Robert Downey Jr. has been granted an official pardon for a drug conviction that sent him to prison nearly 20 years ago.
California Governor Jerry Brown announced pardons for 91 people who had been out of custody for 10 years and proved they had turned their lives around.
Robert Downey Jr.’s conviction will remain on his record but he will have his voting rights restored.
In 1996, police found cocaine, heroin and a pistol in the actor’s car when they stopped him for speeding.
Robert Downey Jr., who is best known today for his role as Iron Man in a series of Marvel movies, was sent to prison in 1999 after violating his probation.
The actor had achieved early success in Hollywood after making his screen debut at the age of five, but went on to fall victim to drink and drugs, before spending time in rehab and rekindling his commercial success.
A proclamation from Jerry Brown’s office says Robert Downey Jr. has “lived an honest and upright life, exhibited good moral character, and conducted himself as a law-abiding citizen”.
It went on to say the actor “has paid his debt to society and earned a full and unconditional pardon”.
Gov. Jerry Brown has issued hundreds of pardons in each of his four terms in office, usually doing it around Christian holidays.
Most people pardoned along with Robert Downey Jr. had been found guilty of nonviolent drug and property crimes.
The Toronto International Film Festival is due to begin later in Canada.
Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall legal drama The Judge will officially kick off the 10-day event.
The 39th annual Toronto International Film Festival is currently being held from September 4 to 14.
Both stars are expected to grace the red carpet for the gala at Toronto’s Roy Thompson Hall.
Robert Downey Jr. and Robert Duvall legal drama The Judge will officially kick off the Toronto International Film Festival
Some 300 films will be screened at the festival, including Alan Turing movie The Imitation Game and Stephen Hawking biopic The Theory of Everything.
Al Pacino film The Humbling – based on Philip Roth’s final novel – will also premiere on September 4.
The Oscar-winner was honored at the festival’s charity gala , with a Q&A looking back over his career.
King Street, on which the festival’s main headquarters is situated, has been closed to traffic and streetcars to enable the public to get closer to the red carpet action.
Other films set to premiere include a big screen version of the 1980s TV series The Equalizer starring Denzel Washington, Michael Douglas thriller The Reach and Ethan Hawke drone drama Good Kill.
Indio Downey, Robert Downey Jr.’s son, was arrested in West Hollywood, California, on Sunday afternoon for drug possession, ET reported.
Indio Downey, 20, was arrest occurred after a traffic stop and investigation near the intersection of Santa Monica Boulevard and La Cienega. He was a passenger in the car.
Robert Downey Jr.’s son, Indio, was arrested in West Hollywood for drug possession (photo Getty Images)
The actor’s son posted bail, which amounted to $10,000, and was released just after 12:30 a.m. on Monday morning.
Indio Downey’s famous 49-year-old father has struggled with drug addiction in the past and has even ended up in prison for his substance abuse.
On Monday, Robert Downey Jr. released the following statement to TMZ: “Unfortunately, there’s a genetic component to addiction and Indio has likely inherited it. Also, there is a lot of family support and understanding, and we’re all determined to rally behind him and help him become the man he’s capable of being. We’re grateful to the Sheriff’s department for their intervention, and believe Indio can be another recovery success story instead of a cautionary tale.”
Iron Man 3 has triumphed at the US box office, with the second biggest ever opening weekend in the US.
Comic book sequel Iron Man 3, starring Robert Downey Jr., took an estimated $175.3 million across the weekend.
Only 2012’s The Avengers, which united Iron Man with fellow Marvel characters, had a bigger opening, taking $207.4 million when it opened last May.
Iron Man 3 is the final episode in the trilogy, and follows Tony Stark’s battle with terrorist “the Mandarin”.
Iron Man 3 has triumphed at the US box office, with the second biggest ever opening weekend
Directed by Shane Black, who previously worked with Robert Downey Jr. on Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, the film co-stars Gwyneth Paltrow, as Pepper Potts, and Sir Ben Kingsley as the Mandarin.
Iron Man 3, which has enjoyed largely positive reviews, has easily outstripped the opening weekends of the first two films, which took $98.6 million and $128.1 million respectively.
The film opened a week earlier overseas, taking $504.8 million at the international box office – meaning it has already grossed $680.1 million in total.
Robert Downey Jr. is expected to reunite with fellow comic book characters Captain America, Thor and the Hulk in the forthcoming Avengers sequel, which is scheduled to be released in 2015.
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