George Clooney
Sunday, September 28, 2008Posted by
kk group
0 Comments
After a decade spent toiling on series television – mostly in roles easily forgotten – actor George Clooney jolted to stardom with his portrayal of the charming, but troubled pediatrician Doug Ross on the acclaimed medical series, "ER" (NBC, 1994- ). Thanks to his new found celebrity, Clooney made the jump to films while still on “ER,” quickly establishing himself as a major Hollywood star, with leading roles in “From Dusk Till Dawn” (1996), “Batman & Robin” (1997) and “Out of Sight” (1998)....
Filmography
The Fantastic Mr. Fox - ( - Cast / 2009 / Announced / )
Bad Connection - ( / / Announced / )
Burnt Creek - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Dead World - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Dillinger - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Escape From Tehran - ( Screenplay / / Announced / )
Escape From Tehran - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Farragut North - ( Director / / Announced / )
Farragut North - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Farragut North - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
Grand Prix (Remake) - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Hail Caesar - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
Head Down Tilt - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Jennifer Government - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Megalopolis - ( / / Announced / )
Men Who Stare at Goats - ( Lyn Cassady / / Announced / )
Men Who Stare at Goats - ( Executive Producer / / Announced / )
Midnight Voices - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Motor City - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Our Brand Is Crisis (Remake) - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Pet Sematary (Remake) - ( Dr. Creed / / Announced / )
Send Me No Flowers - ( / / Announced / )
Suburbicon - ( Director / / Announced / )
The Belmont Boys - ( Director / / Announced / )
The Innocent Man - ( Producer / / Announced / )
The Tourist (Smoke House) - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
The Tourist (Smoke House) - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Untitled (Warner Bros/Garland Bunting project) - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Untitled Todd Alcott Project - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Up in the Air - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
Zig Zag - ( Producer / / Announced / )
The Informant - ( Producer / 2009 / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
Sand and Sorrow - ( Narrator / 2007 / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
Sand and Sorrow - ( Executive Producer / 2007 / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
The Half Life of Timofey Berezin - ( Executive Producer / 2007 / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
Burn After Reading - ( Harry Pfarrer / 2008 / Released / )
Leatherheads - ( Director / 2008 / Released / )
Leatherheads - ( Dodge Connolly / 2008 / Released / )
Darfur Now - ( - Cast / 2007 / Released / )
Michael Clayton - ( Executive Producer / 2007 / Released / )
Michael Clayton - ( Michael Clayton / 2007 / Released / )
Ocean's 13 - ( Danny Ocean / 2007 / Released / )
Wind Chill - ( Executive Producer / 2007 / Released / )
A Scanner Darkly - ( Executive Producer / 2006 / Released / )
The Good German - ( Jake Geismer / 2006 / Released / )
Good Night, And Good Luck - ( Director / 2005 / Released / )
Good Night, And Good Luck - ( Screenplay / 2005 / Released / )
Good Night, And Good Luck - ( Fred Friendly / 2005 / Released / )
Rumor Has It... - ( Executive Producer / 2005 / Released / )
Syriana - ( Executive Producer / 2005 / Released / )
Syriana - ( Bob Barnes / 2005 / Released / )
The Jacket - ( Producer / 2005 / Released / )
Criminal - ( Producer / 2004 / Released / )
Ocean's Twelve - ( Danny Ocean / 2004 / Released / Warner Home Video )
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - ( Director / 2003 / Released / )
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - ( CIA Agent Jim Byrd / 2003 / Released / )
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - ( Executive Producer / 2003 / Released / )
Intolerable Cruelty - ( Miles Massey / 2003 / Released / )
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over - ( Devlin / 2003 / Released / )
Far From Heaven - ( Executive Producer / 2002 / Released / )
Insomnia (Warner Bros) - ( Executive Producer / 2002 / Released / )
Solaris - ( Chris Kelvin / 2002 / Released / )
Welcome to Collinwood - ( Producer / 2002 / Released / Paradiso Filmed Entertainment )
Welcome to Collinwood - ( Jerzy / 2002 / Released / Paradiso Filmed Entertainment )
Ocean's Eleven - ( Danny Ocean / 2001 / Released / )
Rock Star - ( Executive Producer / 2001 / Released / )
