The 'Oppenheimer' star completed his awards season sweep during Sunday's Academy Awards.
Robert Downey Jr. completed his awards season sweep on Sunday, winning Best Supporting Actor at the 96th Academy Awards for his role as Lewis Strauss -- a high-ranking member of the United States Atomic Energy Commission member who butts heads with Cillian Murphy's titular physicist -- in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer.
During his acceptance speech, Downey Jr. jokingly thanked his "horrible childhood" and the Academy following his first Oscar win after three nominations. Prior to announcing the winner, Sam Rockwell introduced Downey Jr. with a sweet tribute.
"There are actors. And then there are actors who don't drop character until the DVD commentary. I'm talking about Robert Downey Jr. That dude. Susan's husband. He can be Iron Man. He can be every man," Rockwell said. "He always goes above and beyond. 30 years ago, as [Charlie] Chaplin, [he] learned how to play the violin left-handed. Who does that? Seriously, it's obnoxious. Now, in Oppenheimer, he steals scenes from Albert Einstein and the atomic bomb. I love him. You love him. And we couldn't be happier for his third Oscar nom for his amazing portrayal as Lewis Strauss."
Then came Downey Jr.'s memorable speech, in which he thanked his "horrible childhood" and his "veterinarian" wife.
"I'd like to thank my terrible childhood and the academy, in that order," he quipped. "I'd like to thank my -- veterinarian -- I meant wife, Susan Downey over there. She found me a snarling rescue pet and you loved me back to life. That's why I'm here. Thank you."
He added, "Here's my little secret. I needed this job more than it needed me. Chris [Nolan] knew it, Emma [Dumont] made sure that she surrounded me with one of the great casts and crews of all time, Emily [Blunt], Cillian [Murphy], it was fantastic. And I stand here before you a better man because of it."
Prior to Sunday, Downey had already won the Golden Globe, the BAFTA, the Critics Choice Award and the Screen Actors Guild Award for his celebrated role. Plus, the star-studded Oppenheimer cast -- which also includes Matt Damon, Emily Blunt, Florence Pugh, Kenneth Branagh and more -- won ensemble awards at both the SAG and Critics Choice Awards.
The actor opened up to ET about his experience making the film in an interview last summer, prior to the record-breaking "Barbenheimer" opening weekend.
"You have pretty much a who's who of several generations of actors," he noted. "And we all know we're doing something with a master filmmaker. We're all there for the love of it, because this was a money gig for none of us. It was an exceptionally taxing venture. And we'd all do it again."
Downey referred to Murphy's performance in the film as a "heroic effort," but Murphy humbly attributed his portrayal to the "safe environment" Nolan created for his actors on set.
"He creates this really kind of like a laboratory, where you can just try stuff out and he just lets you off," he explained. "And the other thing is, I was thinking about it, no scene ever gets left behind, do you know what I mean? No scene is less than another."
The 2024 Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, airs live from the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 10, at 4 p.m. PT/7 p.m. ET on ABC. Follow along at ETonline.com for full Oscars coverage, including red carpet arrivals, the complete winners list and more.
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