TINSELTOWN TOAST
A big night in Hollywood is coming up for longtime Malibu resident Robert Downey Jr. The versatile and talented “Iron Man” star will receive the prestigious American Cinematheque Award at the Beverly Hilton on October 14.
RDJ joins an impressive roster of previous honorees including Martin Scorsese, Sean Connery, Tom Cruise, Al Pacino and George Clooney as well as locals Mel Gibson, Steven Spielberg and Bruce Willis.
“The American Cinematheque is extremely pleased to honor Robert Downey Jr. as the 25th recipient of the American Cinematheque award at our celebration this year,” said board chairman Rick Nicita. “The pleasure that we receive from his charismatic and nuanced performances is matched only by the respect that he has earned for his personal and professional journey. The wide range of his talent has kept us enthralled in movies from a biopic like “Chaplin” to outrageous comedies like “Tropic Thunder” to franchises like “Sherlock Holmes” and, of course, “Iron Man.”
Nicita also acknowledged Downey’s perseverance and staying power in Hollywood. “While we have been enjoying him for years, it seems that he’s just getting started all over again. The Cinematheque is thrilled to mark this milestone in the flourishing career of Robert Downey Jr.”
Since 1986, the organization has honored an extraordinary actor, director or writer for their significant contributions to the film industry.
Downey’s career highlights are impressive indeed. He is a two-time Academy Award nominee, earning his most recent Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor. He worked alongside Ben Stiller in the hit comedy “Tropic Thunder.”
Downey was also nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of Charlie Chaplin in Richard Attenborough’s acclaimed 1992 biopic “Chaplin.”
In 2010, the actor received another Golden Globe nomination playing legendary sleuth “Sherlock Holmes,” in the film directed by Guy Ritchie. Downey will once again team up with Ritchie and co-star Jude Law when he returns to the role of the famous detective in the sequel “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.” The sequel is slated for release in December.
Downey received praise from critics and audiences alike for his performance in the blockbuster hit “Iron Man.” Bringing the Marvel Comics superhero to the big screen, “Iron Man” earned more than $585 million worldwide, making it one of the year’s biggest hits.
Expect a host of A-listers to grace the red carpet for Downey’s Cinematheque celebration.
At 46, he may seem a bit young for a lifetime achievement award, but he has a Hollywood resume of actors almost twice his age.