Downey Jr. had a career resurgence when he played Iron Man in the MCU.

Robert Downey Jr. had a new lease on life when he was cast as Tony Stark in the MCU. Beginning his career with Iron Man, the actor bounced back from being an industry pariah to a world-renowned star. Downey Jr. went on to become the face of the MCU, starring in team-up films such as The Avengers, as well as the Iron Man trilogy.

While Marvel gave him a new beginning, being cast by the studio reportedly helped many other actors, including Paul Bettany. Bettany first joined the MCU as the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S. and then appeared as Vision. The actor reportedly had a tough time as a teen and was busking in the streets before he was kicked out of his apartment in London.

Paul Bettany Used To Busk In The Streets To Make Rent Money Before Being Marvel’s Vision

Along with Robert Downey Jr., who helped establish the MCU with Iron Man, British actor Paul Bettany also made his MCU debut as the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S. The actor was known for his work on the stage and his role as Charles Herman in the Russell Crowe starrer A Beautiful Mind. He later made his live-action appearance in the MCU as Vision.

Bettany has mentioned on multiple occasions about his initial struggle as a teen living in London. The actor reportedly dropped out of school after the death of his eight-year-old brother and became a street performer. Bettany mentioned in an interview with The Guardian that he used to bunk with many people while trying to make ends meet.

Talking about his time of struggle in London, he recounted how his landlord chose to take action after he missed rent. He said, The landlord came up and took my guitar – which was really fucking stupid because I had no way of earning the rent money…My dad came and picked me up and paid off my rent. I went home and got myself well. And then I started working in an old people’s home. And then I applied for drama school and got in.

The actor then went on to mention how it was a tumultuous time for his family as they were reeling from the death of his brother. He reportedly later joined the Drama Center London.

Robert Downey Jr.’s Tumultuous Past Made Him The Perfect Choice For Iron Man

Robert Downey Jr. was virtually blacklisted from every studio in Hollywood due to his arrest and other public antics in the ‘90s and the early 2000s. The actor was reportedly seen as a pariah and a liability for every production. Despite the actor earning an Oscar nomination for his performance in Chaplin, he was considered too risky for a studio due to his antics.

According to Jon Favreau, the director of Iron Man, this made him the perfect choice for the film. Tony Stark is a genius billionaire who is introduced as a spoiled brat but, goes on to become a hero. The filmmaker told USA Today,

We didn’t want to just go with a safe choice. The best and worst moments of Robert’s life have been in the public eye. He had to find an inner balance to overcome obstacles that went far beyond his career. That’s Tony Stark. Robert brings a depth that goes beyond a comic-book character who is having trouble in high school or can’t get the girl. Plus, he’s simply one of the best actors around.

Despite facing strong opposition from Marvel, Jon Favreau reportedly kept at it and convinced the studio to cast Downey Jr.