Spy Kids - ( Devlin / 2001 / Released / )
O Brother, Where Art Thou? - ( Everett Ulysses McGill / 2000 / Released / )
The Perfect Storm - ( Billy 'Skip' Tyne / 2000 / Released / )
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut - ( of Doctor Gouache / 1999 / Released / )
The Book That Wrote Itself - ( Himself / 1999 / Released / )
The Limey - ( TV Interviewee / 1999 / Released / )
The Thin Red Line - ( Captain Bosche / 1999 / Released / Pioneer Entertainment )
Three Kings - ( Major Archie Gates / 1999 / Released / )
Full-Tilt Boogie - ( Himself / 1998 / Released / Alliance Releasing )
Out of Sight - ( Jack Foley / 1998 / Released / )
Batman & Robin - ( Batman/Bruce Wayne / 1997 / Released / Village Roadshow Pictures Worldwide )
The Peacemaker - ( Thomas Devoe / 1997 / Released / )
From Dusk Till Dawn - ( Seth Gecko / 1996 / Released / Nordisk Film )
One Fine Day - ( Jack Taylor / 1996 / Released / )
Un-Becoming Age - ( Mac / 1993 / Released / )
Red Surf - ( Remar / 1990 / Released / )
Return of the Killer Tomatoes - ( Matt / 1988 / Released / )
Return to Horror High - ( Oliver / 1987 / Released / )
Grizzly II - The Predator - ( / 1984 / Released / )
After a decade spent toiling on series television – mostly in roles easily forgotten – actor George Clooney jolted to stardom with his portrayal of the charming, but troubled pediatrician Doug Ross on the acclaimed medical series, "ER" (NBC, 1994- ). Thanks to his new found celebrity, Clooney made the jump to films while still on “ER,” quickly establishing himself as a major Hollywood star, with leading roles in “From Dusk Till Dawn” (1996), “Batman & Robin” (1997) and “Out of Sight” (1998)....
Filmography
The Fantastic Mr. Fox - ( - Cast / 2009 / Announced / )
Bad Connection - ( / / Announced / )
Burnt Creek - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Dead World - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Dillinger - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Escape From Tehran - ( Screenplay / / Announced / )
Escape From Tehran - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Farragut North - ( Director / / Announced / )
Farragut North - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Farragut North - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
Grand Prix (Remake) - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Hail Caesar - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
Head Down Tilt - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Jennifer Government - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Megalopolis - ( / / Announced / )
Men Who Stare at Goats - ( Lyn Cassady / / Announced / )
Men Who Stare at Goats - ( Executive Producer / / Announced / )
Midnight Voices - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Motor City - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Our Brand Is Crisis (Remake) - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Pet Sematary (Remake) - ( Dr. Creed / / Announced / )
Send Me No Flowers - ( / / Announced / )
Suburbicon - ( Director / / Announced / )
The Belmont Boys - ( Director / / Announced / )
The Innocent Man - ( Producer / / Announced / )
The Tourist (Smoke House) - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
The Tourist (Smoke House) - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Untitled (Warner Bros/Garland Bunting project) - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Untitled Todd Alcott Project - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Up in the Air - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
Zig Zag - ( Producer / / Announced / )
The Informant - ( Producer / 2009 / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
Sand and Sorrow - ( Narrator / 2007 / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
Sand and Sorrow - ( Executive Producer / 2007 / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
The Half Life of Timofey Berezin - ( Executive Producer / 2007 / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
Burn After Reading - ( Harry Pfarrer / 2008 / Released / )
Leatherheads - ( Director / 2008 / Released / )
Leatherheads - ( Dodge Connolly / 2008 / Released / )
Darfur Now - ( - Cast / 2007 / Released / )
Michael Clayton - ( Executive Producer / 2007 / Released / )
Michael Clayton - ( Michael Clayton / 2007 / Released / )
Ocean's 13 - ( Danny Ocean / 2007 / Released / )
Wind Chill - ( Executive Producer / 2007 / Released / )
A Scanner Darkly - ( Executive Producer / 2006 / Released / )
The Good German - ( Jake Geismer / 2006 / Released / )
Good Night, And Good Luck - ( Director / 2005 / Released / )
Good Night, And Good Luck - ( Screenplay / 2005 / Released / )
Good Night, And Good Luck - ( Fred Friendly / 2005 / Released / )
Rumor Has It... - ( Executive Producer / 2005 / Released / )
Syriana - ( Executive Producer / 2005 / Released / )
Syriana - ( Bob Barnes / 2005 / Released / )
