{{Short description|American film producer (born 1973)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2015}} {{Infobox person | name = Susan Downey | image = SusanDowney-byPhilipRomano.jpg | caption = Downey in 2026 | birth_name = Susan Nicole Levin | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1973|11|6}} | birth_place = Schaumburg, Illinois, U.S. | alma_mater = University of Southern California | occupation = Producer | years_active = 1995–present | title = President (executive), Team Downey | spouse = {{marriage|Robert Downey Jr.|2005}} | children = Exton Elias Downey<br> Avri Roel Downey | parents = }}
'''Susan Nicole Downey''' ({{née}} '''Levin'''; born November 6, 1973)<ref name="harpersbazaar2009">{{cite web|author1=Kimberly Cutter|title=Susan Downey: Iron Woman|url=http://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/susan-downey-interview-0110|publisher=Harpers Bazaar|access-date=July 10, 2014|date=December 9, 2009}}</ref> is an American film producer. Until February 2009, she was co-president of Dark Castle Entertainment and executive vice president of production at Silver Pictures, Joel Silver's production company. Susan is married to Robert Downey Jr.<ref name="HollywoodReporter">{{cite web |last1=Zeitchik |first1=Steven |last2=Kit |first2=Borys |title=Andrew Rona likely to join Silver Pictures |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/andrew-rona-join-silver-pictures-123027 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=November 19, 2019 |date=November 15, 2008 |archive-date=December 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205122652/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i7c31f644b1ae0cdc269b73955a4f966b |url-status=dead }}</ref> The couple has formed their own production house named Team Downey.
==Early life== Levin was born in Schaumburg, Illinois, to Rosie Levin, a homemaker, and Elliott Levin, a businessman.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/robert-downey-jr-producer-wife-737108 |title=Robert Downey Jr., Producer Wife Susan Reveal Their Quirky Relationship, "Perfectly Symbiotic" Marriage |magazine=The Hollywood Reporter |date=October 1, 2014 |first=Benjamin |last=Svetkey |access-date=November 6, 2014 }}</ref> She became interested in the movie business at age 12.<ref name="harpersbazaar2009"/> She graduated from Schaumburg High School as class valedictorian in 1991.<ref name="harpersbazaar2009"/><ref name="Sun Times HS of the week">{{cite news|last=Meyer-Abbott|first=Ben|title=Schaumburg There's no doubt: The Saxons rule|url=http://www.suntimes.com/sports/preps/highschool/1516609,schaumburg-high-school-week-040809.article|access-date=November 6, 2014 |newspaper=Chicago Sun-Times|date=April 8, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413114305/http://www.suntimes.com/sports/preps/highschool/1516609,schaumburg-high-school-week-040809.article|archive-date=April 13, 2009}}</ref> She is Jewish.<ref>{{cite web|first=Bryan|last=Alexander|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/05/01/robert-downey-jr-iron-man-3/2023293/|title=Robert Downey Jr. is avenging alone in 'Iron Man 3'|work=USA Today|date=May 1, 2013|access-date=May 10, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Scott|last=Raab|url=https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/a2074/esq0307downeyjr/|title=May God Bless and Keep Robert Downey Jr.|work=Esquire|date=February 21, 2007|access-date=May 10, 2018}}</ref>
Interested in pursuing a career in film production, Levin moved to California and graduated ''summa cum laude'' from the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts.<ref name="Filmbug">[http://www.filmbug.com/db/345125 Susan Levin biography] at Filmbug.com; retrieved March 23, 2009.</ref> She began her career at ''Threshold Entertainment'', where she oversaw the development and production of projects based on well-known properties for both the company's film and television slates. These include the feature films ''Mortal Kombat'' and ''Mortal Kombat Annihilation'', as well as the 22-episode TV series ''Mortal Kombat: Conquest'' which ran on both TNT and in syndication.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Susan+Levin+Joins+Silver+Pictures+as+Vice+President,+Production.-a054908988 |title=Susan Levin Joins Silver Pictures as Vice President, Production. – Free Online Library |publisher=Thefreelibrary.com |access-date=October 8, 2012 |archive-date=October 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017133202/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Susan+Levin+Joins+Silver+Pictures+as+Vice+President,+Production.-a054908988 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Career==
===Silver Pictures=== Downey held the dual posts of co-president of Dark Castle Entertainment and executive vice president of production at Silver Pictures. Joining Silver Pictures in 1999, she oversaw the development and production of feature films released under both banners, including ''Thirteen Ghosts'' and ''Swordfish''.
In 2002, she made her producing debut as a co-producer on ''Ghost Ship'' and then co-produced the 2003 release ''Cradle 2 the Grave''. Downey went on to produce the features ''Gothika'' and ''House of Wax'', and also served as an executive producer on the critically acclaimed comedic thriller ''Kiss Kiss Bang Bang''.
