May 7, 2013 11:15 am

Robert Downey Jr.: 30 Years of Red-Carpet Looks

By Margaret Lyons

Photo: Barry King/Sygma/Corbis and Gregg DeGuire/PictureGroup/Getty

Iron Man 3 opened this weekend to both box-office and critical success. But had you told anyone fifteen years ago that Robert Downey Jr. would be the face of that franchise, plus an Avenger, it would have sounded like a long shot. Downey’s infamous drug abuse derailed his career for a while — a long while, long enough for People magazine to have two different stories about him called “Hitting Bottom.” But he’s made quite the comeback! Now that he’s Sherlock Holmes, Iron Man, and a hell of a late-night guest, it seemed like the perfect time to go all the way back to the beginning and trace Robert Downey Jr.’s pop evolution, from the early bad-boy era to the modern-day Mr. Charming.

RDJ still wears jazzy jackets and statement glasses, but this is one of the few photos of him with his original teeth.

With Harvey Keitel. Think of RDJ's cigarettes in this slideshow like the silent cat in illustrated children's books. Is he on this page? There he is!

Anthony Michael Hall, Robert Rusler, and Robert Downey Jr. co-starred in Weird Science. But the real weird science is the variety of complexions on display in this one photo.

There are so many eighties things going on here, but the most eighties thing of all is Sarah Jessica Parker's ankle bracelet.

At the fifth annual VMAs with Suzanne Vega.

Look closely: That's a Dukakis/Bentsen pin.

Oy, that beard is brutal. (With 1969 director Ernest Thompson.)

With Justine Bateman and Leif Garrett, and the same jacket from the previous slide.

With Christian Slater, and a cigarette. And still with that sorry-looking facial hair.

You could swap Bruce Willis, Demi Moore, and Downey's eyebrows, and not even be able to tell.

They probably started measuring time in jackets and blazers. "Today is our ninth jacket anniversary."

The bigger the jacket, the closer to God. Right, Sheryl Crow?

With his father, Robert Downey Sr. And shorts.

That's his sister Allison Downey, who apparently shared his affection for massive coats.

Remember when tinted glasses were a thing?

Don't call it a comeback. Actually, do: It was a comeback, thanks to Ally McBeal.

At the SAG awards, with Rob Lowe and the ugliest pair of white shoes in the known universe.

Singing with Sting, blisfully unaware that his cumberbund (or is that just a belt?) is trying to make an escape.

Downey was presenting Elton John with an award, but they both went home winners.

Maybe Downey got his enthusiasm for tinted lenses from Elton John!

Now they both have super-thin eyebrows. And you could still switch them.

We're with you, Malcolm McDowell. That hat is a nightmare.

You can't quite see, but trust us: These glasses are tinted, too.

With Woody Harrelson, Obba Babatunde, and a merciful lack of eyewear.

Did you know that he released an album in 2004 called The Futurist? Well, he did.

And now we segue into red-carpet-goofball phase. Put up your dukes, etc., along with Shane Black, Michelle Monaghan, and Val Kilmer, promoting Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

Never doubt RDJ's commitment to sneakers. He wore lavender kicks to his own wedding.

More promotional goofballing with Kilmer.

Fear not, men who struggle to grow facial hair even into their twenties. Whatever patchiness seemed to plague Downey in the eighties and early nineties seems to have resolved itself by 2006. There is hope.

Though Keanu Reeves is more than happy to remind everyone sometimes patchiness will always be there.

The awfulness of the hair doesn't distract from the awfulness of the sunglasses. For someone with a reputation for being handsome and dapper, the man has had a few red-carpet missteps. (His wife Susan looks nice, though.)

This is better, though it's hard not to look like a dumpy troll hobo next to Gwyneth Paltrow.

Or like a sensible, well-dressed adult next to Jack Black.

RDJ is giving Ben Stiller a run for his money as best-dressed at the Tropic Thunder premiere, but that mustache is a slight negative.

Don't be fooled by Jack Black wearing the same lightning jacket twice! This is a different occasion. One where Downey has decided to scrap the 'stache.

That is a shiny, shiny jacket. But it's better than what Guy Ritchie is wearing.

Dapper effect in full force. If only he'd striaghten Jonah Hill's tie.

Everything's a little quirky and weird in this outfit, but it works. Except for those G-D tinted glasses, making a reappearance.

Great, now you've summoned the patchy-beard demon, too.

Can't those just be sunglasses? Regular sunglasses?

How come the dog doesn't get to wear a hat, too?

... Kiss? (But also, take those glasses off.)

Finally, a kiss. But these molester-style glasses with a slight yellow tint have got to go.

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Robert Downey Jr.: 30 Years of Red-Carpet Looks

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