Robert Downey Jr. Thanks His ‘Horrible Childhood’ After Winning Best Supporting Actor at 2024 Oscars [Video]

Robert Downey Jr. completed his awards season sweep on Sunday, winning Best Supporting Actor at the 96th Academy Awards for his role as Lewis Strauss — a high-ranking member of the United States Atomic Energy Commission member who butts heads with Cillian Murphy’s titular physicist  — in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer.

During his acceptance speech, Downey Jr. jokingly thanked his “horrible childhood” and the Academy following his first Oscar win after three nominations. Prior to announcing the winner, Sam Rockwell introduced Downey Jr. with a sweet tribute.

“There are actors. And then there are actors who don’t drop character until the DVD commentary. I’m talking about Robert Downey Jr. That dude. Susan’s husband. He can be Iron Man. He can be every man,” Rockwell said. “He always goes above and beyond. 30 years ago, as [Charlie] Chaplin, [he] learned how to play …