Robert Downey Jr. summed up Bob Iger’s decades-long Disney legacy in just four words as the longtime Mouse House boss was honored with one of the company’s highest distinctions on Sunday.
“Fortune favors the brave,” the “Iron Man” star said as Iger was inducted as a Disney Legend at D23, reported Variety.
“To me, those four words explain Mr. Iger’s primary quality: it’s courage,” Downey Jr. continued. “It’s the bold choices in the face of incredible risk, trusting your instincts, empowering people to aspire beyond their limitations.”
The tribute came as Iger, 75, prepares for his next act after leaving the top job at Disney earlier this year and taking a new role following his acquisition of the Los Angeles Lakers with Josh Kushner.
Robert Downey Jr. speaks onstage at the Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23: Legends on Sunday, August 16, 2026, in Anaheim, California. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Disney
Disney Legends award recipient Bob Iger, former CEO of The Walt Disney Company, speaks onstage at the Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23: Legends on Sunday, August 16, 2026, in Anaheim, California. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Disney
Downey Jr. suggested Iger, despite closing his storied run at Disney, was nowhere near finished.
“And as he closes this chapter and begins the next, somehow, somehow, seems like he’s still just only getting started,” he said. “That is, Bob, why you truly are the legend in every sense of the word.”
Iger was inducted into the company’s hall of fame alongside the 2026 class, which includes Anne Hathaway and Lin-Manuel Miranda, per the outlet.
His successor, Josh D’Amaro, introduced him at the ceremony, where Harrison Ford, Ellen Pompeo, Diane Sawyer and others also took the stage to reflect on Iger’s impact on the entertainment giant.
Iger’s successor, Josh D’Amaro, introduced him at the ceremony, where Harrison Ford, Ellen Pompeo, Diane Sawyer and others also took the stage to reflect on Iger’s impact on the entertainment giant. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Disney
Bob Iger, former CEO of The Walt Disney Company, gets his handprints with Mickey Mouse at the Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23: Legends on Sunday, August 16, 2026. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Disney
“What I’ve always admired the most about Bob is not necessarily what he’s accomplished; it is who he is,” D’Amaro said, as quoted by Variety.
Iger returned the praise while accepting the honor, telling D’Amaro, who succeeded him as CEO in March: “You’re wearing that title really well. I am so proud to call you my successor.”
The former Disney chief also used his speech to shift attention to the actors, filmmakers, musicians and other creatives behind the company’s success.
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“It’s not lost on me; I’m the executive in the room,” Iger said. “What executives typically do is they sign checks and they turn the lights on in the morning. I usually make coffee. But more than anything else, we’re around to support creators, the true talent that drives this company forward.”
Iger’s relationship with Disney stretches back more than half a century, beginning when he joined ABC as a studio supervisor in 1974.
From left, Robert Downey Jr., Diane Sawyer, Harrison Ford, Ellen Pompeo and Al Michaels speak onstage at the Disney Entertainment Showcase at D23: Legends on Sunday, August 16, 2026. Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Disney
He rose through the ranks before Disney purchased ABC and its parent company, Capital Cities, in 1996, and ultimately became Disney CEO in 2005.
His first stint as CEO transformed the company through a string of blockbuster takeovers—including Pixar in 2006, Marvel in 2009 and Lucasfilm in 2012.
Iger initially stepped down as CEO in 2021 after extending his tenure during the COVID pandemic. But he was brought back in 2022 following the ouster of successor Bob Chapek.
He stepped down for a second time at the beginning of 2026, handing the reins to D’Amaro, though he is set to remain a senior adviser and Disney board member through the end of the year.
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