It’s Robert Downey Jr.’s 50th Birthday — Take a Look Back at the Highs and Lows of the Actor’s Iconic Career

Though he made his film debut at age five in his father's 1970 film 'Pound,' Robert later shot to fame with his starring role in the 1985 Brat Pack movie 'Weird Science.'

In 1986, RDJ scored a coveted cast member spot on 'Saturday Night Live,' but his stint on the variety show ended after just one season.

Throughout the 1980s, the young actor dated 'Sex and the City' star Sarah Jessica Parker. But by 1991 the A-list couple had called it quits, reportedly because of Robert's growing drug problem.

Robert received his first Oscar nomination at age 27 when he portrayed Charlie Chaplin in the 1992 film 'Chaplin' alongside Marissa Tomei.

In 1996, he was arrested for possession of heroin, cocaine and an unloaded gun. Two years later, a missed drug test landed the actor in the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and state prison.

Following his release from prison in 2000, Robert joined the cast of 'Ally McBeal' as the new love interest of Calista Flockhart's titular character. He later won a Golen Globe for his performance on the hit show.

Nearly four months after being released from prison, Robert was again arrested for possession of cocaine and Valium and being under the influence of drugs. After a subsequent arrest in 2001, the troubled star was fired from 'Ally McBeal.'

By the mid-2000s, Robert was again receiving rave reviews for his movie roles, including 2005's 'Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.'

In 2008, Robert continued his epic Hollywood comeback by landing the lead role in the action flick 'Iron Man.'

He received his second Oscar nomination in 2009 for his role as method actor Kirk Lazarus in 'Tropic Thunder.'

The actor continued to build his blockbuster successes with 'Iron Man 2' (2010), 'The Avengers' (2012) and 'Iron Man 3' (2013). Today, he tops Forbes' list of Hollywood's highest-paid actors with an estimated $75 million in earnings between 2012 and 2013.