Downey later produced Neil Jordan's psychological drama ''The Brave One'', starring Jodie Foster and Terrence Howard; Guy Ritchie's comedy ''RocknRolla'', starring Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandiwe Newton, Idris Elba, Chris Bridges and Jeremy Piven; the horror thriller ''Orphan'', starring Vera Farmiga and Peter Sarsgaard; and the thriller ''Whiteout'', starring Kate Beckinsale.
She was also an executive producer on the Hughes brothers' post-apocalyptic drama ''The Book of Eli'', starring Denzel Washington and Gary Oldman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thecia.com.au/reviews/d/images/due-date-production-notes.pdf|title=Due Date|publisher=Thecia.com|access-date=October 8, 2012|archive-date=April 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401003705/http://thecia.com.au/reviews/d/images/due-date-production-notes.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===''Sherlock Holmes'' === [[File:SusanDowneyCCJuly09.jpg|thumb|Downey at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con]] {{Main|Sherlock Holmes (2009 film)}} Downey was working on production for Guy Ritchie's crime film ''RocknRolla'', during which her husband Robert Downey Jr., visited her office at Silver Pictures and learned about Ritchie's plans for a new ''Sherlock Holmes'' film; at her husband's request, Susan set up a meeting with Ritchie, and soon the film had Robert Downey Jr. as its lead.<ref>{{cite news|title=Robert Downey Jr 'to play Holmes'|work=BBC News Online|date=July 10, 2008|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7499055.stm|access-date=October 3, 2008}}</ref> The film became the first time since 2005's ''Kiss Kiss Bang Bang'' that the Downeys had worked together, and according to Robert Downey Jr., the couple enjoyed it very much because they did not have to "miss each other" during the long production.<ref name="Creators">"[http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/hollywood-exclusive/robert-and-susan-downey-glad-to-be-working-together-now-it-can-be-told-ron-howard-feared-opie-bama-b.html Robert and Susan Downey glad to be working together] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412042248/http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/hollywood-exclusive/robert-and-susan-downey-glad-to-be-working-together-now-it-can-be-told-ron-howard-feared-opie-bama-b.html |date=April 12, 2009 }}", retrieved March 23, 2009.</ref>
''Sherlock Holmes'' opened to good reviews and record-breaking box office over the Christmas holiday in 2009. It was the couple's most financially successful joint venture to date,<ref name="bomrdj">{{cite web |title=Robert Downey, Jr. Movie ox Office Results |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/people/chart/?view=Actor&id=robertdowneyjr.htm |access-date=July 1, 2011 |publisher=BoxOfficeMojo.com}}</ref> and netted Robert Downey Jr. his third Golden Globe Award, his first for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. In his satirical, self-deprecating acceptance speech, he started off by thanking his wife: "First of all, I would like to thank Susan Downey for telling me that Matt Damon was going to win, 'so don't bother to prepare a speech.' That was at about 10AM." He continued his speech by noting all the people he supposedly wasn't going to thank (indirectly thanking them for giving him a chance to be in the movie) and again singled out his wife for tribute: "I mean, I really don't want to thank my wife, because I could be bussing tables at the Daily Grill right now if not for her."<ref name="GG">{{cite web|url=http://www.todaysbigthing.com/entertainment/2010/01/19|title=Robert Downey Jr.'s Golden Globes Acceptance Speech is Today's Big Thing in Entertainment|date=January 19, 2010|access-date=July 1, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130204160020/http://www.todaysbigthing.com/entertainment/2010/01/19|archive-date=February 4, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
===Post-Silver Pictures=== Susan worked with the production staff of ''Iron Man 2'', ''Due Date'' and ''Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows'' alongside her husband, allowing the couple to work together again after the first ''Sherlock Holmes'' completed production.