The Jacket - ( Producer / 2005 / Released / )
Criminal - ( Producer / 2004 / Released / )
Ocean's Twelve - ( Danny Ocean / 2004 / Released / Warner Home Video )
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - ( Director / 2003 / Released / )
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - ( CIA Agent Jim Byrd / 2003 / Released / )
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - ( Executive Producer / 2003 / Released / )
Intolerable Cruelty - ( Miles Massey / 2003 / Released / )
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over - ( Devlin / 2003 / Released / )
Far From Heaven - ( Executive Producer / 2002 / Released / )
Insomnia (Warner Bros) - ( Executive Producer / 2002 / Released / )
Solaris - ( Chris Kelvin / 2002 / Released / )
Welcome to Collinwood - ( Producer / 2002 / Released / Paradiso Filmed Entertainment )
Welcome to Collinwood - ( Jerzy / 2002 / Released / Paradiso Filmed Entertainment )
Ocean's Eleven - ( Danny Ocean / 2001 / Released / )
Rock Star - ( Executive Producer / 2001 / Released / )
Spy Kids - ( Devlin / 2001 / Released / )
O Brother, Where Art Thou? - ( Everett Ulysses McGill / 2000 / Released / )
The Perfect Storm - ( Billy 'Skip' Tyne / 2000 / Released / )
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut - ( of Doctor Gouache / 1999 / Released / )
The Book That Wrote Itself - ( Himself / 1999 / Released / )
The Limey - ( TV Interviewee / 1999 / Released / )
The Thin Red Line - ( Captain Bosche / 1999 / Released / Pioneer Entertainment )
Three Kings - ( Major Archie Gates / 1999 / Released / )
Full-Tilt Boogie - ( Himself / 1998 / Released / Alliance Releasing )
Out of Sight - ( Jack Foley / 1998 / Released / )
Batman & Robin - ( Batman/Bruce Wayne / 1997 / Released / Village Roadshow Pictures Worldwide )
The Peacemaker - ( Thomas Devoe / 1997 / Released / )
From Dusk Till Dawn - ( Seth Gecko / 1996 / Released / Nordisk Film )
One Fine Day - ( Jack Taylor / 1996 / Released / )
Un-Becoming Age - ( Mac / 1993 / Released / )
Red Surf - ( Remar / 1990 / Released / )
Return of the Killer Tomatoes - ( Matt / 1988 / Released / )
Return to Horror High - ( Oliver / 1987 / Released / )
Grizzly II - The Predator - ( / 1984 / Released / )
TV Credits
The 80th Annual Academy Awards ( 2008 / Released ): Actor
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Al Pacino ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
Julia Roberts: American Cinematheque Tribute ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
PU-239 ( 2007 / Released ): Executive Producer
Sand and Sorrow ( 2007 / Released ): Executive Producer / Actor
That's the Way It Is: Celebrating Cronkite at 90 ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
Celebrity Debut ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
George Clooney: An American Cinematheque Tribute ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
The 78th Annual Academy Awards ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
The Barbara Walters Special ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
The 11th Annual Critics' Choice Awards ( 2005 / Released ): Actor
Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope ( 2005 / Released ): Actor
Unscripted ( 2005 / Released ): Director / Executive Producer
Tenth Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Ninth Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Eighth Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Seventh Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Sixth Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
( 10 more)
MovieReal ( 2004 / Released ): Actor
John Ritter Remembered ( 2003 / Released ): Actor
K Street ( 2003 / Released ): Camera Operator / Executive Producer
Episode 11 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Episode 10 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Episode 9 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Episode 8 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Episode 7 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
( 6 more)
Real Time with Bill Maher ( 2003 / Released ): Actor
The Stars' First Time . . . On Entertainment Tonight With Mary Hart ( 2003 / Released ): Actor
America: A Tribute to Heroes ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
Revealed With Jules Asner ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
The 58th Annual Golden Globe Awards ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
The Barbara Walters Special (11/16/01) ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
Fail Safe ( 2000 / Released ): Executive Producer / Actor
Hollywood Salutes Bruce Willis: An American Cinematheque Tribute ( 2000 / Released ): Actor
The 2000 MTV Movie Awards ( 2000 / Released ): Actor
Larry King Meets ER ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
Paparazzi ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
