If there is one actor who knows what it is like to hit rock bottom rise up again, then it's Robert Downey Jr., and this is something that MTV wanted to recognize as they awarded him the Generation Award for 2015.
The actor has had quite a successful career in the 90s since starring in several movies such as Air America, Soap Dish, and Natural Born Killers, but he was most recognized his role as Charlie Chaplin in the same-titled movie back in 1992, where he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
However, Downey suffered from drug abuse, and was even admitted to the California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison. It seemed like the actor with the promising career threw away his life by then, but that was not the end of the road for Downey. He was released in 2000 and he set to get his life back on track.
He joined the TV series Ally McBeal, where he played Calista Flockhart's love interest. Downey was so good with the role that he even received a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film. However, he had a drug relapse and the show was forced to write him out. Downey encountered two drug arrests in late 2000 and 2001, until he finally overcame his drug addiction.
After that, he became better than ever and starred in even more films, until finally bagging the role as Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man in 2008. Things turned around for him since then, and his journey towards success was something that MTV wanted to recognize, so they awarded him with the Generation Award this 2015.
During his acceptance speech, Downey recalled his troubled past and encouraged other people not to get involved in substance abuse like he did, and he urged people to just work hard for their dreams.
"Thirty-four years have passed since the birth of MTV. I've grown up. I've struggled. I've failed. I've succeeded. I've partied way too much," Downey said. "Dream big. Work hard. Keep your nose clean. Be of service. And in any way you can, define your generation."
The award was very important for Downey, who first heard about it when he was still a drug addict. "The first MTV Movie Awards was in 1992, and I said, 'Wow, that's my generation's version of the Oscars,'" Downey shared. "When the first generation award was given in 2005, I thought simply, 'Where's mine?' And I've spent 10 long years patiently awaiting to emerge from a massive, trippy cat head to receive the recognition I've so desired."
