5Īpparently, Downey used to be your standard Hollywood liberal, but once again, his struggle with drugs and the resulting prison time is what he credits to the shift: 4 He even attended a Republican National Convention in the Twin Cities in 2008. In fact, he did attend a 2012 fundraiser for Barack Obama at George Clooney’s house. It wouldn’t be too far-fetched to want to count Downey among the throngs of Hollywood liberals. But there were many times when Catholicism saved my butt. Now I would call myself a Jew-Bu, a Jewish-Buddhist. Spiritual Green Party? There were times when I was into the whole Hare Krishna thing, which is pretty far out. But like Jung said about people using religion to avoid a religious experience, I have managed handily to avoid a religious experience. As a result, Downey’s beliefs are a hodge-podge of these three distinct faiths. His upbringing was both Jewish and Catholic and he credits much of his recovery from drugs and alcohol to Buddhist meditation. Still, Downey seems either confused about his own beliefs or satisfied with the ambiguity. I think I’m more sensitive and introspective and filled with wonder at the universe because of what I’ve gone through than I care to admit. Downey picked up these bad habits later in life and is now almost as famous for his struggle with addiction as he is for his impressive on-screen performances.Īs with any recovering addict, Downey looks to his past experiences as a source for inspiration and spirituality, saying: It would seem that religion was secondary in Downey’s childhood and in his family, which was rife with drug and alcohol abuse. was born and raised in Manhattan, New York. Political Viewsĭowney is a conservative Republican and, without saying exactly why, credits his prison time to making him that way. He seems to identify with both-as well as Buddhism, which he credits to helping him with his drug and alcohol addiction.

Downey was raised in a partly Jewish, partly Catholic family.

Robert downie jr