===Team Downey=== In June 2010, Robert and Susan Downey announced the formation of their Warner Bros.-based production company Team Downey, and hired David Gambino to be president of production.<ref name="Yucatan">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2010/06/robert-and-susan-downey-hire-prexy-tap-spirit-of-steve-mcqueen-for-first-pic-46998/|title=Robert and Susan Downey hire prexy, tap spirit of Steve McQueen for first pic|date=June 15, 2010}}</ref> Their first producing project is ''Yucatan'', a heist film originally crafted by Steve McQueen as a star vehicle for himself.<ref name="Yucatan" />
Columbia Pictures announced on October 20 it had obtained the rights to Neil Strauss' non-fiction 2009 bestseller ''Emergency! This Book Will Save Your Life.'' The book is to be developed into a feature produced by Team Downey.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2010/10/downey-and-emergency.html|title=An 'Emergency' for Robert Downey Jr. | work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
The Downeys are also developing a musical project for Warner Bros. from a pitch by "Next to Normal" composers Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://variety.com/2010/film/news/downeys-set-up-musical-at-warner-bros-1118028445/ | work=Variety | first=Dave | last=McNary | title=Downeys set up musical at Warner Bros | date=December 3, 2010}}</ref>
Team Downey produced the family drama ''The Judge'' (2014), starring Downey Jr.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://variety.com/2011/film/news/wb-taps-david-seidler-for-the-judge-1118034339/ | work=Variety | first1=Dave | last1=McNary | first2=Rachel | last2=Abrams | title=WB taps David Seidler for 'The Judge' | date=March 23, 2011}}</ref>
In 2011, Team Downey announced plans to produce the tragic, shark-infested tale of the USS ''Indianapolis'' and the exoneration of her captain (decades later) due to the efforts of schoolboy Hunter Scott.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/robert-susan-downey-produce-uss-224511 | work=The Hollywood Reporter | first=Borys | last=Kit | title=Robert and Susan Downey to Produce USS Indianapolis Sinking Story for Warner Bros. (Exclusive) | date=August 17, 2011}}</ref>
==Personal life== [[File:Avengers Premiere Robert Downey Jr and wife Susan Downey.jpg|thumb|Levin with her husband Robert Downey Jr. at the ''Avengers: Age of Ultron'' world premiere]] Susan Levin's first full-credit producer job was for the 2003 thriller ''Gothika'', starring Halle Berry and Levin's future husband, actor Robert Downey Jr. Downey – who was in the process of divorcing his first wife, Deborah Falconer<ref name="FalconerLATimes">"[http://www.deborahfalconer.com/Press/LaTimes.jpg Good Clean Fun] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709004822/http://www.deborahfalconer.com/Press/LaTimes.jpg |date=July 9, 2011 }}", ''Los Angeles Times'', November 2002, as hosted at [http://www.deborahfalconer.com DeborahFalconer.com]; retrieved March 23, 2009.</ref> — has said that his most memorable recollection about shooting ''Gothika'' was "romancing the producer";<ref name="ActorsStudio" /> Levin stated to James Lipton on ''Inside the Actors Studio'' that while she thought Downey was "an amazing actor that we were lucky to have in our movie",<ref name="ActorsStudio">Stated in an interview with Robert on ''Inside the Actors Studio'', 2006.</ref> her first impression of him was that he was "weird."<ref name="ActorsStudio" /> The two quietly struck up a romance – though she turned down his romantic advances twice for fear that their relationship would not last through the completion of shooting because "he's an actor; I have a real job." The couple eventually made their relationship public in the fall of 2003.<ref name="Oprah3">[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaKhn9VrAjw The Oprah Winfrey Show], third segment, November 22, 2004; retrieved March 23, 2009.</ref>
Downey proposed to Levin on November 5, 2003, the night before her 30th birthday.<ref name="Oprah3" /> They were married on August 27, 2005, in a Jewish ceremony at Amagansett, New York.<ref name="Hall">{{cite web|first=Katy|last=Hall|url=https://people.com/celebrity/robert-downey-jr-marries-girlfriend/|title=Robert Downey Jr. Marries Girlfriend|access-date=November 19, 2019|date=August 29, 2005|work=People}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Honie|last=Stevens|url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,24191509-5006013,00.html|title=No joke: actors saved by love|access-date=January 23, 2009|date=August 17, 2008|work=NEWS.com.au}}</ref> She gave birth to their son, Exton Elias Downey, on February 7, 2012, in Los Angeles, California.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/parents/robert-downey-jr-welcomes-son-exton-elias/|title= Robert Downey Jr. Welcomes Son Exton Elias|last1=Michaud|first1=Sarah|last2=Leonard|first2=Elizabeth|website=People|date= February 7, 2012|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref> On July 9, 2014, Downey Jr. announced via his Facebook and Twitter that he and his wife were expecting a daughter in November.<ref>{{cite tweet|title=Yo. Susan. Me. Baby. Girl. November. Scorpio?|user=RobertDowneyJr|number=486969251559768064 |first=Robert|last=Downey Jr.|date=July 9, 2014 |access-date=July 10, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Um. I don't know if it's a "man's world", but I'm certain women run it. Susan and I are therefore delighted to announce we are expecting a baby. Girl. November. rdj |url=https://www.facebook.com/robertdowneyjr/posts/315758295259309 |website=Facebook |access-date=July 10, 2014 |date=July 9, 2014}}</ref> Their daughter, Avri Roel, was born on November 4, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/gossip/robert-downey-jr-wife-susan-new-baby-girl-report-article-1.1999805 |title=Robert Downey Jr. and wife, Susan, welcome new baby girl, Avri Roel |first=Philip |last=Caulfield |work=New York Daily News |date=November 4, 2014 |access-date=November 5, 2014}}</ref>
