With stints in jail, spells in rehab and an arrest for driving down Sunset Boulevard in the buff, it’s not so long ago that Robert Downey Jr’s career wasn’t looking too good. But in a remarkable comeback, the ex-drug addict is now clean, happily married, the proud owner of a well-received album, and the most sought-after star in the biz. Not content to be seeing off rivals in superhero blockbuster ‘Iron Man’, he also pops up in indie outing Charlie Bartlett, which opens this week. As we venture further into what critics are calling the ‘summer of Robert Downey Jr’, we find out more about Hollywood’s prodigal son.

1. Robert’s dad Robert Downey Sr. was an actor, writer, cinematographer and independent filmmaker and the family moved frequently because of his work. Robert spent time in New York, California, Woodstock, Connecticut, Paris and London as a child.

2. Five-year-old Robert made his big screen debut as a puppy in his father’s 1970 movie Pound. Aww!

3. Robert’s dad introduced him to drugs by offering him a joint at a party at the age of eight. Downey Sr. said later, “We thought it would be hypocritical to not have our kids participate in marijuana and stuff like that.” Hmm, maybe in retrospect it wasn’t such a good idea.

4. Robert went through a Billy Elliot phase and studied classical ballet while living in London at the age of ten.

5. One of Robert’s best pals as a child was Richard Hall, otherwise known as dance star Moby. Their parents used to smoke pot together but the pair hasn’t seen each other for years. (more…)

I have added screencaps of Robert’s scene in Lucky You. See them here. I also added a video of his scene, which you can download here.

Brit actors Sir Ben Kingsley and Ralph Fiennes are each getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

American actors Cameron Diaz and Robert Downey Jr will also be honoured, along with Australian Hugh Jackman and US director Tim Burton.

The stars will be unveiled on Hollywood Boulevard during 2009 and were chosen by members of The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s Walk of Fame Committee.

Robert Downey Jr. is in negotiations to star in Cowboys & Aliens, says The Hollywood Reporter. The film is a mix of science-fiction and Western and could serve as a 2010 tentpole release from DreamWorks and Universal.

Cowboys & Aliens is based on a graphic novel by Fred Van Lente and Andrew Foley from an original idea by Platinum Studios chairman and CEO Scott Mitchell Rosenberg.

The story focuses on an Old West battle between the Apache and Western settlers–including a former Union Army gunslinger named Zeke Jackson–that is interrupted by a spaceship crashing into the Arizona prairie. Downey Jr. would play Jackson.

THR says the story draws a parallel between the American imperialist drive to conquer the “savage” Indians with its advanced technology and the aliens’ assault on Earthlings, who must join together to survive the invaders’ attack.

Downey Jr. is being actively courted following the recent success of Iron Man. Other projects he is rumored to have an interest in include a Sherlock Holmes update directed by Guy Ritchie and Brett Ratner’s Hugh Hefner biopic.

Downey Jr. will next be seen in Ben Stiller’s Tropic Thunder, followed by the drama The Soloist.

Robert was at the NBA Finals Game 5 - LA Lakers Vs. Boston Celtics yesterday. Pictures are in the gallery.

Robert Downey Jr. has made his fair share of mistakes (drug abuse, jail time, starring on Ally McBeal) but the talented/troubled actor has been on an upswing for some time now. While we’ve always loved the guy no matter what, it seems that more and more people are onboard the A-Train to Downey Town.

After the huge success of Iron Man-$289 million US and counting at the box office-studios are falling over themselves to cast the actor in some of their bigger upcoming projects.

Entertainment Weekly’s Hollywood Insider blog is reporting that Downey is considering several roles including playing iconic super sleuth Sherlock Holmes. Warner Bros. plans to re-imagine the Arthur Conan Doyle detective stories, giving them a grittier, more action-oriented edge and playing up Holmes’ boxing and fencing abilities, as well as his substance abuse problems. The update is rumored to be directed by Guy Ritchie.

Downey is also reportedly looking at Travis McGee (based on John D. MacDonald’s detective series), fantasy/comedy Dog Years, and director Brett Ratner’s Hugh Hefner biopic, among other projects.