The Entertainment Business ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
The Warner Bros. Story: No Guts, No Glory -- 75 Years of Blockbusters ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
The Warner Bros. Story: No Guts, No Glory -- 75 Years of Stars ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
Tony Bennett: An All-Star Tribute -- Live By Request ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
Masters of Fantasy: Joel Schumacher ( 1997 / Released ): Actor
South Park ( 1997 / Released ): Voice
The 1996 Emmy Awards ( 1996 / Released ): Actor
47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
Breakthrough Awards ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
National Memorial Day Concert (1995) ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The 21st Annual People's Choice Awards ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The Barbara Walters Special (11/17/95) ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The Blockbuster Entertainment Awards ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The Rosemary Clooney Golden Anniversary Celebration ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
ER ( 1994 / Released ): Actor
The Storm (Part 2) ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
The Storm (Part 1) ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
Choosing Joi ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
Double Blind ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
Nobody Doesn't Like Amanda Lee ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
( 102 more)
The Building ( 1993 / Released ): Actor
Without Warning: Terror in the Towers ( 1993 / Released ): Actor
Baby Talk ( 1991 / Released ): Actor
Sunset Beat ( 1990 / Released ): Actor
Hot Prospects ( 1989 / Released ): Actor
Bennett Brothers ( 1987 / Released ): Actor
Combat High ( 1986 / Released ): Actor
The Golden Girls ( 1985 / Released ): Actor
e/r ( 1984 / Released ): Actor
The Facts of Life ( 1979 / Released ): Actor
Bodies of Evidence ( Released ): Actor
Friends ( Released ): Actor
Jack's Place ( Released ): Actor
Murder, She Wrote ( Released ): Actor
Murphy Brown ( Released ): Actor
Roseanne ( Released ): Actor
Sisters ( Released ): Actor
The Diamond Age: Or a Young Woman's Illustrated Primer ( Announced ): Executive Producer
Full Biography
After a decade spent toiling on series television – mostly in roles easily forgotten – actor George Clooney jolted to stardom with his portrayal of the charming, but troubled pediatrician Doug Ross on the acclaimed medical series, "ER" (NBC, 1994- ). Thanks to his new found celebrity, Clooney made the jump to films while still on “ER,” quickly establishing himself as a major Hollywood star, with leading roles in “From Dusk Till Dawn” (1996), “Batman & Robin” (1997) and “Out of Sight” (1998). When he left the confines of the small screen for big screen pastures, Clooney transcended mere stardom to become one of the most prominent actors of his time, emulating the devil-may-care nonchalance of a Cary Grant or Clark Gable, while becoming a Academy Award-winning performer, risk-taking director and socially-conscious activist. A famously devout bachelor who eschewed marriage after failing previously as a husband, Clooney maintained a steady stream of lady friends throughout his career, though dating proved difficult with his celebrity status. While enormously successful, Clooney refused to fall prey to the trappings of fame. From not wearing makeup on screen, to cutting his own hair and declining to surgically alter his appearance, Clooney managed to hold tight to his ideals, while struggling to maintain a semblance of his pre-fame normalcy.
Clooney was born on May 6, 1961 and raised in the small Kentucky town of Augusta – a scant 40 miles north of Cincinnati, OH. His father, Nick – brother of famed singer and actress Rosemary Clooney – was a local talk show host-turned-popular news anchor. His mother, Nina, was a beauty queen. Clooney grew up on the set of his father's shows, occasionally serving as a commercial pitchman and sketch player, before later working as a floor manager. With dreams of becoming a professional baseball player, Clooney was invited to tryout for the Cincinnati Reds in 1977 when he was just 16. But his best proved not good enough, and he failed to make the team. Instead, Clooney enrolled at Northern Kentucky University, where he proceeded to party, chase girls and occasionally show up for class. Not that he was entirely irresponsible – Clooney worked odd jobs to put himself through school, selling women’s shoes and men’s suits. After dropping out of NKU, Clooney’s cousin, actor Miguel Ferrer, came to Kentucky to make a low-budget movie about horseracing. Clooney was cast in a small part based on his good looks and became instantly seduced with the business.
