Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey’s Relationship Timeline

Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey have been making it work since 2003 — in more ways than one.

The pair first got together when Robert was starring in Gothika alongside Halle Berry. Susan (then Susan Levin) was producing the film through her job with Silver Pictures.

At first, Susan wasn’t too sure about Robert, in part because she didn’t want to date the star of one of the movies she was working on, but also because — as she told The Hollywood Reporter in 2014 — she found him “interesting but weird.”

But soon enough, the producer agreed to a date with the actor, and things took off from there. Within a few months, the pair were engaged and two years later, they said, ‘I do.’

Now, Robert and Susan share two children and have formed their own production company, Team Downey.

From their first meeting to their success as parents and business partners, here is a complete timeline of Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey’s relationship.

2003: Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey meet

Susan and Robert met while he was starring in the 2003 psychological thriller Gothika alongside Berry and Penélope Cruz, which Susan was producing.

“We were up in Montreal prepping for Gothika, and we had lunch with the director and Halle Berry,” Susan told The Hollywood Reporter of getting to know Robert. “Everybody else ordered Japanese, but Robert told us how oatmeal was the ‘superfood.’ He brought his own packets of oatmeal to have at lunch. And he had this box of various herbs and stuff. And then he started doing these yoga moves. I mean, he was interesting but weird.”

October 9, 2003: Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey make their red carpet debut

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In October 2003, Robert brought Susan as his date to the premiere of The Singing Detective, a musical that Robert starred in with Katie Holmes, Robin Wright and Adrien Brody. The event marked their first public appearance together.

November 5, 2003: Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey get engaged

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A month later, Robert asked Susan to marry him. In 2004, the couple shared the story of their engagement during an appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show.

“It was her birthday and I wanted to get her before she turned 30, so I waited right before midnight, and I got her a bunch of stuff and then there was a ring,” Robert told Winfrey. “And she opened that, and I said … What did I say?”

Susan answered, “‘I was wondering if, maybe, you’d wanna, like, be my wife one day.’ ”

According to a 2014 Hollywood Reporter interview, while the proposal happened only months after they started dating, Susan insisted on a longer engagement.

August 27, 2005: Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey get married

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On Aug. 27, 2005, nearly two years after getting engaged, Susan and Robert tied the knot. As reported by PEOPLE, the pair got married on Long Island, New York and celebrity guests included Sting, Keanu Reeves and Billy Joel. A source told PEOPLE that Robert was nervous before the ceremony, so he blew off steam earlier in the day by doing a 30-minute kung fu session and going for a swim with his son, Indio (from his first marriage to Deborah Falconer).

2008: Susan Downey gets Robert Downey Jr. cast in a major role

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Susan is responsible for Robert taking on one of his biggest roles: Sherlock Holmes. In 2008, Susan was producing Guy Ritchie’s movie RocknRolla around the same time that Ritchie was hired to direct Sherlock Holmes.

“If Susan hadn’t been in the room, Robert probably wouldn’t have become Sherlock Holmes. She facilitated it, definitely,” Ritchie told The Hollywood Reporter.

Susan also produced the film as well as its sequel, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows.

“It’s much better to spend four months together than four months apart, and she’s a great producer,” Robert told PEOPLE of the experience.

January 17, 2010: Robert Downey Jr. mentions Susan Downey in his Golden Globes speech

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In 2010, Robert won the Golden Globe for best actor for Sherlock Holmes. During his acceptance speech, he jokingly shared that Susan had encouraged him not to prepare his speech ahead of time.

“I would like to thank Susan Downey for telling me that Matt Damon was going to win, so don’t bother to prepare a speech,” he said on stage. He then sarcastically talked about who he didn’t want to thank: “I really don’t want to thank my wife, because I could be bussing tables at the Daily Grill right now, if not for her.”

Susan said afterward, “I know he didn’t have [a speech] fully prepared, but he is really good off the cuff, and he actually tends to do better when he doesn’t plan things.”