Downey credits his wife with helping him with his former drug and alcohol habits, which he quit in 2003, and revitalising his career. "The old saying is true – behind every good man there's an incredible woman. I owe a huge amount – if not all – of my success to Susan. We make a great team, and all that luck I spoke about, that's Susan."<ref name="GiveDowneyHisDue">{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/regionals/dublin/lifestyle/give-downey-his-due/27966040.html|title=Give Downey His Due|publisher=Herald.ie|access-date=October 8, 2012}}</ref> ''Sherlock Holmes'' director Guy Ritchie describes the couple as "the greatest illustration of a symbiotic marriage that I've ever seen. It's a real yin and yang, and it's made him a joy to work with. Robert would be a pain in the ass if he didn't have Susan to police him."<ref>{{cite web |last=Cutter |first=Kimberly |url=http://www.harpersbazaar.com/magazine/feature-articles/susan-downey-interview-0110 |title=Susan Downey Interview – Susan Downey on Her Marriage to Robert Downey Jr. – Harper's BAZAAR |publisher=Harpersbazaar.com |date=December 9, 2009 |access-date=October 8, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014081733/http://www.harpersbazaar.com/magazine/feature-articles/susan-downey-interview-0110 |archive-date=October 14, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> One of Downey's biceps bears a tattoo which reads "Suzie Q" as a tribute to her.<ref>{{cite web |last=Barrett |first=Jennifer |url=http://downeyunlimited.com/press/0newsweek03.htm |title=Article – Newsweek, November 15, 2003 |publisher=Downeyunlimited.com |access-date=October 8, 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728082311/http://downeyunlimited.com/press/0newsweek03.htm |archive-date=July 28, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>
==Filmography==
===Producer=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class=unsortable | Notes |- | 2002 | ''Ghost Ship'' | Co-producer | Credited as Susan Levin |- | 2003 | ''Cradle 2 the Grave'' | Co-producer | Credited as Susan Levin |- | 2003 | ''Gothika'' | Producer | Credited as Susan Levin |- | 2005 | ''House of Wax'' | Producer | Credited as Susan Levin |- | 2005 | ''Kiss Kiss Bang Bang'' | Executive producer | Credited as Susan Levin |- | 2007 | ''The Reaping'' | Producer | |- | 2007 | ''The Invasion'' | Executive producer | |- | 2007 | ''The Brave One'' | Producer | |- | 2008 | ''RocknRolla'' | Producer | |- | 2009 | ''Orphan'' | Producer | |- | 2009 | ''Whiteout'' | Producer | |- | 2009 | ''Sherlock Holmes'' | Producer | |- | 2010 | ''The Book of Eli'' | Executive producer | |- | 2010 | ''Due Date'' | Executive producer | |- | 2010 | ''Iron Man 2'' | Executive producer | |- | 2011 | ''Unknown'' | Executive producer | |- | 2011 | ''Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows'' | Producer | |- | 2014 | ''The Judge'' | Producer | |- | 2020 | ''Dolittle'' | Producer | |- | 2020–2023 | ''Perry Mason'' | Executive Producer | |- | 2021–2024 | ''Sweet Tooth'' | Executive Producer | |- | rowspan="3" | 2022 | ''The Bond'' | Executive Producer |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.discovery.com/dnews/Robert_Downey_Jr_Behind_New_Discovery_Series_The_Bond |title=Robert Downey Jr. Behind New Discovery Series 'The Bond' |website=Discovery |access-date=May 30, 2025}}</ref> |- | ''The Sunshine Place'' | Executive Producer |<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/robert-downey-jr-susan-downey-move-into-podcasting-with-investigative-cult-sunshine-place-1235087702/ |title=Robert Downey Jr. & Susan Downey Move Into Podcasting With Cult Series 'The Sunshine Place' For Cadence13 |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Peter |last=White |date=August 9, 2022 |access-date=May 30, 2025}}</ref> |- | ''"Sr."'' | Herself | Documentary; also producer |- | 2025 | ''Play Dirty'' | Executive Producer |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/03/play-dirty-movie-adds-keegan-michael-key-nat-wolff-thomas-jane-more-1235849118/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=December 17, 2024|title=Amazon MGM's 'Play Dirty' Casts Keegan-Michael Key, Nat Wolff, Chukwudi Iwuji & Thomas Jane|date=March 7, 2024|first=Matt|last=Grobar}}</ref> |- | TBA | ''A Head Full of Ghosts'' | Producer | |}
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== {{Commons}} {{Portal| Biography }} *{{IMDb name|1206265}}
{{Dark Castle Entertainment}} {{Robert Downey Jr.'s Sherlock Holmes}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Downey, Susan}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:American film studio executives Category:20th-century American Jews Category:American women business executives Category:American women film producers Category:Film producers from Illinois Category:People from Schaumburg, Illinois Category:USC School of Cinematic Arts alumni Category:21st-century American Jews Category:20th-century American women Category:21st-century American women