: The group of stars goofed around on stage in front of the crowd
‘It’s funny: five years ago, I would’ve made it sound like I’m conscious of my own participation in seizing the similarities. But so many things have become less certain. I swear to God. I am not my story.’
Robert was also quick to come to the defence of his son, Indio, who was arrested over the possession of cocaine in June.
The Oscar nominee alleges the 20 year old has inherited a ‘predisposition’ to addiction and believes the readily available information about his own struggle with drugs has only served to accelerate his spiral into substance use.
I didn’t say gold, I said Iron, Man: Robert posed with his award backstage
Not so tough now: The Avengers Ensemble team proved what a cuddly bunch they are backstage
He said: ‘He’s his mother’s son and my son, and he’s come up the chasm much quicker than we did.
‘But that’s typical in the Information Age; things get accelerated. You’re confronted with histories and predispositions and influences and feelings and unspoken traumas or needs that weren’t met, and all of a sudden you’re three miles into the woods.
‘Can you help someone get out of those woods? Yes, you can. By not getting lost looking for them.’
He added: ‘Pick a dysfunction and it’s a family problem.’
