But that wasn’t the case in the days leading up toIron Man’s premiere.
With multiple Marvel Cinematic Universe phases in the rearview, read below to see where theIron Mancastis now.
His careercomeback inIron Manmirrored the redemption arc of the inventor he played.
Gwyneth Paltrow and Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Iron Man’.Credit:Everett Collection
After getting sober in 2003, he slowly staged a resurgence that culminated withIron Man.
Because of his strong aspiration for the role, Downey had dedicated three weeks of practice before his audition.
“I had amendments and ancillaries and pop-ups for every part of the scene,” hetold EWin 2008.
Tony Stark/Iron Man; Robert Downey Jr.Everett Collection; Getty Images
“It was madness, but also the most positively reinforced ritual Ive ever performed.”
After the movie premiered, Downey was thrust into Hollywoods A-list.
He has a son, Indio, from his first marriage to singer-actress Deborah Falconer.
Pepper Potts; Gwyneth Paltrow.Everett Collection; Getty Images
Paltrow is the daughter of actressBlythe Dannerand director-producerBruce Paltrow, and goddaughter ofSteven Spielberg.
The company has released the docuseriesThe Goop LabandSex, Love, & Goop.
In 2003, she marriedColdplayfrontmanChris Martin, with whom she shares two children, Apple and Moses.
Obadiah Stane/Iron Monger; Jeff Bridges.Everett Collection; Getty Images
The couple divorced in 2016, and Paltrow has since remarried,exchanging vows withGleeproducer Brad Falchukin 2018.
The actorcalledIron Manthe best Marvel movieand praised the films highly collaborative process.
“Here, I get to play with these two incredible artists and just jam.”
Harold “Happy” Hogan; Jon Favreau.Everett Collection; Getty Images
In 1977, Bridges married then-waitress Susan Geston, with whom he shares three daughters.
“He was that puzzle piece that made it all work….
He understood the voice of the character.
James “Rhodey” Rhodes; Terrence Howard.Everett Collection; Getty Images
Favreau has been married to physician Joya Tillem since 2000; they have three children.
Howard has three children with his first wife, Lori McCommas, whom he married and divorced twice.
Although they divorced in 2015, the couple became engaged to be remarried in 2019.
Raza; Faran Tahir.Marvel Studios; Getty Images
It has a lot to do with geographic control and personal power,” he said.
“Lets take a stab at find a different kind of ideology.
That dialogue was not only to my delight accepted, but then was made part of the whole storyline.
Yinsen; Shaun Toub.Everett Collection; Getty Images
After his defeat inIron Man, Tahir played Captain Robau inJ.J.
AbramsStar Trekreboot (2009) and President Patel inElysium(2013).
In 2023, Tahirdivorced actress Zara Tareenafter a year of marriage.
Agent Phil Coulson; Clark Gregg.Marvel Studios; Getty Images
“We had a two-week rehearsal and we were still writing and changing.
The look of my character, I came up with two days before the shoot.
Toub has amassed an extensive list of TV credits recurring onScandal,HomelandandSnowpiercerand starring on theApple TV+seriesTehran.
Paul Bettany.Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
The actor is married to actress Lorena Toub.
Clark Gregg (Agent Phil Coulson)
Clark Greggis fan-favorite S.H.I.E.L.D.
Gregg has remained very busy in the years since his cinematic breakthrough.
Christine Everhart; Leslie Bibb.Everett Collection; Getty Images
He received his own seven-season ABC spinoff series appropriately titledMarvels Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
appeared in four more MCU films; voiced Coulson in several games and animated showsincludingWhat If…?
; and had TV credits forFlorida Man,How I Met Your Father, andPainkiller.
Nick Fury; Samuel L. Jackson.Marvel Studios; Getty Images
Gregg andDirty DancingstarJennifer Greywere married for 19 years.
The coupledivorced in 2020, and share a daughter, Stella.
Paul Bettany (J.A.R.V.I.S.)
Michael Loccisano/Getty Images
Starks right-hand app, the snarky artificial intelligence J.A.R.V.I.S., is voiced by actorPaul Bettany.
I thought that was the funniest thing I ever heard, so I said Yes, hetoldGQin 2015.
It was awesome.”
“I don’t think I understood the obsession with comic books.
It hadn’t occurred to me.
It was not in my realm of thinking.
And the movie came out, and it was huge and sort of changed everything….
I’m grateful to be in that world.”
Bibb has been in a relationship withIron Man 2costarSam Rockwellsince 2007.
“My biggest concern with Marvel was trying to keep them from killing me more than anything else.
I kind of liked the gig,” JacksontoldRolling Stonein June 2023.
Night ShyamalansUnbreakabletrilogy; and starred inThe Kill Room(2023) andArgylle(2024).
The couple have been married since 1980 and share a daughter, Zoe.