June 2010: Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey start Team Downey

Later that year, the couple founded their own production company, Team Downey.

“We played with other names, like RoSuDo,” Susan told THR. “But everyone was like, ‘What the heck’s that?’ If you have to explain that it means Robert Susan Downey, then it’s not going to work.”

Years later, in 2020, the company signed a first-look, one-year deal with premium cable channel HBO.

“We’re excited to roll up our sleeves, expand the partnership, and tell stories that meet the standard their brand has come to represent,” the couple said in a joint statement to THR.

August 31, 2011: Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey announce they’re expecting a baby

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In August 2011, Robert’s rep confirmed to PEOPLE that he and Susan were expecting their first child together.

“Robert and Susan could not be more excited over this news,” his rep said. “They can’t wait to welcome this new baby into their wonderful family.”

The actor had previously predicted that he would have another child soon. “I think I will be wrist-deep in doo-doo within 18 months. I’m calling it right here,” he said in 2010.

February 7, 2012: Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey welcome their son

The couple welcomed their son, Exton Elias Downey, on Feb. 7, 2012, as the actor’s rep confirmed to PEOPLE. A friend of the pair said, “Everyone is healthy and they couldn’t be happier.”

Prior to his birth, Robert had revealed the baby’s sex publicly, even though it wasn’t planned.

“I could never really stay mad at him, but I can tell you it genuinely wasn’t something we planned to reveal,” Susan said. “If I told you the name, then she would lop off my head with a machete,” added Robert.

July 9, 2014: Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey have another baby on the way

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In July 2014, Robert announced that he and Susan were expecting their second child on Twitter. “Yo. Susan. Me. Baby. Girl. November. Scorpio?” he wrote. The news was then confirmed by PEOPLE.

That November, Robert was honored with the Stanley Kubrick Britannia Award for Excellence in Film at the BAFTA Awards and during his acceptance speech, he made a joke about the pregnancy.

“The second pregnancy has been extraordinarily tough for me. Self-prescribed mandatory bed rest was of some benefit. At least my milk is finally coming in,” he said.

October 10, 2014: Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey release their first movie together

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Team Downey produced and released its first film, the legal drama The Judge, in October 2014. In it, Robert starred as a lawyer who returns to his hometown and confronts a strained relationship with his father, played by Robert Duvall.

“Whether you’re working together all of the time or not, you always have to give each other space and kind of read it,” Susan told PEOPLE in 2014. Of working with her husband, she said, “He’s a little bit of a slower start in the morning than I am, so I have to make sure that there’s enough coffee in his system before I start throwing questions his way.”

November 4, 2014: Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey welcome their daughter

Susan and Robert welcomed their daughter, Avri Roel Downey, on Nov. 4, 2014. The Iron Man star announced the news in a humorous Facebook post.

“After 9 months of intensive development, Team Downey is pleased to announce our 2014 fall/winter project,” he wrote. “Principal photography commenced 11-14 and will continue until she says, ‘Dad! You are embarrassing me … I’m 30, this has gotta stop.’ ”

He continued, “Yep … Avri Roel Downey joined the party @ 3:22 a.m. on November 4th … she’s 7lbs even, spans 20 inches, and is accompanied by a variety of Susan’s traits that have seemingly overwritten my ‘junk DNA.’ ”

August 27, 2015: Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey celebrate their 10th anniversary

Robert Downey Jr. Instagram

The couple celebrated 10 years of marriage in 2015. Robert posted about the milestone on his Instagram account.

“A perfect 10. Happy Anniversary, Mrs. Downey,” he wrote next to a photo of them standing on a beach wearing black shirts and sunglasses.

January 17, 2020: Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey’s Dolittle premieres

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Robert and Susan worked together again on the Team Downey production Dolittle, which premiered in January 2020. Robert played the title character, Dr. Dolittle, a man who can speak to animals.

