Fellow Marvel stars Josh Brolin and Mark Ruffalo celebrate Robert Downey Jr.’s birthday with throwback images of them in the MCU evoking nostalgia.

Josh Brolin and Mark Ruffalo evoke nostalgia as they celebrate Robert Downey Jr.’s birthday with throwback Marvel Cinematic Universe images. MCU’s inaugural actor ended his decade-long stint in the franchise with Avengers: Endgame. Despite that, he remains an important part of the universe given how big of an impact he and Iron Man had in the MCU’s Infinity Saga.

Brolin, who played Thanos, and Ruffalo, who is MCU’s Hulk posted on their respective Instagram accounts to wish Downey a happy birthday. Their touching messages are accompanied by throwback images of them working on the franchise. Check out the photos below.

Ruffalo’s image was taken during the production of Avengers: Endgame while the team figures out the plan for the time heist. Meanwhile, Brolin’s photo was from San Diego Comic-Con’s Avengers: Age of Ultron panel after he was announced to play Thanos.

Why RDJ Was So Integral To The MCU’s Success

Many were skeptical about Downey’s Iron Man casting, considering his history of substance and alcohol abuse. By then, the actor was trying to revive his career, but it was still difficult for studios, let alone a new one like Marvel Studios, to take a risk on him. Thanks to director Jon Favreau’s insistence, however, he eventually got the job and luckily, the gamble paid off. Downey immediately proved he was the man for the job with Iron Man being the sleeper hit of 2008.

More than that, however, it’s the actor’s consistent commitment and devotion to the MCU for 11 years that made him such an effective ambassador for the franchise. He played Tony Stark brilliantly on the screen, and functioned as the growing Marvel cast’s leader. He fostered great relationships among his peers and even helped convince some to join the universe. It’s no wonder he is sorely missed in the MCU.

Iron Man’s Avengers: Endgame death was arguably the best way to wrap up the character’s story. Tragic as it may be, it made sense — both for him and the MCU as a whole. But while it has almost been four years since his demise, discussions about how, when, and why Downey can come back to the franchise continue, proving that he remains a fan-favorite in the universe despite having long exited the Marvel Cinematic Universe.