“Iron Man” star Robert Downey Jr., who has starred in many Marvel movies, is the real-life dad of Avri Roel Downey, whom he shares with his wife, Susan Downey.
Fans of Robert Downey Jr will remember the heartbreaking moment when his character, Tony Stark, says goodbye to his little daughter after sacrificing himself to save the universe in the film, “Avengers: Endgame.”
If the actor’s tenderness towards his tiny co-star seemed very real, it’s because Robert Downey Jr. has a daughter of his own, and her name is Avri Roel Downey.
Actor Robert Downey Jr. and wife Susan Downey at the “Hollywood’s Night Under The Stars” celebration in 2016, in Los Angeles. | Source: Getty Images
When Avri was just a toddler, her dad joked with talk show host Jimmy Kimmel about the supposed rivalry between the Marvel Universe characters “Iron Man” and “Captain America.” According to Robert, Avri was Team “Iron Man” from the start. He said:
“She is definitely team Iron Man. I gave it [the costumes] to her and said, ‘Here’s a shield and here’s a gauntlet. It’s up to you.’ And she just naturally gravitated towards [the gauntlet].”
In 2019, the actor was spotted in Disneyland on a family outing, and he carried little Avri on his shoulders, looking every inch the doting dad.
Avri’s Middle Name Is a Sweet Nod to Her Relatives
Avri Roel Downey was born on November 4, 2014, and her proud father announced her birth with a post on Facebook that didn’t include photos because he claimed he was too busy staring. The actor wrote:
“Avri Roel Downey joined the party @ 3:22 a.m. on November 4th…she’s 7lbs even, spans 20 inches, and is accompanied by a variety of Susan’s traits that have seemingly overwritten my ‘junk DNA.'”
The actor revealed that Avri’s middle name, Roel, is a tribute to her paternal and maternal grandparents. The “Ro” is for his father, Robert, and his wife, Rosemary, and Susan’s mother, Rosie; the “el” honors his mother, Elsie, and Susan’s father, Eliot.
Robert shares Avri with his wife, Susan Downey, whom he married in 2005. Susan is a producer, and the couple met in 2003 during the filming of the movie “Gothika.” The two started dating, but Susan didn’t think it was serious. Robert was a star, and she worked for a living.
The actor often posts adoring messages to his wife on his Instagram, and on their 17th anniversary, he shared a wedding photo and wrote:
“Today marks 17 years of unadulterated marital bliss. Susan, you are my bedrock, touchstone, and lucky stars to boot.”
Robert became a star in the 80s and 90s and saw his career crash due to his problem with controlled substances. After an arduous road back that included stints in rehab and prison, he rebuilt his career and is now one of the biggest stars in Hollywood.
The actor rarely posts photos of Avri and Exton, even though he often shares Indio’s music on Instagram and Twitter.
He was cast as Tony Stark/Iron Man in Marvel’s three “Iron Man” movies and starred in another six films set in the Marvel Universe opposite actors Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, and Chris Hemsworth.
Avri is the youngest of Rober’s three children. Her oldest sibling is her half-brother Indio Falconer Downey. Indio is a musician born in 1993 into the actor’s marriage to actress and composer Deborah Falconer.
Her second brother, Exton Elias Downey, was born in February 2012. The actor explained the source of his second son’s unusual name. He revealed:
“My wife’s great-uncle Joe was kind of eccentric — when he was in fourth grade, he realized he didn’t have a middle name, so he changed his name to J. Exton.”
While he is very proud of all his children, the actor rarely posts photos of Avri and Exton, even though he often shares Indio’s music on Instagram and Twitter.
