Cillian Murphy supports Oppenheimer co-star Robert Downey Jr. at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival: Maltin Modern Master Award ceremony as the Marvel star receives top honors

By Henry Last updated Feb 10, 2024

Cillian Murphy was on hand to support his Oppenheimer co-star Robert Downey Jr. at the 39th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival: Maltin Modern Master Award ceremony on Friday.

Downey Jr., 58, was recognized with the prestigious Maltin Modern Master Award at the Arlington Theatre.

The 47-year-old Irish actor – who played nuclear physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster – beamed with pride as he posed with the guest of honour.

Dressed in a timeless suit and looking dapper, Cillian was seen with his arm around the Marvel star, who effortlessly stole the limelight in a stylish purple ensemble.

Downey Jr. – whose searing performance as Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer is winning Oscar buzz – was also joined by superstar pals Rob Lowe, David Duchovny, Natasha Leggero, Chelsea Peretti and more.

Cillian Murphy, Robert Downey Jr. and Rob Lowe at the 39th annual Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Friday

Downey Jr., 58, was recognized with the prestigious Maltin Modern Master Award at the Arlington Theatre

According to SBIFF, the Modern Master Award is the highest honour website.

‘Established in 1995, it was created to honor an individual who has enriched our culture through achievement in the film industry,’ the statement read.

The award was renamed the Maltin Modern Master Award in 2015 in honor of longtime SBIFF moderator and renowned film critic Leonard Maltin.

Previous winners have included Jamie Lee Curtis, Javier Bardem, Nicole Kidman, Bill Murray, Brad Pitt, Glenn Close, Gary Oldman and Denzel Washington.

A two-time Oscar nominee and recipient of the prestigious Golden Globe, Downey Jr. boasts a prolific career with over 110 acting credits.

Most notably, he took on the iconic role of the title character in the Iron Man franchise, a seminal move that kick-started the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

He secured a Golden Globe Award for his lead role in the action-adventure film Sherlock Holmes.

Two Academy Award nominations were earned for his roles in Tropic Thunder and his portrayal of Charlie Chaplin in Richard Attenborough’s 1992 biographical film Chaplin.

The beautiful trio made it a laugh out loud kind of night

Rob Lowe, Sheryl Berkoff and John Owen Lowe made it a family affair

Natasha Leggero was casual and cute in her outfit

Purple was the name of the game for Chelsea Peretti

Natasha Leggero, Chelsea Peretti and Benito Skinner made a terrific trio

In his role as Lewis Strauss, one of the founders of the Atomic Energy Commission, which is crucial to the formation of the United States’ nuclear policy after the war, Downey Jr. Oppenheimer’s primary administrative opponent.

He is spearheading the campaign to revoke Oppenheimer’s security clearance and discredit him.

Downey Jr.’s upcoming acting projects include his involvement in Max’s television adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Sympathizer, in which he takes on four supporting roles.

Ed Weeks sported a casual yet smart look for his ensemble

William Fichtner kept it cool in a leather jacket

Roger Durling, Cillian Murphy, Leonard Maltin, honored Robert Downey Jr., and Rob Lowe

The handsome actors posed outside the theatre

The 47-year-old Irish actor – who played nuclear physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster – beamed with pride as he posed with the guest of honor

Additionally, he will star in the Paramount Pictures remake of Alfred Hitchcock’s iconic thriller, Vertigo.

“Robert Downey Jr. has staged one of the most spectacular second acts in show business history … and we in the audience are the beneficiaries,” Maltin said in a statement ahead of the film festival.

‘He commands the screen without any apparent effort, which is perhaps the greatest achievement of all.’