SUNDERLAND, Mass. — Robert Downey Jr. may not be a real superhero, but he sure acted like one for a little Massachusetts boy.

Heather Denno took her 1½-year-old son Jaxson to watch filming for the movie "The Judge," starring Downey, in her hometown of Sunderland this week.

Downey, star of the "Iron Man" movies, spotted the little boy and went over to say hello.

Heather Denno told Jaxson that Downey was "Iron Man."

Confused because of the lack of the trademark metallic red-and-gold suit, Jaxson burst into tears.

Downey put a comforting hand on the boy and calmed him.

Heather Denno tells The Boston Globe (http://b.globe.com/120iopK ) that Downey was "sweet and nurturing," and she could tell he's a dad.