Movie star Robert Downey Jr. has been in Hollywood for three decades and has equally tasted success and failure. But he made a comeback with Iron Man in 2008 and went on to win a prestigious honor in 2015. He won alongside a martial arts legend, a comic book creator, and a few others. He was particularly ecstatic about being in the company of the martial arts legend.
California State honored Robert Downey Jr. for uplifting the profile of their state. Governor Jerry Brown presented him with the ‘Spirit of California’ medal. Other inductees were Charles M Schultz, and the man Downey Jr. was most excited to be in the company of, Bruce Lee.
Robert Downey Jr was over the moon after sharing the honor with Bruce Lee
Robert Downey Jr. was thrilled and honored to share the space with the legendary artists who were inducted with him. He wrote on his Instagram, “Had the honor of being one of a number inducted into the CA Hall of Fame yesterday by Gov Brown. Thrilled to be in any group that includes Bruce Lee and Peanuts creator Charles M Shulz.”
The Spirit of California medal also ensured that Downey Jr. was now an inductee into the California Hall of Fame. The ceremony took place on 28th October 2015 in the California Museum in Sacramento. Downey Jr. looked dapper in white sneakers and red-bordered glasses while accepting the award.
Also, memorabilia from Downey’s life and legacy were put on display at the museum. Iron Man aka Tony Stark, the character Downey Jr. is best known for, is a billionaire who lives in a Malibu beach house in California. Other inductees included British painter David Hockney and the late singer Buck Owens.
Other inductees into the Hall of Fame and Downey Jr.’s upcoming projects
Here’s some information about some of the other legendary inductees. Bruce Lee, the legendary martial artist, passed away in 1973 and thus received the honor posthumously. He has contributed to martial arts immensely and broken barriers for Asian actors in Hollywood. Charles M. Schultz is the creator of Peanuts comics which became one of the most popular comics of all time. It tells the story of a meek boy Charlie Brown and his dog Snoopy. David Hockney is a British artist who has sold one of the most expensive paintings of all time – Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures).
Actor and martial artist Bruce Lee (1940 – 1973) in a publicity still for ‘Enter the Dragon’, directed by Robert Clouse, Hong Kong, 1973. Stichwort: Muskeln, Kampf, Kampfsport. (Photo by FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives via Getty Images)
Robert Downey Jr. has played a wide array of characters throughout his career from Iron Man to Charlie Chaplin to Sherlock Holmes. His contribution to cinema and Hollywood is bountiful and is a worthy candidate for the aforementioned honor. He will next appear in Christopher Nolan’s upcoming biographical film ‘Oppenheimer’ with Cillian Murphy as the lead. Which role are you most excited to see him play next and would you love an Iron Man return in the future? Do let us know.
