Robert Downey Jr. Amazed to See Jeremy Renner at Chris Evans’ Wedding: ‘Miracles Happen’
By Movieguide® Contributor
Robert Downey Jr. was amazed to see Jeremey Renner at their Marvel co-star, Chris Evans’, wedding last September after Renner suffered severe injuries in a snowplow accident.
“Downey Jr. called it ‘mind-blowing’ to see Jeremy Renner up on his feet…” Variety reported. “Evans’ wedding was the first time [fellow Marvel star Chris] Hemsworth had seen Renner since the accident, which took place in January 2023. Renner was hospitalized at the time for blunt chest trauma and orthopedic injuries after his Sno-Cat, a large snow plow that weighs at least 14,330 pounds, ran him over.”
“The actor was trying to help his nephew out of the snow near his home in Lake Tahoe when the Sno-Cat crushed him. His injuries included eight ribs broken in 14 places, his right knee and ankle broken, left leg tibia broken, left ankle broken, right clavicle broken, right shoulder broken and more,” Variety reported.
Movieguide® reported:
AVENGERS star, Jeremy Renner, broke over 30 bones, had his eye pop out of his head, and his sternum completely crushed in a recent snowplow accident…
“It’s a snowcat, and it’s a necessity actually on the property because we’ve got so much snow up there. My mom wants to have a big old party and light it on fire… the thing’s amazing, it’s a necessity, it’s how we get to the house in these giant snowstorms, I just got to learn to drive it better,” Renner stated.
Downey believes the Avengers cast is resilient, and Renner exemplifies that.
“To see Renner embody that literally, and in the context of what was basically a Portuguese American wedding, was mind-blowing. Fully recovered and ready to celebrate. So, yes—miracles happen,” he said.
“He sent us all a sort of a doped out, hospital, beat-up image and said, ‘All good, guys.’ And then I didn’t hear from him for a while as he was in the thick of it,” Hemsworth said. “There was an astounding sense of gratitude from him around just being alive.”
Though Renner’s friends are often busy, Marvel co-star Anthony Mackie made sure to be right by Renner’s side in the hospital, and Downy face-timed him often.
He helped Renner take his mind off of his severe pain with encouragement and banter.
“We ended up having really great chats on FaceTime like we were dating or something,” Renner told the Hollywood Reporter.
But another Avenger was the first one to show up for Renner.
Anthony Mackie “was in Vegas,” Renner said. “He shot over, and he’s the first person I saw when I woke up.”
“And we don’t talk all the time,” he said. “We’re not, like, hanging out all the time, because the problem with having, you know, actor friends, everyone’s so busy, and now we’re all parents and we never see each other. We rarely talk to each other, but the connectedness that we have is an always thing.”
Marvel actor Paul Rudd also lifted Renner’s spirits.
“Rudd, whom I love so much, happened to be in town as well promoting his movie [ANT-MAN AND THE WASP: QUANTUMANIA],” Renner said. “He came by a couple of times to the hospital and was always just making my day because he’s one of the funniest guys around.”
In February, Renner talked about his recovery with Entertainment Tonight: “It’s harrowing, I can’t believe I’m sitting here right now. I’m very grateful. I’m very happy that I’m moving forward in life, and I’m happy to share this life with the amazing people who I love.”
