Robert Downey Jr. and the entire Marvel community are mourning the sudden passing of Jimmy Rich, Downey's longtime assistant. Rich started working with Downey back in 2003, as the actor was slowly making his comeback from substance abuse. Rich supported Downey throughout the process, eventually seeing Downey's big Hollywood breakthrough in 2008 with the first Iron Man movie. Rich worked alongside Downey on other MCU blockbusters he was in, including all of the Avengers films.

Throughout his 18 years working with Downey, Rich was also credited as an additional crew member and driver for most of the actor's movies. Rich also had a small, uncredited acting role in the 2008 comedy film Tropic Thunder: Rain of Madness, in which Downey starred alongside Ben Stiller and Jack Black.

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Downey shared the "terrible and shocking tragedy" of his assistant's passing on his Instagram feed on Thursday. The Avengers star stated that Rich, only 52 years old, had been in a fatal car accident the day before. In his emotional tribute, Downey shared personal images of Rich, revealing the extent of their closeness. According to the actor, Rich has supported his recovery from substance abuse and has been with him in every life and career milestone. He called his late assistant his "brother, right-hand man, and uncle" to his children.

Many of Downey's MCU co-stars, including Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Josh Brolin, responded to his post and expressed their condolences. Captain America star Chris Evans marked the sad day by posting a photo of himself with Rich on his own IG feed, stating that the latter left "an indelible impression" on everyone he worked with. Evans remembered Rich and Downey as being "inseparable." Meanwhile, Marvel Studios also paid their own tribute via Twitter, sharing pictures of Rich taken during the iconic MCU 10th-anniversary photoshoot. "Rest in Peace, Jimmy. You have been such a great friend to us at Marvel Studios for so many years. Your love and light were an inspiration to everyone that knew you," the tweet reads.

Rich's tragic passing is a true loss for Downey and the entire Marvel community. Just as Downey has hung up his Iron Man suit and the MCU has started to roll out its Phase 4 projects, it can be said that Rich's untimely death is also the end of an era. For the many Marvel fans he personally encountered, he will be remembered as Downey's real-life Jarvis, a loyal assistant, friend, and confidant.

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Source: Robert Downey, Jr./Instagram