Robert Downey Jr. Consoles Crying Kid Hoping for an Iron Man Meetup

Actor comforts crestfallen child who was expecting the star to show up in full superhero regalia

By Alexis L. Loinaz Jun 14, 2013 12:27 PMTags
Jaxson Denno, Robert Downey Jr.Courtesy Heather Denno

Robert Downey Jr. came to save the day for one crestfallen kid—even if he didn't get to do it as Iron Man.

The 48-year-old actor was snapped consoling a young fan in western Massachusetts who had eagerly looked forward to meeting the suited superhero in person, only to come face to face with Downey out of costume.

Per People, 1 1/2-year-old Jaxson Denno had been taken by his mother to see the actor—who is currently shooting his new film, The Judge, in the towns of Sunderland and Shelburne Falls—and she apparently promised her tyke that he'd get to meet his high-flying idol.

Of course, Downey wasn't in costume as Iron Man—a fact that the kid didn't take too well as he promptly burst into tears

The actor then consoled his little fan, flashing a concerned look as he patted the child's back.

Heather Denno, Jaxson's mother, told People that the tot "was so confused because I kept telling him it was Iron Man and he knew it wasn't...Iron Man in the suit." Still, the kid bounced back quickly: "He was fine as soon as he talked to him," his mom added.

Here's hoping Jaxson will have more chances to catch the iron-suited superhero on the big screen: Although Iron Man 3 made a killing at the box office, raking almost $1.2 billion (and counting) worldwide, Downey has yet to officially sign on for the eagerly awaited The Avengers 2.

And that's not sitting well with the film's director, Joss Whedon, who recently said that the film would be a no-go without its marquee star.

"He is Iron Man," Whedon told The Daily Beast. "He is Iron Man in the way that Sean Connery was James Bond. I have no intention of making Avengers 2 without him."