The 43-year-old Oscar-nominated actor and musician Robert Downey Jr is assuming the mantle of “Iron Man,” another in a long line of comic book renditions, which hits theaters Friday. He is not only back in the game but also at the top of it.

For years, ex-junkie Downey has been tagged with the reference “the greatest actor of his generation” due to his Oscar-nominated role in “Chaplin.” Now sober, Downey plays off his own bad-boy image wonderfully, as he plays genius-inventor-billionaire-arms dealer Tony Stark who is very fond of big weapons and beautiful women. Captured by terrorists in Afghanistan, Stark uses his resources and builds a suit of power armor that makes his escape. Returning to the U.S., he becomes the technologically advanced superhero “Iron Man.” Gwyneth Paltrow plays his secretary and love interest Virginia Potts, while Terrence Howard stars as jet pilot James Rhodes, and Jeff Bridges plays the villainous Obadiah Stane / Iron Monger.

Later this summer, Downey will show up as Kirk Lazarus in “Tropic Thunder,” a comedy that throws multiple grenades at war movie clichés.

Charming Downey was arrested on drug-related charges in 1996, when policemen stopped him and discovered he was packing an unloaded 357 Magnum, along with small amounts of heroin and cocaine. A month after the incident, the actor was cited for trespassing and being under the influence of a controlled substance after passing out in a neighbor's home. Following his romance with chemicals, he was fired from the “Ally McBeal” series.

In 1997, the actor was arrested and jailed for missing mandatory court-imposed drug tests. Downey was jailed at California Substance Abuse Treatment Facility and State Prison, Corcoran, between August 1999 and August 2000 for similar offenses. However, those days are gone, and Downey appears to be enjoying his career comeback next to his wife, producer Susan Levin.