6 Times Robert Downey Jr. Was An Actual Real Life Superhero

Today Robert Downey Jr. turns 51 (yeah, we can’t believe that either). When he’s not busy flying around, beating bad guys, being super sarcastic and whatnot, RDJ regularly takes his superhero persona off the screen and into real life where he saves the world in all kinds of less fictional ways. Let’s take a look to celebrate, shall we?

The time he gave a child a bionic arm

The Collective Project is an awesome project that uses 3D printing and innovative design to make custom bionic prosthetics for children who have lost arms or were born without them. Earlier this year they teamed up with RDJ to give a young fan a fully functioning Iron Man arm. RDJ described Alex as “the most dapper 7-year-old I’ve ever met” and the entire encounter was completely adorable. Check it out above!

The time he dressed up as Tigger to cheer up a fan

When 7-year-old cystic fibrosis sufferer and Iron Man mega-fan Daniel Keyte was getting bullied at school last year his mum got in touch with his idol, RDJ, to ask for some support. His response was probably not quite what anyone expected but was utterly brilliant nonetheless. He donned his favourite Tigger onesie and tagged Daniel in the photo saying, “When I’m in the dumps, I’ve found this little getup to be helpful”.

And then invited him to the Captain America premiere

Not content with just sending a super-cute picture message, RDJ also invited Daniel to come along with him to the premiere of Captain America: Civil War, which he obviously took him up on and got to hang with all the cast.

When he assembled The Avengers to help a sick fan

When comic book fan and terminal cancer patient Stratford Caldecott was too ill to go and see Captain America: The Winter Soldier, his daughter started an internet campaign to get him the Blu-Ray before its release so he could watch it. RDJ teamed up with the rest of the Avengers crew to give campaign a boost and ensured Stratford got his wish.

The time he hung out with about 100 kids dressed as Iron Man

In 2012, RDJ made a surprise appearance at a Comic-Con Iron Man costume competition and hung out with all the kids (plus a few adults) who had entered. Costume compliments and high-fives all round!

The time he raised nearly £2 million for charity in exchange for a night with him (not like that…)

We have no doubt that RDJ would have absolutely no trouble finding a date, but for the premiere of Marvel’s Avengers: Age Of Ultron he opted to raffle off his plus 1 to raise money for Julia's House, a children’s hospice charity he’s a patron for. He promoted the raffle by saying, “Have you had the best night of your life on earth ever yet? Well you could, with me, for a good cause,” and encouraged people to donate $10 or more. The winners were flown out to LA and put up in a 5 star hotel where RDJ promised to “awesome the crap out of you”.

Real-life superhero status: granted.