Here's Why Robert Downey Jr. Was Once Arrested at Disneyland
Robert Downey Jr. has become one of the most family-friendly actors around, thanks to his performance as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But many of his younger fans probably aren't aware that he has something of a scandalous past — which he reminded everyone of at Disney's D23 Expo this weekend. While being inducted into the Disney Legends hall of fame alongside his Iron Man co-star Jon Favreau, Downey Jr. shared a previously secret tidbit from his past.
"Here’s a bit of trivia for you," he said. "The very first time I went to Disneyland I was transported to another place — within moments of being arrested. I was brought to a surprisingly friendly processing center, given a strict warning, and returned to, if memory serves, one very disappointed group chaperone. I’ve been sitting on that shame for a while and I‘m just going to release it here tonight."
"I would like to make amends to whoever had to detain me for smoking pot in a gondola without a license," he continued. "And I don’t wanna further confuse the issue by insinuating that pot smoking licenses for the gondola are in any way obtainable."
One of the many reasons Downey Jr.'s Tony Stark held such appeal was because his history as a wealthy, misbehaving playboy mirrored that of the man playing him. And Downey Jr. is grateful to have been given the opportunity to evolve the role from a single movie in 2009 to this year's epic ensemble Avengers: Endgame.
"I'm delighted to be among such a rich and diverse group of humans, all seeking to reflect the many challenges of life through the lens of creative expression,” he said. "For my part, playing Tony over many years, the thematic idea that technology can guide our species towards enlightenment or destruction, it’s been a really worthwhile and ongoing meditation. Honestly, it’s been a great gift."
You Might Also Like