“It was fun to pick something that our kids could see,” Susan told Extra during a joint interview with her husband. “Because even though he’s let our son see the Marvel movies — certain ones — they weren’t able to see any of the movies that we’ve worked on.”

“We don’t like going too long without having an extremely difficult project together, whether it’s a movie or a kid,” Robert said, to which Susan quipped, “Or a house.”

June 4, 2021: Susan Downey and Robert Downey Jr. release Sweet Tooth

Team Downey made its Netflix debut with the show Sweet Tooth, which is about a boy who is half-human, half-deer and lives in a world where human-animal hybrid children started being born following a pandemic.

As with Dolittle, the couple were glad that they got to share Sweet Tooth with their children. “I just hope people have the experience that we get to have with our kids, where we cuddle up on the couch and all watch it together,” Susan said in a feature for Netflix.

November 6, 2021: Robert Downey Jr. celebrates Susan Downey’s birthday

In November 2021, Robert shared a sweet Instagram post for his wife’s birthday, which included an important vow.

“Adjusting the halo on my heaven sent partner Mrs D … you are my everything, and November 6th, Always a day of gratitude, for your blessed birth,” he wrote next to a photo of him placing an invincible halo on Susan’s head. He continued, “P.S. I will never watch ahead on a co-viewed streaming show … That is my eternal vow … ”

February 14, 2023: Robert Downey Jr. pledges his “undying love” to Susan Downey

In honor of Valentine’s Day, Robert posted about his wife on Instagram.

“To she who lovingly tolerates my many shenanigans, I pledge my undying love..” he captioned several professionally-photographed images of the couple.

April 4, 2023: Robert Downey Jr. calls marriage to Susan Downey “sublime”

On his 58th birthday, Robert took a moment to look back at the past 365 days and note what he’s grateful for. The Iron Man star posted a video on Instagram filled with memories — photos and video clips of time spent with family and friends.

“The sweet 17 of marriage — sublime!” he captioned a photo with Susan, referring to the couple’s wedding anniversary in August.

May 18, 2023: Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey attend a Netflix event for Sr. documentary

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Robert and Susan attended a special screening of Sr., a Netflix documentary about Robert’s relationship with his father, which the pair produced together.

The couple were seen holding hands as they posed for pictures together.

August 27, 2023: Robert Downey Jr. celebrates his and Susan Downey’s 18th wedding anniversary

Robert Downey Jr/Instagram

Robert marked his and Susan’s 18th wedding anniversary with a romantic post on Instagram. He shared a throwback photo of the pair sitting together at their 2005 wedding, Susan holding a bouquet of flowers, and a sweet snap of the pair recreating the picture, this time with Susan holding sunflowers.

“18 years, love still in bloom!!” he wrote in the caption.

December 3, 2023: Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey attend the Academy Museum Gala

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The couple enjoyed a date night at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures Gala in Los Angeles. Susan dazzled in a floor-length black gown with crystal details, while Robert looked effortlessly handsome in a black suit.

February 24, 2024: Robert Downey Jr. thanks Susan Downey in SAG Awards acceptance speech

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Robert won outstanding performance by a male actor in a supporting role at the 2024 Screen Actors Guild Awards. During his acceptance speech, the Oppenheimer star gave Susan a memorable shout-out.

“For 22 years, she has flawlessly portrayed a sane and rational individual who is happily married to an actor,” Downey quipped, before dedicating the award to the couple’s first child. “Exton Elias this one’s for you,” he added.

March 10, 2024: Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey share a sweet moment at the Oscars

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Susan accompanied Robert to the 2024 Oscars, where he won Best Supporting Actor for his role in Oppenheimer.

While talking to PEOPLE later that evening, the actor revealed the “best part of the night,” a sweet moment he shared with his wife.

“There was a commercial break and we just touched heads, like two dinosaurs that were letting each other know that we were a couple. And it was great,” Robert said.

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Source: HIS Education