I always wanted to believe that Robert Downey Jr. was a nice guy and now I have some concrete proof. The actor, soon to be reprising his role as Iron Man in Captain America: Civil War, teamed up with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to make a young Australian boy’s dream to become a superhero a reality.
Domenic Pace, a 9-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis, got the chance to fight crime in Sydney on Thursday as “Iron Boy.” He took on Ultron in a battle on the steps outside the city’s famed opera house in front of a crowd of fans and supporters. In addition, Domenic also got to take a ride in a police helicopter. Lucy Marks, a reporter for ABC News in Australia, posted photos and videos of the event on her Twitter feed. She tweeted that Domenic was awarded a medal of valor for being “Sydney’s true hero today” and that “If he had one super power it would be to heal.” Wait, is someone chopping onions around here?
It's on! #IronBoyAU v #Ultron in the ultimate showdown of good versus evil @abcnews pic.twitter.com/Uw0AUNLzML
— Lucy Marks (@LucyMarks) February 11, 2016
If that wasn’t enough, RDJ filmed a short video message for the boy as Iron Man’s alter ego, Tony Stark. In the message, he said, “I’ve heard you had quite the day. It’s hard work saving the world isn’t it? … I just want to wish you all the best. Keep up the good work.” He also declared that Domenic was getting a special honor, wrapping up the message with, “Listen here, I don’t do this very often but I’m making you an honorary member of the Avengers — I hereby dub thee. Because guess what? Iron Man loves you.”
Is that the sweetest thing, or what? I’m sure Domenic had a day to remember, and thank God for organizations like Make-A-Wish, who work so hard to make these kids’ dreams come true. This is just awesome. Now, if you’ll excuse me, there’s a little something in me eye.
Photo credit: WENN.com, Fame Flynet
I still think RDJ is a arrogant a-hole, but this was really nice.
same here.
Ditto – cannot stand RDJ especially after what he did to that Channel 4 presenter but this was nice.
What did he do?
RDJ and his publicist saw and agreed to all of these questions which will be asked in the interview. The journalist even have the documents to prove it.
But RDJ threw a tantrum when the journalist asked a question about his drug abuse and RDJ stormed out. He didn’t stop there, RDJ the proceeded to call the journalist names and questioned his journalism skills. This journalist is well educated, respected and experienced in interviewing very high officials around the world.
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/apr/28/robert-downey-jr-krishnan-guru-murthy-interview-howard-stern
Except that that particular journo is a notorious troll- RDJ has done some dumb sh&t for sure, but in this case I saw a journalist pick two topics, which had already been asked over and over the last several years, and *try* to get a negative reaction. Look at some of his other interviews!
I have seen lots of his interviews and I like him.
The point here was that RDJ agreed to the questions and then threw a hissy fit and lied.
Oh, yes I know about this one. I thought she was referring to another journo. This journo is an ass and RDJ had every right to walk out. He has talked about his drug past before so no big deal. But I want to see the proof where RDJ knew about the questions before hand. Where’s that link?
Just because someone has a college education doesn’t make them top notch. He can still be an ass and a horrible journalist.
I love Make A Wish and the celebs that support it. Often times we don’t hear of it in the news but every once in a while I see it on Twitter and my heart melts
But that means you love Taylor Swift and that is strictly forbidden around here.
This was incredibly sweet and heart-warming.
Love me some RDJ!
lol I don’t hate TS or anyone that does Make a Wish. Do I dislike her brand of white feminism and her “all about me attitude?” Yes. But at her core I think she is a good person. Sometimes fake but good esp to her fans
didn’t he also do something for a kid who was getting a prosthetic arm of some sort that loved iron man? i really like that he and a few of the other avenger actors (I think both Hemsworth and Evans) really seem to do a lot for kids who love their characters/the comics.
edit: yup this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUwiu0YU3WM seriously love this so much.
Yep but he’s always doing things like this. He paid for a young man in Florida who was a drug addict go to college. He donates to a few rehab centers in CA, he donated money to a local theater in CA that was about to close it doors.
He might be arrogant and annoying to some but at least he does good deeds.
I just think it’s awesome how those guys take their super hero roles so seriously when it comes to kids–they know these kids LOVE the characters and i find it sweet that they commit to it like they do.
I admire him. His life and career were thisclose to spiraling out of control forever and he pulled it all together. Actors in his era often went the route of River Phoenix, but he managed with help to survive and have an amazing career. Others may not agree with me, but I know Domenic does.
Agreed. He’s been to hell and back and seems to have come out of all that still being a decent person. Prison can chew people up and spit them out, but he doesn’t seem bitter to me.
I am not into the movie franchise, so the one thing I associate with him is how he hit rock bottom and pulled himself out. Have to give him credit for perseverance.
I agree Nancy, I don’t care if he seems arrogant, he’s also funny and cute and came roaring back when practically everyone had written him off. I Like him.
Maybe I am missing something. Other than recording a video message, what did he do? I thought, before reading, that he spent time with the child in character.
I think the real hero is the Make a Wish foundation. Am I just being cynical here? If he does good works, great. Given his amount of money and fame, is it too much to expect this of him?
It was widely covered here, vauvert, and RDJ was always mentioned in the same vein, but that’s all I got, too – that he simply recorded a message. It was obvious that Domenic was thrilled with the arrangements – the costumes, film crew, the set up taking down of the “villain” ect., and a helicopter ride! To top it off, our Police Commissioner even had a special bravery certificate made for him and presented it personally. I don’t think RDJ can wear the crown for this one…
You don’t think the kid was over the moon thrilled to get a personal message from Tony Stark?
The efforts from Make-A-Wish and the NSW Police were incredible and should definitely be acknowledged. This was huge here in Australia and I particularly loved the message from the Police Commissioner to start things off and the award to Iron Boy at the end.
I was very proud to be an Aussie watching this and I’ve been personally touched by the cruel realities of cystic fibrosis. I wish Domenic and his family the very best for what lies ahead!
He’s definitely not perfect, but I still can’t help but like him.
“If he had one super power it would be to heal.”
Welp, wasn’t having a good morning to begin with and this broke the barrier that was holding things back. How sad/sweet/heart-breaking. Cystic fibrosis is such a horrible disease…I wish there was a cure. 🙁
Anyway, going to silently weep into my coffee while at work.
Robert’s a sensitive and wonderful artist — he’s such a doll.