Robert Downey Jr: Awards Iron Man Has Yet to Nab
Robert Downey Jr. has racked up a stack of nominations and wins, but there are still some major awards that have eluded him. Find out which accolades the Iron Man star is still chasing.
After a standout performance in Oppenheimer, Robert Downey Jr. is set to return as Tony Stark in Avengers: Doomsday. The 2024 awards season saw him sweep the Supporting Actor category for his portrayal of Lewis Strauss, finally landing his first Oscar. Over his career, Downey Jr. has notched up 162 nominations and 70 wins, spanning everything from early roles in Chaplin to his time on Ally McBeal and, of course, his Marvel blockbusters. Yet, there are still a handful of trophies that have slipped through his fingers.
Major Awards Still Out of Reach
Despite his impressive haul, Downey Jr. has missed out on several high-profile honours. He’s been nominated for the Primetime Emmy Awards twice: once for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Ally McBeal in 2001, and again in 2024 for The Sympathizer. The AACTA International Awards also recognised his work in Oppenheimer, but he didn’t take home the prize. Astra Awards gave him nods for both Best Cast Ensemble and Best Supporting Actor for the same film.
The Empire Awards have shortlisted him three times for Best Actor, for Iron Man, Sherlock Holmes, and The Avengers, but he’s yet to win. Other notable nominations without a win include the Gotham Awards (Best Ensemble Cast for Good Night, and Good Luck), National Movie Awards (Best Male Performance for Iron Man), Prism Awards (Performance in a Feature Film for The Soloist), and TV Guide Awards (Best Supporting Actor for Ally McBeal).
Oscar, BAFTA, and Critics’ Choice Highlights
Downey Jr. has had a mixed run at the Oscars. He was nominated for Best Actor for Chaplin in 1992 and Best Supporting Actor for Tropic Thunder in 2008, but only clinched a win in 2023 for Oppenheimer. At the BAFTAs, he won Best Actor in a Leading Role for Chaplin and Best Supporting Actor for Oppenheimer, but missed out for Tropic Thunder.
His Critics’ Choice record includes nominations for Tropic Thunder, The Avengers, and Iron Man 3, with wins for Best Acting Ensemble and Best Supporting Actor in Oppenheimer. On the TV side, he was up for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries for The Sympathizer in 2024.
Golden Globes, SAG, and Other Notable Wins
Downey Jr. has had a fair crack at the Golden Globes, with nominations for Chaplin, Tropic Thunder, and Oppenheimer, and wins for Sherlock Holmes, Ally McBeal, and a Special Achievement Award for Short Cuts. The SAG Awards have recognised him for Ally McBeal, Good Night, and Good Luck, Tropic Thunder, and Oppenheimer, with wins for both individual and ensemble performances.
He’s also a familiar face at the People’s Choice Awards, racking up 19 nominations and six wins for roles in The Avengers, Iron Man 3, The Judge, and Captain America: Civil War. The Saturn Awards have seen him nominated and win for films like Heart and Souls, Iron Man, Iron Man 3, and Avengers: Endgame, though he missed out for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Sherlock Holmes, and Oppenheimer.
Teen Choice and What’s Next
With 18 Teen Choice Award nominations, Downey Jr. has picked up three wins for Iron Man 3, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. As he gears up for more appearances in the Marvel universe, including Avengers: Doomsday and Secret Wars, there’s every chance he’ll add to his already hefty collection of accolades.