In 1982, with money saved up from cutting tobacco, Clooney piled into his rusted 1976 Monte Carlo and drove to Los Angeles, CA in two days without stopping. His car guzzled oil and had ignition problems that forced him to keep it running on the side of the road while he caught an hour’s worth of sleep. He eventually sputtered into Beverly Hills, where he stayed with Rosemary, doing odd jobs around the house and driving his aunt and her famous friends around. Clooney then landed a job cleaning a theater – the money from which he used to pay for his first acting class. His first acting job was a Japanese commercial for Panasonic, followed by a part on the detective series “Riptide” (NBC, 1983-86). Clooney quickly made the jump from thankless television roles to forgettable horror flicks like "Grizzly II - The Predator" (1984), “Return to Horror High” (1986) and "Return of the Killer Tomatoes" 1988). But at least he was working.
Undeterred by the dearth of quality projects, Clooney continued plugging away on auditions, taking whatever job came his way (By the time he was a star, Clooney had worked on a total of 15 unsold pilots). Ironically, his first regular series role was as a young physician working in an emergency room in the short-lived sitcom "E/R" (CBS, 1984-85). He maintained a steady stream of bad recurring roles, playing a good-natured carpenter on "The Facts of Life" (NBC, 1979-1988) during the 1985-86 season; a womanizing factory manager on "Roseanne" (ABC, 1988-1997) for the 1988-89 season; and a construction worker on the short-lived sitcom "Baby Talk" (ABC, 1990-1992), which he left after clashing with the show's producer. After playing a detective on "Bodies of Evidence" (CBS, 1992-93), Clooney stayed with law enforcement, but switched to drama, starring as the married detective who falls for Teddy (Sela Ward) during the 1993-94 season of "Sisters" (NBC).
Clooney often said how his peripatetic upbringing and the experiences of both his father and aunt prepared him for the pitfalls of a showbiz career. When he finally achieved stardom on "ER,” he took his newfound success in stride. As film offers poured in, Clooney began stretching as an actor, handling roles in diverse genres – though several efforts fell below expectations. He was alongside Quentin Tarantino, battling vampires in the action adventure "From Dusk Till Dawn" (1996), then displayed his boyish charm opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in the romantic comedy "One Fine Day" (1996). Though the former acquired some cult status, neither fared particularly well at the box office. In a bold, but ultimately damaging turn, Clooney inherited the “Batman” franchise from Val Kilmer, making a surprisingly mediocre Bruce Wayne/Batman in Joel Schumacher's "Batman & Robin" (1997). Clooney took the critical drubbings with typical good humor, often joking about his part in the debacle ("I think I've buried that franchise!"). The true culprits, however, were a confusing script, overblown visuals and an ear-splitting soundtrack. Clooney’s other big blockbuster from that year, "The Peacemaker,” also proved disappointing.
Despite a tough year at the box office, Clooney was dubbed “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine in 1997, a time when he was publicly battling the paparazzi for their bounty hunter tactics, especially in light of Princess Diana’s August death in Paris while being chased in her car by photographers. The first glimmers of Clooney’s activist nature surfaced when he organized a celebrity boycott of “Entertainment Tonight” (Syndicated, 1981- ) in retaliation for another Paramount show, “Hard Copy” (Syndicated, 1986-1999), which used this new form of intrusive paparazzi. Clooney was joined by the likes of Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise and Madonna in an effort that proved effective – “Hard Copy” toned down its invasive tactics. Back on screen, Clooney firmly established himself as a bona fide presence in his next project, "Out of Sight" (1998), directed by Steven Soderbergh. As Elmore Leonard's smart-alecky, but fallible escaped con, Jack Foley, Clooney romanced a federal marshal (Jennifer Lopez) while en route to stealing a cache of diamonds from a crooked businessman (Albert Brook). Both Clooney and Lopez entranced critics with their sizzling onscreen chemistry, while Clooney earned praise for the easy-going charm and intelligence of his laid-back, debonair bank robber. Despite good reviews, however, few turned up in the theaters, sadly making “Out of Sight” a box office failure.
