#M ANNOTATED LLM RESPONSE
The lead actor in Iron Man (2008) is Robert Downey Jr. He has had one of the most storied careers in Hollywood, evolving from a "Brat Pack" teen star in the 1980s to a critically acclaimed dramatic actor in the 1990s, and finally a global superstar in the 2000s and beyond.
If you feel like you have seen him before, it’s likely in one of the following major films or career phases:
1. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
Aside from the first Iron Man, Downey portrayed Tony Stark in nine other films over 11 years:
- The Iron Man Trilogy: Iron Man 2 (2010) and Iron Man 3 (2013).
- The Avengers Quadrology: The Avengers (2012), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015), Avengers: Infinity War (2018), and Avengers: Endgame (2019).
- Supporting Roles: Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).
- Cameo: The Incredible Hulk (2008).
2. Recent Blockbusters & Award Winners
- Oppenheimer (2023): He won his first Academy Award (Best Supporting Actor) for playing Lewis Strauss, the antagonistic head of the Atomic Energy Commission.
- Sherlock Holmes (2009) & Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011): He played the title role of the world's most famous detective alongside Jude Law’s Dr. Watson.
- Tropic Thunder (2008): Released the same year as Iron Man, he played Kirk Lazarus, an intense Australian method actor. He received an Oscar nomination for this comedy role.
- Dolittle (2020): He starred as the veterinarian who can talk to animals.
3. The "Comeback" Era (Early-Mid 2000s)
Before Iron Man revitalized his career, he appeared in several cult favorites:
- Zodiac (2007): He played Paul Avery, a hard-drinking crime reporter, in David Fincher’s thriller about the San Francisco serial killer.
- Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005): A neo-noir comedy where he played Harry Lockhart, a petty thief turned accidental actor/detective.
- Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005): He played Joseph Wershba in George Clooney’s historical drama about Edward R. Murrow.
- Gothika (2003): A psychological horror where he played a psychiatrist alongside Halle Berry.
4. Early Career & 90s Acclaim
- Chaplin (1992): He received his first Oscar nomination for his portrayal of silent film legend Charlie Chaplin.
- Less Than Zero (1987): His breakout dramatic role as Julian, a wealthy young man struggling with addiction in Los Angeles.
- Weird Science (1985): A John Hughes classic where he played Ian, one of the school bullies.
- Natural Born Killers (1994): He played the eccentric tabloid journalist Wayne Gale.
- U.S. Marshals (1998): He played Special Agent John Royce in this sequel to The Fugitive.
5. Notable Television & Other Films
- Ally McBeal (2000–2002): He had a major recurring role as Larry Paul, the love interest of the title character, which won him a Golden Globe.
- Saturday Night Live (1985–1986): He was a regular cast member for one season.
- Due Date (2010): A road-trip comedy where he played a high-strung father-to-be alongside Zach Galifianakis.
- The Judge (2014): A legal drama where he played a big-city lawyer defending his father (Robert Duvall).
Upcoming: It was recently announced that Downey will return to the Marvel universe, but not as Iron Man; he has been cast as the villain Doctor Doom in the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday (2026).
#F CORRECTION FEED (CLICK TO SEARCH)
[1] Robert Downey Jr. is the lead actor in Iron Man (2008).
[2] Downey appeared as Tony Stark in 10 MCU films total (Iron Man + 9 others listed).
[3] Iron Man 2 (2010) and Iron Man 3 (2013) are the correct titles and release years.
[4] He starred in all four Avengers films: The Avengers (2012), Age of Ultron (2015), Infinity War (2018), and Endgame (2019).
[5] He had major supporting roles in Captain America: Civil War (2016) and Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017).
[6] He made an uncredited cameo as Tony Stark in the post-credits scene of The Incredible Hulk (2008).
[7] He won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer (2023).
[8] He played Sherlock Holmes in the 2009 film and its 2011 sequel.
[9] He played Kirk Lazarus in Tropic Thunder (2008) and received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
[10] He starred as Dr. John Dolittle in Dolittle (2020).
[11] He played journalist Paul Avery in Zodiac (2007).
[12] He played Harry Lockhart in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005).
[13] He played Joseph Wershba in Good Night, and Good Luck (2005).
