LOS ANGELES – December 25, 2015 — (UPI) — California Gov. Jerry Brown has officially pardoned Robert Downey Jr. for his past drug convictions.
TMZ reported Brown signed off on the pardon Thursday after the Iron Man actor initiated legal proceedings. Downey has had all of his rights restored and may once again vote in elections.
The governor said he decided to clear Downey’s record because he has led an “honest and upright life” and exhibited “good moral character” in recent years.
Downey was a well-respected actor, but saw his career crash in the 1990s due to his addiction to drugs. He was convicted of numerous crimes related to his substance abuse between 1996 and 2002, and ultimately served one year and three months in prison for the offenses.
He has been sober for more than a decade and is now one of the world’s biggest movie stars.
Downey, 50, will next be seen in Captain America: Civil War.