After making a cameo as a platoon leader in Terrence Malick's elegiac war film, "The Thin Red Line" (1998), his big screen fortunes changed dramatically with David O Russell's "Three Kings" (1999) – an uncommonly political Hollywood action feature set during the Gulf War that delivered a cautionary message about the responsibility accompanying America's role as policeman of the world. Clooney proved his mettle as an action star with his turn as career military man Major Archie Gates, though not without paying a price. Despite high critical praise for the film, he later cited the enormous stress of working with Russell, who routinely berated everyone on set. Russell was so combative, that the typically unflappable Clooney eventually put him in a chokehold after the director went ballistic, butting heads with the actor while daring him to strike back. Clooney later told Playboy magazine in 2000 that working on the film “was truly, without exception, the worst experience of my life.”
Regardless of his experiences with Russell, Clooney felt that his film career warranted the decision to leave "ER" in February 2000. He made periodic returns to television, including as executive producer and star of the two-hour live broadcast of "Fail Safe" (CBS, 2000), a black-and-white homage to the days of live television and adapted from the Cold War novel by Harvey Wheeler and Eugene Burdick. Superbly acted and flawlessly produced, this welcome addition amidst the standard small screen fare failed to register with younger audiences weaned on MTV. The quality outing was the first real fruit born of Clooney’s production company, Maysville Pictures, and his contract with Warner Bros. – he previously served as executive producer and co-writer on the failed HBO pilot, "Kilroy" (1999). Clooney next reunited with "Three Kings" co-star Mark Wahlberg for Wolfgang Petersen's film adaptation of Sebastian Junger's best selling-novel, "The Perfect Storm" (2000), playing Captain Billy Tyne of the doomed fishing boat, Andrea Gail. Anxiously awaited for its tale of men in the grip of nature's fury, "The Perfect Storm" solidified Clooney as a bankable big screen star in a fine turn as the captain of the doomed boat.
Also in 2000, he starred as escaped con Ulysses Everett McGill in the Coen brothers' deliriously loopy Depression-era jail break movie, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", based loosely on Homer's Odyssey. Back behind the camera, he served as producer on "Rock Star" (2001), a dopey comedy about a cover band singer (Wahlberg) drafted into the world of his heavy metal heroes. Clooney kept his stellar career in fast motion with a starring in Steven Soderbergh's all-star ensemble hit, "Ocean's Eleven" (2001) opposite Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and Bernie Mac, among others. As heist leader Danny Ocean – an ex-con obsessed with robbing a casino heavyweight (Andy Garcia) and winning back his ex-wife (Julia Roberts) from him – Clooney’s comic charm was on full blast, easily overshadowing younger co-stars Pitt and Damon. That same year, following the Sept. 11 attacks, Clooney was instrumental in rallying dozens of Hollywood friends and colleagues for a televised fundraiser for the victims of the terrorist attack, "America: A Tribute to Heroes" (2001). Clooney and company managed to raise over $30 million through the telethon. A public row with Fox News personality Bill O’Reilly erupted, however, when the conservative pundit erroneously claimed that the United Way was mishandling the money. Clooney responded with a sharply worded letter excoriating O’Reilly’s unsubstantiated accusations and questionable journalism. The two continued their public row over the years on various topics, with Clooney typically getting the better of the ill-informed O’Reilly.
