Robert Downey Jr. received an early Christmas present from California governor Jerry Brown. The actor was pardoned for his late 1990s drug conviction, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Downey was among 91 other people pardoned by Brown for criminal convictions after demonstrating they had rehabilitated themselves. The pardon does not erase Downey's records, but it did restore his voting rights and was considered a public proclamation that the actor has kept out of trouble and demonstrated "exemplary behavior," according to information on Brown's government website.
Downey used to have lots of trouble keeping himself out of trouble. The two-time Academy Award nominee's legal troubles started in June 1996 when he was stopped by police for speeding in Los Angeles. After being pulled over, authorities found cocaine, heroin and a pistol in his vehicle, according to the Washington Post. The actor went to prison in 1999 for nearly one year after he admitted to violating his parole.
He later became one of the biggest comeback stars after he took the lead role in the Marvel comic film "Iron Man."
"By completion of his sentence and good conduct in the community of his residence since his release, Robert John Downey, Jr. has paid his debt to society and earned a full and unconditional pardon," read the pardon.
