‘Two-week rule’ that is the success behind Robert Downey Jr.’s 19-year marriage
ArchiveFirst published April 27, 2025. It may not reflect later developments.
Robert Downey Jr. and Susan Downey have built a strong 19-year marriage on a simple promise: never spend more than two weeks apart. The couple first met in 2003 on the set of Gothika, where Susan was a producer. At first, she found Downey Jr. “interesting but weird,” she told The Hollywood Reporter.
Despite her initial hesitation, the two eventually began dating, marrying in 2005. Their lasting bond, Susan revealed to People, comes down to their “two-week rule.” She shared, “We don’t go more than two weeks without seeing each other and the family being together.”
While they try to stick to this rule, Susan admitted life’s unpredictability sometimes requires flexibility. “Someone might get sick, or there might be a shutdown… you just have to have some basic things in place,” she said.
As a producer, Susan enjoys flexibility that helps her prioritize family. She added, “I really admire and have a lot of empathy for couples who both have to be in front of the camera.”
