Robert Downey Jr. Receives Renaissance Award

By Soyoung Kwak in Miscellaneous on Jun 20, 2010 4:15PM

The weekend got off to a rough start with Friday's weather, but Robert Downey Jr. was in Chicago yesterday and brought some sunshine with him (cheesy, we know). The Ironman actor was in Chicago yesterday to receive the Renaissance Award, given by the Gene Siskel Film Center. Downey was accompanied by his wife (who was the valedictorian at Schaumburg High School in 1991) and The Hangover director, Todd Phillips. The sold out event Saturday night was at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel and featured cocktails, dinner, a silent auction, and a discussion with Downey. During the event, Downey discussed which movies of his own he liked the best (Tropic Thunder, Sherlock Holmes, and Ironman) and touched upon his past drug abuse.

According to the Sun-Times, the Gene Siskel Film Center said it gave the award to Downey because he is "one of the most respected and versatile actors of his generation.'' Last year, the film center awarded George Lucas with the same award.