In the 2008 film "Iron Man", which actor plays Tony Stark?

In the 2008 film "Iron Man," Robert Downey Jr. plays Tony Stark, the wealthy inventor who becomes Iron Man.

Tony Stark begins the story as the head of Stark Industries, a company that manufactures advanced weapons. After being captured in Afghanistan and forced to build a weapon, he secretly creates an armored suit to escape. The experience changes his view of the arms business and inspires him to redesign the technology for protecting people rather than selling weapons.

Downey was not Marvel's first obvious choice. Studio executives initially hesitated because of his troubled public history, but director Jon Favreau strongly supported him. Favreau believed Downey's wit, vulnerability, and personal resilience suited Stark's complicated personality. Downey's casting became a defining decision for the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Tony Stark is often confused with the actor's later portrayal of Sherlock Holmes or with other MCU heroes such as Thor and Bruce Banner. Terrence Howard plays James Rhodes in this film, while Gwyneth Paltrow plays Pepper Potts. The movie launched the MCU in 2008.