In 2002, Clooney had small but memorable role as a crippled crook in "Welcome to Collinwood.” Following up, he made his directorial debut with "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," based on the book by Chuck Barris, the former host of "The Gong Show," who claimed he was a CIA hit man. Clooney aped Soderbergh’s off-kilter visual style, while at the same time, infusing his own breezy sense of humor, creating a daring first film that garnered many admirers. Clooney then co-starred with Natascha McElhorne in the thriller feature, "Solaris," a sci-fi remake of a 1972 Russian film which reunited the actor again with pal Steven Soderbergh. A metaphorical meditation on life and death co-produced by James Cameron, “Solaris” failed to attract much attention at the box office. Meanwhile, a spotty track record was being formed for Section Eight – a production company formed by Clooney and Soderbergh. Though developing an interesting array of film and television projects – including the surprisingly subdued Washington insider docudrama “K Street” (HBO, 2003-04) – Section Eight failed to generate much profit outside “Ocean’s 11.” The team rebounded – creatively at least – with "Unscripted" (2005), a chronicle of the ups and downs of a trio of actors making their way in Hollywood.
As he delved further into producing and directing, Clooney remained among the most in-demand A-list leading men in Hollywood. He reunited with the Coen Brothers, taking the lead in the disappointingly unfunny screwball comedy "Intolerable Cruelty" (2003) as divorce attorney Miles Massey, the millionaire author of a prenuptial agreement so tightly written that it has never been cracked. Meanwhile, he falls for a scheming, gold-digging serial divorcee (Catherine Zeta-Jones) looking to get even after Miles defends her ex-husband and leaves her with nothing. Clooney's disarming performance was one of the film's few comic strengths, though critics tagged the film for being intolerably cold, particularly in regards to the onscreen chemistry – or lack thereof – between Clooney and Zeta-Jones. The actor then recruited Zeta-Jones to join his ensemble of actor friends for the inevitable sequel, "Ocean's Twelve" (2004), which did tremendously at the box office, but suffered in comparison to the group's initial effort. Set in Italy, the film was more like a home movie of the gang on an extended vacation than an actual film.
Clooney the director came to full fruition with his sophomore effort, "Good Night and Good Luck" (2005), an ambitious and adroitly executed profile of pioneer newscaster Edward R. Murrow (David Straithairn) and his effort to publicly expose the headline-grabbing, bully-pulpit tactics of Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his Communist witch hunt in the 1950s. Clooney, who grew up watching his broadcast journalist father in action, showed a great aptitude for the ethical journalistic issues at hand, co-writing the screenplay with his longtime friend and partner Grant Heslov; the duo took greater-than-average pains to insure the historical accuracy of the events dramatized. As director, Clooney made creative use of real news interviews with McCarthy in place of casting an actor in the part, displaying a measured hand and a stylish touch with the rich black and white footage. Clooney also took on a side role as Murrow's respected news producer and confidant Fred Friendly, a role that displayed the actor in his most assured and adult performance. Clooney earned his first award nominations as a director, earning nods at the Independent Spirit Awards, Golden Globes and Academy Awards.
As an actor, Clooney signed onto writer-director Stephen Gaghan's multi-plot potboiler, "Syriana" (2005), playing a career CIA operative who uncovers a disturbing truth about the politics of oil in the Persian Gulf, before finding himself hung out to dry by his government when a mission goes awry. Clooney grew a scraggly beard and gained several extra pounds to play the role, while suffering a painful back injury on the final day of shooting, which required therapy and rehabilitation in a scene that failed to even make the finished film. But his pain and suffering wasn’t for naught – Clooney won a Golden Globe award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture and an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Clooney next reunited with Soderbergh for "The Good German" (2006), playing an American reporter sent to cover the final Allied summit meeting of World War II, secretly hoping to search for a lost love, but becoming tangled up in a murder mystery.
Clooney was again voted “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine in 2006 – only the second time an actor received the title – with his pal Brad Pitt being the other. Then in a third go-round, Clooney hopped back onto the gravy train for “Ocean’s 13” (2007). This time, the gang seeks revenge on a ruthless Las Vegas casino owner (Al Pacino) whose double-crossing of Danny Ocean and company leads to his downfall. He next starred in as the titular “Michael Clayton” (2007), playing a corporate fixer who takes care of all the dirty work for one of the biggest law firms in New York City. But when the firm’s top litigator (Tom Wilkinson) suffers from a nervous breakdown and threatens to sabotage the a lucrative settlement suit, Clayton tries cleaning up the mess, only to come face-to-face with who he’s really become. Meanwhile, Clooney directed his third film, “Leatherheads” (2008), a period sports comedy set in the 1920s world of professional football. While he was awaiting the release of that film, Clooney received an Academy Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for “Michael Clayton.”
