Robert Downey Jr.'s first child, Indio Falconer Downey, was at one stage of his life, following in the footsteps of one of his father's mistakes and regrets. Still, like his father, he seems to have won the war against his addiction and followed his father's paths in other areas, including music and acting.
Despite the demons that Robert and Indio have faced, the pair have remained close, and their problems might have even strengthened their bond. Robert is always quick to celebrate his son's triumphs and has called him a robust and non-materialistic person. He also supports Indio's talents as a musician.
Robert shares Indio with his first wife, Deborah Falconer. The pair married on May 29, 1992, and had one child. However, Deborah divorced him because of Robert's struggles with drug abuse and constant skirmishes with the law. The divorce was finalized on April 26, 2004, and she took Indio with her.
Indio Downey attends the Ashley Hodges art show at R Wall Paint Lounge in Beverly Hills, California on October 12, 2019 | Source: Getty Images
Indio Lived with His Mother in His Early Years
Indio was born in Los Angeles on September 7, 1993. He grew up in California, where his parents worked. His parents were married for close to 12 years before their separation, which occurred when he was ten. Indio had been raised by his mother mostly as his father struggled with addiction.
After the divorce, he continued to live with his mother. However, Robert did not give up on him and tried to keep a close relationship with his son. The "Iron Man" actor seems to have succeeded as the two have remained close, often seen together in photos. On Indio's 29th birthday this year, his father wrote:
“His growth as an artist and man have been astonishing. Over the last several years, many storms have been weathered, and he’s emerged as one of my favorite recording artists, no joke.”
Indio's mother, Deborah, is also a native of The Golden State. She has been credited as an actress in several movies beginning in 1988 with "The Wrong Guys" and as John Densmore's girlfriend in "The Doors" in 1991. Afterward, she portrayed Barbara in the 1993 comedy-drama, "Short Cuts," a movie that also featured her husband.
Indio's father, Robert Downey Jr., is a man who does not need any introduction in Hollywood circles. An established Hollywood leading man, he has acted in and produced over 90 productions in his five decades in the industry.
Both parents also have significant experience in the music industry, with several works to their credit. For example, Robert has done soundtracks for movies such as "Friends and Lovers" and "The Singing Detective," among several other music ventures. Hence it is no surprise that Indio has these genes.
Indio Is a Budding Music Artist and Has Several Acting Credits
Indio has appeared in films, including "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang" in 2005 and "Jackie" in 2013. Although that record is not thought to be excellent, it is worth remembering that his father is also considered a late bloomer who is currently one of the best Hollywood talents after his victory over drug addiction.
In music, Indio is part of a band called Indio Ink. He provides vocals and is also a competent guitarist. The band uses his Instagram account as the band's account as well, and they currently have over 62K followers. Before that, he was also part of a rock band called The Dose. They have an album called "Saline," released in 2019.
One of Indio Ink's biggest fans is Indio's father. Robert has supported his son's music for a long time, often encouraging him and his crew and praising them for their performances and efforts. At one stage, he even took part in one of their live band streams on Instagram; hence, he does not hide his approval of their work.
Indio Battled the Same Addiction as His Father
Although he spent much of his childhood with his mother than his father, Indio's life has had several similarities to his father's. In a case of the apple not falling too far from the tree, the 29-year-old has had difficulties with drugs in an almost similar way his father did while navigating his youth.
In 2014, a 20-year-old Indio was charged by the police after being found to be in possession of drugs, including cocaine and a smoking pipe, during a random traffic stop. Robert, through his representatives, expressed gratitude to the police for their intervention and further relayed a message of support to Indio.
Robert has always acknowledged the hereditary nature of drug addiction and understands the effect that his addiction may have had on his son. He did not give up on his son, and that support seems to have paid off, as there have not been many other significant incidents involving Indio as he has grown older.
Indio's Younger Siblings Were Born Much Later
Indio has two siblings from his father's side, who are much younger than him. The two siblings are from his father's marriage with
Robert and Susan's first child together is Exton Elias Downey. He was born in February 2012 and was named after his mother's great-uncle. Robert told Jay Leno, "My wife's great-uncle Joe was kind of eccentric — when he was in fourth grade, he realized he didn't have a middle name, so he changed his name to J. Exton."
Indio Falconer Downey, Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey arrives at the 2022 AFI Fest - "Sr." Special Screening at TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California on November 04, 2022 | Source: Getty Images
About two and a half years after the birth of Exton, Indio and his family welcomed another member into their family. Avri Roel was born in November 2014. Robert announced the birth of his first and only daughter on Facebook, confirming his excitement by making the announcement the same way he would an upcoming film.
Avri's middle name is also in tribute to family members. The name Roel reportedly incorporates the first two letters in her grandparents' names, Robert and Elsie Downey, her father's parents, and Rosie and Elliott Levin, her mother's parents.
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