Actor Robert Downey Jr. received an early Christmas gift from California Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday, who gave him a full pardon for his 1996 drug conviction.

The "Iron Man" star was among 91 people who earned a pardon from the Democratic governor for demonstrating "exemplary behavior" without having any run-ins with the law in the last 10 years, said Brown in a statement. He added that all of the recipients "have lived productive and law-abiding lives."

According to Brown's pardon, the 50-year-old actor applied for executive clemency in relation to his 1996 conviction on charges of "possession of a controlled substance, carrying a concealed weapon in a vehicle with a prior conviction, driving under the influence with priors and use or under the influence of a controlled substance."

In addition to serving 15 months in prison, Downey also completed his probation and parole sentence in 2002.

"By completion of his sentence and good conduct in the community of his residence since his release, Robert John Downey, Jr. has paid his debt to society and earned a full and unconditional pardon," reads The Christmas Eve pardon.

The pardon also notes a Certificate of Rehabilitation issued by a court that concludes since Downey's "release from custody, he has lived an honest and upright life, exhibited good moral character, and conducted himself as a law-abiding citizen."

The Oscar nominee had a long, public struggle with drug addition and was repeatedly arrested in 1996. After spending years in both jail and rehabilitation clinics, he managed to rekindle his acting career by playing Tony Stark in Marvel's wildly successful "Iron Man" film series.

Christmas Eve pardons have become an annual tradition for Gov. Brown. Last year, he issued 105 pardons, mostly to men and women who previously served time for mostly nonviolent crimes.