Robert Downey Jr. Called His Wife of 18 Years a 'Veterinarian': The Rules She Set to Save Their Marriage

• Robert Downey Jr., the esteemed actor celebrated for his diverse roles, recently won his first Oscar for his supporting role in "Oppenheimer," a milestone that follows three previous nominations.
• In his acceptance speech, he humorously thanked his wife, Susan Downey, calling her his "veterinarian," a term of endearment for the woman who set the rules that revitalized their 18-year marriage.

Acclaimed actor, Robert Downey Jr., known for his roles in "Chaplin" and "Tropic Thunder," recently added another feather to his cap. He won his first Oscar for Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance as Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan's "Oppenheimer."

This win came after three nominations, marking a significant milestone in Robert's illustrious career. As he took the stage to accept his award, Robert lightened the mood with his quick wit.

He began his speech by humorously thanking his "terrible childhood" and the Academy. But the highlight of his speech was when he thanked his "veterinarian" — a playful misnomer for his wife, Susan Downey. He likened himself to a "snarling rescue pet" that Susan had lovingly nurtured back to life.

This heartfelt acknowledgment of Susan's role in his life drew laughter and applause from the audience. Robert also expressed gratitude towards the "Oppenheimer" team, his stylist, publicist, entertainment lawyer, and his three children, Avri, Exton, and Indio. His speech was a blend of humor and sincerity, reflecting the actor's charismatic personality.

After the event, Robert shared that the exhilarating experience reminded him of his wedding night. Amidst the whirlwind of the event, he and Susan found a quiet moment during a commercial break. He narrated how they touched heads, a simple yet profound gesture of connection, like "two dinosaurs letting each other know that they were a couple."

On the morning of the event, the couple had been trading anxiety-level check-ins. Susan provided feedback on Robert's speech, helping him refine his words. Her support was instrumental in his successful delivery, and he could tell she was proud of him when he returned to his seat.

Fans were moved by Robert's heartfelt Oscar acceptance speech and his role in "Oppenheimer." One fan commented, "So deserved. Most beautiful words of love to his wife," while another wrote, "Well deserved award!"

Robert has often referred to "Oppenheimer" as the best film he's ever been in. While the Oscar win is an honor, he values the bond and mutual respect he shares with the cast more. For him, the real reward was the experience of working on the film. Preparing for the big night, Robert focused on creating a calm atmosphere.

He described an elaborate 85-point process to make their hotel room feel like home, which included rearranging furniture and burning sage and incense. Susan confirmed this, with Robert adding that he is the "ambiance guy." Their shared laughter and camaraderie hint at the strong bond that has helped them navigate the highs and lows of life in the spotlight.

In a 2010 interview, during a particularly busy period in his career, Robert shared some personal insights. He confessed that the uptick in his work schedule left him with little free time, which he saw as a blessing in disguise. The idea of partying no longer appealed to him. Instead, he cherished his days off, preferring to spend them in quiet relaxation.

However, there was another reason for his disciplined lifestyle — his wife, Susan. The couple met on the set of 2003's "Gothika" and tied the knot on August 27, 2005. Susan, who had previously worked as an executive VP for the notoriously demanding Joel Silver, brought a sense of discipline and focus to Robert's career.

She reportedly held back 40% of Robert's fee on "Gothika" until his work was complete, demonstrating her commitment to ensuring his success. Robert often credits Susan as the driving force behind his achievements. He believes in the old saying, "Behind every good man, there's an incredible woman."

According to him, Susan is not just his wife but also his teammate. He attributes his luck and success to her unwavering support and guidance. Susan, born on November 6, 1973, in Schaumburg, Illinois, USA, is a powerhouse in her own right. She is a producer and executive known for her work on "RocknRolla," "The Book of Eli," and "Sherlock Holmes."

Her professional accomplishments, coupled with her role as Robert's supportive partner, make her an integral part of their success story. The pair forms a dynamic duo, each excelling in their respective fields while supporting each other personally and professionally.

Robert is a man who values creative freedom. This freedom allows him to choose the movies he wants to make, a privilege he cherishes. However, he admits that his large ego sometimes clashes with the reality of the film industry. Being third or fourth on the bill doesn't sit well with him. He prefers to have a few big hits under his belt before he can comfortably play the humble supporting card.

Amid his thriving career, there's a grounding force in Robert’s life — his wife, Susan. Despite being eight years younger than Robert, Susan has managed to keep him grounded. Her influence has been instrumental in helping him navigate the complexities of Hollywood. She provides the balance he needs, ensuring his ego doesn't overshadow his talent and hard work.

Together, they launched their own production company, Team Downey. Their first production was a remake of the Steve McQueen heist movie "Yucatan." This venture further solidified their partnership, both personally and professionally. Robert's perspective on his career has evolved over the years. He now views every day as a "game day," relishing the challenges that come his way.

