Robert Downey Jr. has revealed that his father introduced him to drugs when he was six years old, which later lead to a path of addiction.
Downey Jr, 57, was five years old when he had his first on-screen role in the absurdist comedy Pound in 1970, which follows the cast playing stray dogs waiting to be put down, per IMDb.
The movie was directed by the actor's father, Robert Downey Sr, who died in 2021 at the age of 85. Downey Jr would go on to feature in more of his father's work.
At seven years old he appeared in Greaser’s Palace, again directed by his father, which was a deranged Western that involved the young actor getting his throat cut, and watching his on-screen mother viciously beaten, per the Daily Mail.
The 57-year-old has recently released a Netflix documentary titled Sr., which "pays tribute to his late father in this documentary chronicling the life and eclectic career of pioneering filmmaker Robert Downey Sr."
Within the footage, the Iron Man actor explains that his father introduced him to drugs when he was six years old. Downey Sr reportedly spotted his young son with a glass of wine, but instead of removing the alcohol, he passed him a cannabis joint and told him to have that instead, per Daily Mail.
The news outlet continues to reveal that Downey Sr was a drug addict for the majority of his life, and during the documentary, he explains he made a "terrible, stupid mistake" in giving his six-year-old son drugs.
Downey Jr said about his father's drug taking: "It was like him trying to express his love for me in the only way he knew."
The Avengers star's drug addiction worsened during his high school years, and it took its toll after destroying his five-year relationship with actress Sarah Jessica Parker.
As per CNN, Downey Jr was arrested for speeding while drunk and possessing heroin, cocaine, crack cocaine, and a gun that wasn't loaded, in 1996.
What followed was years of drug abuse that would see him in and out of court, as well as destroying his relationships. He was sentenced to three years in jail in 1999 after continuously missing court-ordered drug tests.
In 2003 he met Susan Levin on a film set who promised she would marry him as long as he promised to quit drugs for good. He went to therapy, including a 12-step program, and now states that caffeine is the hardest drug he uses.
Sr. is currently available on Netflix.
If you or someone you know is battling addiction, please reach out for help and contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's (SAMHSA's) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357) or go to https://findtreatment.gov/
