Have you ever wondered if the actress Roma Downey, best known for her role as Monica in Touched by an Angel, is related to the actor Robert Downey Jr., best known for his role as Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe? They share a common last name, but is there more to it than that? In this article, we will explore the truth behind the rumor and reveal if there is any family connection between these two Hollywood stars.
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Who is Roma Downey?
Roma Downey is an actress, producer, and New York Times Best-Selling author from Derry, Northern Ireland. She recently produced the hit movie On a Wing and a Prayer starring Dennis Quaid and Heather Graham which shot to number one on Amazon prime when it premiered spring of 2023
For nine seasons she played Monica the angel in the CBS television series Touched by an Angel. She produced the mini-series The Bible for the History Channel and also appeared in it as Mary, mother of Jesus. She has performed on stage with the Abbey Theatre, The National Theatre of Ireland, and has appeared both on and off Broadway. She played the leading role of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in the Emmy award-winning miniseries A Woman Named Jackie for NBC
She is an ambassador for Operation Smile, serving on missions to Honduras, Vietnam, and Jordan. On 11 August 2016 she was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2021, Downey received the Lifetime Achievement Award for the International Christian Film & Music Festival and was named an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for services to the Arts, Drama and to the Community in Northern Ireland
As President of Lightworkers Media, the faith and family division of MGM, Downey and her husband, Mark Burnett, produced the Emmy-nominated miniseries The Bible for History channel, which was watched by over 100 million people in the United States They also executive-produced the feature films Ben-Hur starring Jack Huston, Toby Kebbell and Morgan Freeman, Son of God (2014), Little Boy, Woodlawn, Resurrection, Messiah and Country Ever After which aired in 2021
Who is Robert Downey Jr.?
Robert Downey Jr. is an actor, producer, and singer from New York City, New York. He is one of the most popular and highest-paid actors in Hollywood, with a net worth of over $300 million. He has starred in over 80 films and television shows, including Less Than Zero, Chaplin, Sherlock Holmes, Zodiac, Tropic Thunder, The Avengers, Iron Man, Spider-Man: Homecoming and Dolittle. He has won several awards and nominations for his performances, including two Academy Awards nominations, three Golden Globe Awards wins, six People’s Choice Awards wins and four BAFTA Awards nominations
He is also known for his personal struggles with substance abuse and legal issues that nearly ended his career in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He has since overcome his addiction and become a role model for recovery and redemption. He is involved in various philanthropic causes, such as supporting charities for children’s health, animal welfare, environmental protection and social justice. He is married to Susan Downey, a film producer who has collaborated with him on several projects. They have two children together: a son named Exton Elias and a daughter named Avri Roel. He also has a son named Indio Falconer from his previous marriage to Deborah Falconer
Is Roma Downey Related to Robert Downey Jr.?
The answer is no. Roma Downey and Robert Downey Jr. are not related by blood or marriage. They have different parents, grandparents, spouses, children, ethnicities, nationalities, religions and careers. They only share a common last name that comes from different sources.
According to doms2cents.com , Roma Downey’s last name comes from her father Patrick “Paddy” Downey who was a school teacher in Derry before he died when she was 10 years old. Her mother Maureen O’Reilly was a homemaker who later worked as a coat-check girl in New York City where she moved with her daughter after her husband’s death.
According to geneastar.org , Robert Downey Jr.’s last name comes from his father Robert Downey Sr. who is an actor, writer, producer, cinematographer and director of underground films. His father was born Robert Elias and changed his last name to Downey after his stepfather James Downey who adopted him when he was a minor. His mother Elsie Ford was also an actress and appeared in his father’s films. His paternal grandparents were Lithuanian Jews while his maternal grandparents were of Irish Canadian and Hungarian ancestry.
Conclusion
Roma Downey and Robert Downey Jr. are two successful and talented actors who have made their mark in the entertainment industry. They have also used their fame and fortune to make a positive impact on the world through their humanitarian and artistic endeavors. However, they are not related in any way, except for having the same surname. They are simply two strangers with a coincidental name similarity.
