Robert Downey Jr. Thanks His 'Veterinarian, I Mean Wife' Susan in Oscars Speech: 'You Loved Me Back to Life'

Robert Downey Jr. he also praised the cast and crew of ‘Oppenheimer’ before noting that he “needed this job more than it needed me,” adding, “I stand here before you a better man because of it.”

Robert Downey Jr. he’s an Oscar winner — but he’d be nothing without his wife Susan!

The star won best supporting actor at the 2024 Academy Awards on Sunday for his role in Oppenheimer. Downey Jr. won American fictionSterling K. Brown, Killers of the Flower MoonRobert De Niro, Barbieis Ryan Gosling and Poor people‘ Mark Ruffalo.

Downey Jr. was cracking jokes from the moment he took the stage, opening his speech by saying, “I’d like to thank my horrible childhood and the Academy, respectively.”

He then joked: “I’d like to thank my vet – I meant woman – Susan Downey over there. She found me, a snarling rescue pet, and brought love back into my life. That’s why I’m here. Thank you.”

List of Oscar winners 2024: Oppenheimer She leads with 7 awards, followed by Emma Stone Poor people

He later thanked director Christopher Nolan, screenwriter, producer and director Oppenheimeras well as producer Emma Thomas and his co-stars Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt and Matt Damon.

“Here’s my little secret: I needed this job more than he needed me. Chris knew that, Emma made sure to wrap me up – she surrounded me with one of the best casts and crews of all time,” he said. “Emily, Cillian, Matt Damon … it was fantastic and I stand here in front of you a better man because of it. You know, what we do is meaningful, and the things we choose to do are important.”

Downey Jr., 58, also thanked his stylist, publicist and entertainment lawyer, joking that his lawyer spent half of his 40 years “trying to secure me and save me.” He then ended his speech by greeting his three children, Avri, Exton and Indio.

Robert Downey Jr. in ‘Oppenheimer’.

Melinda Sue Gordon

OppenheimerRobert Downey Jr. called himself ‘the most advanced player’ in his speech at the 2024 Golden Globes.

For his performance in a biopic OppenheimerDowney Jr. he won the Oscar for the third time, the last time he was nominated in 2009 for A tropical thunderstorm.

Opposite Murphy, Downey Jr.’s Admiral Lewis Strauss serves as J. Robert Oppenheimer’s primary antagonist as the physicist deals with the moral and emotional dilemmas of creating the atomic bomb.

Robert Downey Jr. wins an Oscar in 2024.

PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images

Downey Jr. recently told PEOPLE that while he was thrilled to be nominated, the real reward was hanging out with the film’s cast. “The reward was the experience. There’s a bond and we have a lot of respect for each other,” Downey said of his co-stars.

At the film’s premiere last summer, Downey Jr Oppenheimer: “I’m just going to put it simply — this is the best movie I’ve ever acted in.”

See the best-dressed stars at the 2024 Oscars

The Best Supporting Actor category has a lot of talent this year, which is evident from the other nominees.

Claire Folger/MGM/Everett

Brown, 47, received his first Oscar nomination for his work in American fiction. Playing the recently divorced brother of monk Ellison Jeffrey Wright, the Emmy winner portrayed a newly out gay man.

In addition to Brown’s nomination, costar Wright, 58, received a nod for his lead role. The film received a total of five awards, competing for best film, best adapted screenplay and best original music.

Sterling K. Brown’s This is us Costars React to His Oscar Nomination: ‘No One Deserves More’

Apple Original Movies

Epic directed by Martin Scorsese Killers of the Flower Moon sees De Niro, 80, as William King Hale, a ruthless crime boss responsible for murdering the Osage people.

Irishman the actor previously won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1974 for The Godfather Part II and best actor in 1981 for Mad bull.

Scorsese recently told PEOPLE of the actor, “When Bob commits, he digs in with research, questions about absolutely everything from what the character wears to what he eats for breakfast. The search and discovery never stops.”

Robert De Niro recounts his life in pictures, from childhood to Hollywood and fatherhood: video (exclusive)

Pictures by Warner Bros

Gosling’s Kenergy garnered rave reviews after its summer blockbuster Barbie. The La la country actor, 43, added a third Oscar nomination to his tally for his role as the giddy boyfriend of Mattel doll Ken.

In a previous statement about her nomination, the star said: “There is no Ken without Barbie, and he is gone Barbie a film without Greta Gerwig and Margot Robbie, the two people most responsible for this history-making, globally acclaimed film. No recognition would be possible for anyone on film without their talent, courage and ingenuity.”

Ryan Gosling shows off some Barbie pink socks (and some skin) as he poses with his family on the 2024 Oscars red carpet.

Studies of the 20th century

Trying to contain Emma Stone’s Bella Baxter antics, Ruffalo stars as Duncan Wedderburn in Yorgos Lanthimos’ film Poor people. The film follows Dr. Godwin Baxter’s (Willem Dafoe) childish science experiment as Bella wanders around Victorian-era London followed – or rather, chased – by Duncan.

the Avengers star has three previous nominations for best supporting actor at the Oscars: in 2010 The children are finein 2014 A fox hunter and in 2015 Reflector.

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The 96th Academy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, are broadcast live on ABC from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California.

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