Oscars 2024: Robert Downey Jr Wins 1st Ever Academy Award, Thanks 'Terrible Childhood' in Witty Speech – News18

Oscars 2024: Robert Downey Jr won his first-ever Oscar at the 96th Academy Awards. The actor won Best Supporting Actor for his impressive performance in Oppenheimer. Downey Jr played the role of Lewis Strauss, J Robert Oppenheimer’s nemesis in Christopher Nolan’s film. He took to the centre stage and accepted his award. In his acceptance speech, Robert Downey Jr first thanked his ‘terrible childhood’ followed by the Academy for the honour. He also emotionally thanked his wife, Susan Downey.

“I’d like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy — in that order,” Robert Downey Jr said before he turned towards Susan and thanked her. Comparing her with a ‘veterinarian’, Downey Jr added, “She found me as a snarling rescue pet and loved me back to life. That’s why I’m here, thank you.”

“Here’s my little secret, I needed this job more than it needed me. Chris (Nolan) knew it, Emma made sure she surrounded me with one of the great casts and crews of all time –Emily, Cillian, Matt Damon, Blunt—and I stand here a before you a better man because of it,” he said.

This marked Robert Downey Jr’s first ever Oscar win. He was previously nominated for Best Actor in 1993 for Chaplin, and for Best Supporting Actor in 2009 for Tropic Thunder.

Congratulations, Robert Downey Jr!

Robert Downey Jr has been the first choice for Best Supporting Actor this awards season. The actor not only bagged the Oscar for his performance in Oppenheimer, he also won the Golden Globe and the Critics Choice Awards for the same. His co-star Cillian Murphy has been sweeping the awards season as well.