Robert Downey Jr.’s most recent success, earning his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, is sure to be among his most memorable. It highlights how far he’s come.

For those who grew up watching him in the mid to late Noughties, Downey Jr. might seem like he’s always been a global superstar. He became a household name with iconic roles like Tony Stark (Iron Man) and Sherlock Holmes. Who could forget his hilarious turn in Tropic Thunder?

However, Downey Jr.’s route to success was not always straightforward. Many people dismissed him in the 1980s and 1990s because of his drug addiction issues. He was arrested multiple times for cocaine, heroin, and marijuana use, stating that he had been hooked since infancy. After failing a drug test in 1999, Downey received a three-year prison sentence. His future was grim.

But Downey Jr. turned things around. Released after nearly a year in rehab, he dedicated himself to getting his life back on track. This dedication led to some of his best work yet, culminating in the coveted Oscar.

Many social media users lauded this as the “comeback of a lifetime,” a monument to tenacity. In his victory speech, Downey even referenced his background, thanking those who believed in him: “I’d like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy, in that order,” he quipped. He then said, with a loving look at his wife, “I’d want to thank my veterinarian – I mean wife – Susan Downey over there. She discovered me, a snarling rescue pet, and loved me back to life. That’s why I’m here. “Thank you.”