In the world of entertainment, there is perhaps no more fabled tale of rise, fall, redemption and comeback than that of inmate turned ‘Iron Man,’ Mr. Robert Downey Jr.
The prodigal son of writer, director and actor Robert Downey Sr., the younger Downey made his acting debut at age five, playing the ironic role of a sick puppy n his father’s film “Pound.”
Downey Jr. found early success as an adjunct member of the Brat Pack, starring in the nihilist classic “Less Than Zero.” He earned his first Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Charlie Chaplin in the eponymous film.
Downey has famously, and publicly, battled substance abuse, spending much of the 90’s and early aughts in and out of treatment centers and correctional facilities before finally getting sober in 2003 and making the unlikely leap from getting high to becoming the highest paid actor in Hollywood.
Downey has three kids, son Indio 29, with ex-wife Deborah Falconer and son Exton, 11, and daughter Avri, 8, with wife Susan Levin who he wed in 2005.
Downey Jr.’s latest role is in Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer.” Premiering July 21, the biopic stars Cillian Murphy in the titular role of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the complex communist who invented the atomic bomb. Downey plays antagonist Lewis Strauss, the former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission.
In celebration of summer cinema and the long strange trip of Robert Downey, we’re taking a look at the stradust that settles in the ‘Iron Man’s’ birth chart. Read on to learn more.
Cardinal fire starter
Robert Downey Jr. was born on April 4, 1965 in New York mothertruckin’ City making our man an impulsive Aries sun, Mercury and Venus with a luxury loving Taurus moon.
The birth time listed online is dicey so we’ll be operating without knowledge of his rising sign or house placements.
In the words of astrologer Elise Wells of Planet Poetica, the moon is the engine, the sun is the fuel and the vocation is the path we are working towards/on.
In the case of Downey we have at on our hands “a pleasure-lover vehicle burning individualist/warrior fuel, doing the job of sacred work in pagan theatre.”
We can see Downey’s sun and moon working together in his approach to life and art, an ethos of “Never let a good crisis go to waste,” apropos as Aries folk are oxygenated by challenge and Taurus is concerned with ROI.
Downey’s Taurus moon also serves to explain his fixed determination, evident in his recovery, long term relationships and dedication to playing a character like Tony Stark for the better part of a decade for one of the largest paydays in history.
Sarah Jessica Parker, who dated Downey from 1984-1991 recalled feeling “angry and embarrassed” throughout the course of their relationship.
TBH folks, those twin emotions are the hallmark of dating an Aries, (prove me wrong). Parker went on to partially redeem their romance calling it, “really adventurous, important,” bringing attention to the highest expressions of this fearless fire sign which never fails to keep it fresh and borderline dangerous.
A Taurus moon is a natural born pleasure seeker but gone unchecked or off the f—ing rails that pursuit can turn perverse; no good when you consider how committal a Taurus moon can be.
If they are committing to the k-hole, the gun in the glove box, the coke binge and/or the inexplicable Wonder Woman costume folks, they are doing so with gusto.
On the upswing, when a Taurus moon learns to rebrand pleasure and dig into the rich earth of a stabilizing relationship they all but bloom as Downey continues to prove.
Mercury in Aries = bad clown
Downey’s, Mercury, the planet of the mind and mouth, is in the fast paced, actions oriented sign of Aries. This placement explains his quick wit and rapid fire delivery.
True to form and to Mercury, “The New York Times,” recently characterized Downey as a “rollicking and digressive talker.”
In the same article, Downey all but outs his Mercury sign, telling NYT, “I had other characters in other things where I put on a mask, and in putting on the mask, I am free to subject the screen to my unconscious dialogue, which I find hilarious, engaging and wrought with bad-clown energy.”
Mercury in Aries is bad clown energy. It is not shy, it is not subtle, consider Downey’s words to a judge at a 1999 sentencing for drug charges,”It’s like I have a shotgun in my mouth, and I’ve got my finger on the trigger, and I like the taste of the gun metal.”
Woof, but also, wow. Mercury in Aries does not shirk from making risky moves, taking on controversial roles and supporting problematic people; see Downey donning black face for “Tropic Thunder” and covering aspiring cannibal Armie Hammer’s living expenses and rehab tab.
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Aries: A scorched-earth hero’s journey
Ruled by planet Mars, named for the god of war, Aries represents the warrior archetype and for his part, Downey’s hero’s journey has been marked by descent and regeneration.
Through his addictions he waged war on himself, physically and psychically and in his recovery cut a rough path to wholeness. In the process of building himself back, Downey resurrected his career, going from blacklisted to bankable in the span of a few years.
More importantly, and true to the action hero qualities of his Aries placements, Downey’s struggles have served as a hopeful lighthouse for others making their way through the same muck and mire.
Actor Wes Bentley credits Downey with saving his life, “I was in the deepest throes of my addiction and in the worst place and at death’s door, I guess, or at risk of it and I saw him be so bold and brave and open and it saved me.”
An oft unsung merit of the Aries archetype is service and Downey’s rescue yourself, rescue others, burn as a beacon of what can be energy is cardinal fire at its purest and most powerful.
Downey turned 58 this year and ushered in his second Saturn return. Downey celebrated his latest trip around the sun with an Instagram video montage that featured images of his family and a parting picture of himself on an inflatable pony alongside the following wish, “After all these blessings I must simply say I hope I NEVER grow up one day.”
The French philosopher Roger Garaudy posited that while most people believe a person is born young, ages and dies, acquiring youth is in fact a life long process of challenge and change.
The youth Garaudy speaks to and that Downey embodies, is a spirit that continues to open itself to change and possibility, that refuses to stagnate or surrender. In essence. we should strive towards youth as we age; to be more creative, curious and compassionate in the winter of our lives than in the spring.
Apropos of this, Aries is the first born, cardinal kid of the zodiac, a pure and perennial Pan type that refuses to slow down but can, in their highest expression and in the case of Downey, direct their fire purposefully and powerfully. Stay young, stay hungry and keep your engines ever burning Robert.
Astrology 101: Your guide to the star
- The 12 zodiac signs
- What are the astrology houses
- Here’s what each planet represents
- Sun, moon, and rising signs: Get to know your Big 3
Astrologer Reda Wigle researches and irreverently reports back on planetary configurations and their effect on each zodiac sign. Her horoscopes integrate history, poetry, pop culture and personal experience. She is also an accomplished writer who has profiled a variety of artists and performers, as well as extensively chronicled her experiences while traveling. Among the many intriguing topics she has tackled are cemetery etiquette, her love for dive bars, Cuban Airbnbs, a “girls guide” to strip clubs and the “weirdest” foods available abroad.
