Accepting the MTV Generation Award at the MTV Movie Awards in LA last night, the Iron Man star stood up and spoke candidly about his battles.
His captivating speech was so moving that his co-stars, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, Mark Ruffalo, Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth, who were on stage with him at the time, kneeled down while he spoke.
“In the 34 years that have passed since the birth of MTV, I've grown up, I've struggled, I've failed. I've partied way too much. I begged for second chances and literally clawed my way to the top,” the 50-year-old said.
He went on to add: “With my fellow Avengers, I advise you to dream big, work hard, keep your noses clean, be of service and, because you can, define your generation.”
The actor, who was arrested for possession of cocaine, crack cocaine and heroin, has always been open about his drug and alcohol addiction.
Previously talking about his 20-year-old son, Indio, who was arrested for drug possession, he said: “'He's his mother's son and my son, and he's come up the chasm much quicker than we did."
Talking about how it was different for his son growing up, he continued: "But that's typical in the Information Age; things get accelerated. You're confronted with histories and predisposition and influences and feelings and unspoken traumas or needs that weren't met, and all of a sudden you're three miles into the woods.
"Can you help someone get out of those woods? Yes, you can. By not getting lost looking for them."
