Oscars 2024: Robert Downey Jr. Wins Best Supporting Actor For Oppenheimer, Thanks His 'Terrible Childhood'

Hollywood icon Robert Downey Jr. took home the prestigious Best Supporting Actor award at the 96th edition of the Academy Awards for portraying Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer'.

Robert Downey Jr. took home the prestigious Best Supporting Actor award at the 96th edition of the Academy Awards ( Image Source :Getty Images )

Oscars 2024: Hollywood icon Robert Downey Jr. took home the prestigious Best Supporting Actor award at the 96th edition of the Academy Awards for portraying Lewis Strauss in Christopher Nolan's 'Oppenheimer'. This was Downey's third nomination and first Oscar.

In his acceptance speech, Downey Jr. kicked off with a touch of humour, stating, "I'd like to thank my terrible childhood and the Academy, in that order,.” 

Playfully acknowledging his wife, Susan Downey, he quipped, "I'd like to thank my veterinarian — I meant wife — Susan Downey over there. She found me, a snarling rescue pet, and loved me back to life. That's why I am here. Thank you." 

Expressing gratitude towards the team behind 'Oppenheimer,' the biographical thriller, Downey Jr. credited Christopher Nolan, the writer, producer, and director, along with producer Emma Thomas and co-stars Cillian Murphy, Emily Blunt, and Matt Damon. 

Revealing a personal insight, he shared, "Here's my little secret: I needed this job more than it needed me. Chris knew it, Emma made sure that she wrapped — surrounded me with one of the greatest cast and crews of all time." 

Downey Jr. stressed the meaningfulness of the film industry, asserting, "What we do is meaningful, and the stuff that we decide to make is important." 

Acknowledging the support team behind his success, the actor thanked his stylist, publicist, and entertainment lawyer, light-heartedly mentioning his attorney's long-standing efforts to insure and bail him out over the years. 

Concluding his speech with a heartfelt nod to his three children, Avri, Exton, and Indio, Downey Jr. reflected the joy of the moment and his appreciation for family. 

Robert Downey Jr. secured the Best Supporting Actor award for his role in 'Oppenheimer,' a film centered on the life of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American theoretical physicist often regarded as the father of the atomic bomb. Portraying the character of Lewis Strauss, a retired Naval Reserve officer and prominent member of the US Atomic Energy Commission, Downey Jr. delivered a standout performance. 

Da'Vine Joy Randolph wins Best Supporting Actress
Da'Vine Joy Randolph bagged Best Supporting Actress, marking a significant achievement in her career. 

Randolph won Oscars for of outstanding performance in the film ‘The Holdovers,’ where she portrayed the character of Mary Lamb. The Christmas comedy-drama, directed by Alexander Payne and set in 1970, unfolds the story of a grumpy history teacher at a New England boarding school compelled to chaperone a group of students left without plans for the Christmas break. 

The 96th Academy Awards were held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Los Angeles, showcasing a celebration of cinematic excellence.