Robert Downey Jr. Reveals the Truth About His Time in Prison

Hollywood megastar Robert Downey Jr.'s story is one of incredible highs and devastating lows. For decades, the actor battled a challenging addiction that nearly ruined his life, career and relationships. Through his brave public disclosures over the years, Downey has provided insight into the difficult road of recovery.

▬Contents of this video▬
00:00 - Intro
00:43 - Entering the System
02:21 - Survival in a Dangerous Environment
04:09 - Hitting Rock Bottom
05:47 - The Road to Recovery
07:05 - Overcoming Adversity
07:56 - Outro

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In this video, Downey pulls back the curtain further than ever before on some of the darkest chapters of his journey. In a raw, vulnerable conversation, he recounts his harrowing time incarcerated in the late 1990s when he had truly hit rock bottom. Downey transports viewers inside the prison walls to relate his distressing experiences navigating dangerous conditions and individuals while withdrawing from substances.

His descriptive visualizations of the unstable environment and constant threats will leave audiences feeling as though they are right by his side in those terrifying circumstances. What emerges is a deeper understanding of the psychological toll imprisonment took on Downey during this vulnerable phase of early recovery. He reflects profoundly on gradually facing hard truths about himself and seeing clearly that life-changing steps were needed. Downey's ability to be so introspective, even about this extremely difficult period, provides invaluable insight for any grappling with addiction or adversity in their own life.

Most compelling is Downey's powerful message of hope. He reveals how facing his darkest moments ultimately empowered the transformation that was to follow. Through his triumph over the years, Downey shines as an example that recovery is possible against all odds when choosing the difficult road of personal growth. His story remains an inspiration for others not to lose sight of their inherent strength, value and capacity for positive change - even in our weakest hours. Through Downey's bravery in sharing the truth of his experience, viewers will feel empowered in their own lives.

Robert Downey Jr. Reveals the Truth About His Time in Prison

[peggysuedavis]

He was very candid about his struggle with drugs and being locked up. Congratulations on his recovery. I love a good come back story!
Thank you for a very good segment.❤

[dennisbrown]

I'm glad he was able to recover. He was great in the movie "Wonder Boy."

[candiceperry]

Robert Downey Jr is my favourite actor

[cindysmith]

I was a substance abuse counselor for twenty years. He was the type of person as a counselor that was wonderful to be working with. Everyone’s rock bottom is different and unfortunately sometimes it’s death.

[charleyanne]

I'm so glad he has been able to overcome his past & do great things. Most get eaten up by their history.
I was worried when he did those movies where he did drugs, Due Date, I believe. I was worried that he would succumb once again from the "acting the part" scenario.
I'm a huge fan & cheerleader of his, I wish nothing but the best for rdj!

[windronner]

Truly a remarkable guy. Not just as an actor or Ex-con. But for being an individual.

[Justmeagain]

Robert is great in every movie he’s been in from the first time we saw him I think Weird Science. Please don’t let his past dictate his future and who hasn’t made a mistake. We all have and if he wanted to write a book I’d read it. But to make him relive a painful experience is just wrong.

[lauriedelorme]

I’m so happy for you.
God needed you to help others. Don’t ever let anything become bigger than your sobriety.

[ruthjesse]

So thrilled about Robert Downey and Lindsay Lohan’s recovery and New life since their recovery. It shows other people in addiction that they to can recover and live a Productive Life for themselves and their Family.

[Raevon]

I always thought he was going to be a great actor. I was so sad to hear he was on drugs and went to jail. Happy that he came out on the other side and he went back to acting.

[raine]

i just wanted to mention that i find it funny how its perfectly fine for large public figures to have a criminal record and nobody will care, but meanwhile we have much smaller people (like youtubers) getting cancelled on a weekly basis whenever they so much as get ACCUSED of doing something way less severe than that
its almost as if cancel culture is more about finding someone vulnerable enough to take down rather than actually caring about people doing bad things

[AndyFromBeaverton]

1:44 That's OJ's attorney, Robert Shapiro.

[vgegoon]

A movie about his father, "Sr.", on Netflix, tells an interesting story. Also, his mother is briefly shown.

[fernandomurillo]

I don’t know if Robert is listening or reading this. Buddy I’ve been a big fan since you started watched all your movies. You’ve come a long way I had lots friends who died from doing stupid 💩 crap. My boy in joyed all your moves you are Iron Man. I don’t know what to say to you but, Hell man thank you 🙏🏻. May God take care of you and yours

[Jimmy_Moon]

Just because he's an actor, doesn't mean he's any different from us. He's just got a weird job.

So it must be awful having to address or justify events from his life.

I'm not justifying his life choices and he's took accountability for them.

But f'k me. Imagine having your cringe moments thrown at you over and over.

[stevelowe]

Thing is, are we meant to feel sorry for him when constantly being told that normal people in prison are scum.

I wrnt to prison, difference is, i didnt have life handed to me on a silver spoon. Dont get me wrong, im not salty about it, or him, i got respect because i know EXACTLY what he went through, but i had to do it without the Ally McBeal show & Mel Gibson to help me. There just aint nothing that makes him special in this circumstance.

But yeah, mad respect for him, & get it right, hes my favourite actor probably (in part because of his hard times) & i really like what i see of him as Robert, not just as characters

[ronaldmcallister]

Robert had turned his life around. I remember him from "ally Mc Beal. "