[14] He played Dr. Pete Graham in Gothika (2003).
[15] He was nominated for Best Actor for his role in Chaplin (1992).
[16] He played Julian Wells in Less Than Zero (1987).
[17] He played Ian in Weird Science (1985).
[18] He played Wayne Gale in Natural Born Killers (1994).
[19] He played Special Agent John Royce in U.S. Marshals (1998).
[20] Downey was fired from Ally McBeal in April 2001 and did not appear in the show in 2002.
[21] He won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film for Ally McBeal.
[22] He was a cast member on SNL for Season 11 (1985-1986).
[23] He played Peter Highman in Due Date (2010).
[24] He played Hank Palmer in The Judge (2014).
[25] It was announced at SDCC 2024 that he will play Doctor Doom in Avengers: Doomsday (2026).
The lead actor in *Iron Man* (2008) is **Robert Downey Jr.** He has had one of the most storied careers in Hollywood, evolving from a "Brat Pack" teen star in the 1980s to a critically acclaimed dramatic actor in the 1990s, and finally a global superstar in the 2000s and beyond.
If you feel like you have seen him before, it’s likely in one of the following major films or career phases:
### 1. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU)
Aside from the first *Iron Man*, Downey portrayed **Tony Stark** in nine other films over 11 years:
* **The Iron Man Trilogy:** *Iron Man 2* (2010) and *Iron Man 3* (2013).
* **The Avengers Quadrology:** *The Avengers* (2012), *Avengers: Age of Ultron* (2015), *Avengers: Infinity War* (2018), and *Avengers: Endgame* (2019).
* **Supporting Roles:** *Captain America: Civil War* (2016) and *Spider-Man: Homecoming* (2017).
* **Cameo:** *The Incredible Hulk* (2008).
### 2. Recent Blockbusters & Award Winners
* **Oppenheimer (2023):** He won his first Academy Award (Best Supporting Actor) for playing **Lewis Strauss**, the antagonistic head of the Atomic Energy Commission.
* **Sherlock Holmes (2009) & Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011):** He played the title role of the world's most famous detective alongside Jude Law’s Dr. Watson.
* **Tropic Thunder (2008):** Released the same year as *Iron Man*, he played **Kirk Lazarus**, an intense Australian method actor. He received an Oscar nomination for this comedy role.
* **Dolittle (2020):** He starred as the veterinarian who can talk to animals.
### 3. The "Comeback" Era (Early-Mid 2000s)
Before *Iron Man* revitalized his career, he appeared in several cult favorites:
* **Zodiac (2007):** He played **Paul Avery**, a hard-drinking crime reporter, in David Fincher’s thriller about the San Francisco serial killer.
* **Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005):** A neo-noir comedy where he played **Harry Lockhart**, a petty thief turned accidental actor/detective.
* **Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005):** He played **Joseph Wershba** in George Clooney’s historical drama about Edward R. Murrow.
* **Gothika (2003):** A psychological horror where he played a psychiatrist alongside Halle Berry.
### 4. Early Career & 90s Acclaim
* **Chaplin (1992):** He received his first Oscar nomination for his portrayal of silent film legend **Charlie Chaplin**.
* **Less Than Zero (1987):** His breakout dramatic role as **Julian**, a wealthy young man struggling with addiction in Los Angeles.
* **Weird Science (1985):** A John Hughes classic where he played **Ian**, one of the school bullies.
* **Natural Born Killers (1994):** He played the eccentric tabloid journalist **Wayne Gale**.
* **U.S. Marshals (1998):** He played **Special Agent John Royce** in this sequel to *The Fugitive*.
### 5. Notable Television & Other Films
* **Ally McBeal (2000–2002):** He had a major recurring role as **Larry Paul**, the love interest of the title character, which won him a Golden Globe.
* **Saturday Night Live (1985–1986):** He was a regular cast member for one season.
* **Due Date (2010):** A road-trip comedy where he played a high-strung father-to-be alongside Zach Galifianakis.
* **The Judge (2014):** A legal drama where he played a big-city lawyer defending his father (Robert Duvall).
**Upcoming:** It was recently announced that Downey will return to the Marvel universe, but not as Iron Man; he has been cast as the villain **Doctor Doom** in the upcoming *Avengers: Doomsday* (2026).