Together, Robert and Susan form a formidable team. They complement each other, with Susan's grounding influence balancing Robert's larger-than-life personality. Their partnership extends beyond their personal life into their professional endeavors, making them a true power couple in Hollywood.

As previously reported on February 27, 2024:

Robert Downey Jr. is an award-winning actor whose name is often associated with the biggest stars in Hollywood. He has been part of major productions such as "Iron Man," "Sherlock Holmes," and recently, "Oppenheimer."

However, alongside being counted among the greatest actors in the industry, his name has also been linked to his struggle with drugs and multiple relapses. Robert's introduction to drugs began at a young age when he shared his first joint with his father at eight.

His mother struggled with alcoholism for a long time. But when the actor started making strides in his career, such as his Oscar nomination for "Chaplin," he hit rock bottom when he drove down Sunset Boulevard naked.

The actor was then arrested for trespassing after entering a stranger's house and falling asleep on a child’s bed. That was not the end of his problems. In 1999, he failed to appear in court and was sentenced to three years in California state prison. He served almost a year and, fortunately, landed an acting job on "Ally McBeal."

As much as it seemed like the actor was getting back on track, he was arrested again in Palm Springs, where he was found with three bags of cocaine, a loaded gun, and a Wonder Woman costume. These behaviors led to his removal from "Ally McBeal," and he was written off as a lost cause by David E. Kelley.

However, one person came into Robert's life and inspired him to better himself: his wife, Susan Downey. Susan is a producer known for films like "The Book of Eli" and "Sherlock Holmes." The couple had different upbringings: Susan was a dedicated student in Chicago, raised by her businessman father and a hands-on mother who was on a PTA board. She eventually graduated summa cum laude from USC.

On the flip side, Robert grew up in Hollywood and dropped out of high school. His director father put him in front of the camera at five in one of his underground films. But despite their differences, the two ended up in the same industry and met on the set of the thriller "Gothika," which Susan was producing. The film starred Halle Berry, but the producer wanted to set clear boundaries and did not want to have any romantic connection with anyone on set.

Nonetheless, when the set crew went out for lunch, Susan recalled that Halle and the director joined them, but her first encounter with who would end up being her husband was very peculiar. While everyone ordered Japanese food, Robert brought out oatmeal and started raving about how much a superfood it was. He also brought a variety of herbs and started doing yoga poses. "I mean, he was interesting but weird," recalled Susan.

Eventually, Susan gave Robert a chance and accepted his marriage proposal, on the condition that it would be a long engagement. The producer insisted that Robert should first give up drugs completely, and should he relapse, then she would leave.

However, Susan, 50, admitted that she did not know much about how difficult it was to battle addiction. "Addiction was so foreign to me. I was incredibly ignorant of the hold it had on people," she expressed.

Robert loved that his wife was not familiar with the darkness of addiction. "If she knew the depths of my depravity, we would not be sitting here," he admitted. The two then got married two years after their engagement in August 2005, in the Hamptons.

As one of the longest-standing couples in Hollywood, the couple has set rules on how to maintain a healthy marriage that works with their demanding schedules. Susan and Robert promised never to spend more than two weeks apart. Even when traveling, they always tried to find a way to cohabit. However, they found more opportunities to work together with Robert bringing his wife along on "Iron Man 2" and the comedy "Due Date."

The more time they spent working together, especially after starting their production company, "Team Downey," they reduced their two-week rule to a one-week rule. "Our feeling was, if we wanted to spend time together, have a life together, then we should just go ahead and make movies together," said Susan Downey.

Robert recently won a SAG award for his performance in "Oppenheimer" and mentioned a list of actors that had been monumental in his career, but at the end of it, he had his wife’s name. He joked and thanked her for making it look like it was easy to be married to an actor of his caliber. Then he ended his speech by thanking his children, Indio, Exton, and daughter Avri Roel Downey.

Fans loved that Robert kept his speech funny as usual and pointed out how much they loved his wife, "One can always count on a witty speech from RDJ. Susan sure is amazing & they are a lovely couple. Congrats to RDJ for his well-deserved win!" remarked a fan. While another added, "They are such a lovely couple. Congrats to RDJ for his well-deserved win!"

Fans also loved how much Robert always spoke fondly of his wife, "The way Robert Downey Jr. talks about his wife gets me every single time. He loves that woman, and she definitely helped craft him into the man he is today. Susan Downey, you are amazing!!!" remarked another fan.

The actor also shared a photo of him and his wife from the SAG Awards and thanked the organization for acknowledging the film. He shared another picture from the BAFTA award ceremony with his wife expressing how appreciative he was for the recognition of the cinematic work in "Oppenheimer."

In another sweet Instagram post, Robert Downey Jr. shared a quirky picture of him and his wife, highlighting how much he loved that his wife handled his playful character, he wrote, "To she who lovingly tolerates my many shenanigans, I pledge my undying love." After 18 years, the couple's love is still in "bloom."