Profession(s):
Actor, producer, director, screenwriter, floor manager (for father's TV show), tobacco cutter, caricaturist, shoe salesman
Sometimes Credited As:
George Timothy Clooney
Family
aunt:Rosemary Clooney (Appeared on two episodes during the first season of NBC's "ER" as an Alzheimer's patient prone to belting out songs; formerly married to actor Jose Ferrer with whom she had five children; died on June 29, 2002 of lung cancer)
cousin:Miguel Ferrer (Born Feb. 7, 1955; son of Jose Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney)
father:Nick Clooney
mother:Nina Bruce Clooney (Met husband when she was crowned first runner up at Miss Kentucky pageant and he was emcee)
sister:Ada Zeidler (Born c. 1959; married with two children)
wife:Talia Balsam (Met when they appeared together in a play in 1984 and dated briefly; later met and married in Las Vegas in 1989; divorced c. 1992; daughter of actors Martin Balsam and Joyce Van Patten)
Companion(s)
Brooke Langton , Companion , ```..Reportedly dated in 1999
Celine Balitran , Companion , ```..Born c. 1973; French; former law student; dated from 1996 to 1999; met at the trendy Paris nightclub Barfly where she was waitressing while he was filming "The Peacemaker" (1997)
DeDee Pfeiffer , Companion
Denise Crosby , Companion
Jennifer Siebel , Companion , ```..Dated in 2002
Kelly Preston , Companion , ```..Dated from 1987-89; later married actor John Travolta
Kimberly Russell , Companion , ```..Together briefly in 1995
Krista Allen , Companion , ```..Reportedly dated during filming of "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" (2002); began seeing eachother again in 2003; split March 2004
Lisa Snowdon , Companion , ```..Dated in 2001 and again in 2004, while he was filming "Ocean's Twelve" (2004)
Maria Bertrand , Companion , ```..Canadian; born c. 1974; dated in 2002
Renee Zellweger , Companion , ```..Rumored to have dated in 2001; both claim they were only friends
Sarah Larson , Companion , ```..Began dating in 2007; involved in motorcycle accident with Clooney on Sep. 21, 2007, both suffered broken bones; rumored to have split in May 2008
Traylor Howard , Companion , ```..Reportedly dated in 2000
Education
Augusta Independent High School Augusta, KY
Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY 1979
Awards
National Board of Review Award Best Actor "Michael Clayton" 2007
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award Best Actor "Michael Clayton" 2007
Academy Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role "Syriana" 2006
Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor "Syriana" 2006
Broadcast Film Critics' Choice Award Special Freedom Award 2005
San Francisco Film Critics Award Best Screenplay "Good Night, and Good Luck" 2005
The National Board of Review Award Best Picture "Good Night, and Good Luck" 2005
Las Vegas Film Critics Award Best Picture "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind 2002
National Board of Review Award Special Filmmaking Achievement "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" 2002
Golden Globe Award Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" 2000
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1998
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1997
MTV Movie Award Best Breakthrough Performance "From Dusk Till Dawn" 1996
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1996
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1995
Milestones
2008 Directed and co-starred with Renée Zellweger in the 1920s-era football comedy, "Leatherheads"
2008 Joined an ensemble cast for the Coen's brothers' "Burn After Reading"
2007 Reprised role of Danny Ocean for "Ocean's 13"
2007 Played the title role in "Michael Clayton," written and directed by Tony Gilroy; also co-produced; earned Golden Globe, SAG and Oscar nominations for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama
2006 Formed Smoke House production company with Grant Heslov and signed a three-year first-look production and development deal with Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Television
2006 Co-starred with Cate Blanchett in "The Good German," about an American journalist trying to solve a murder mystery in post-war Berlin; directed by Steven Soderbergh
2005 Directed, co-wrote and portrayed producer Fred Friendly in "Goodnight, and Good Luck," the 1950s-era drama about legendary TV newsman Edward R. Murrow; earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination fo
2005 Produced and starred in "Syriana," a geopolitical thriller based on the real-life memoirs of CIA agent Robert Baer; earned a SAG nomination for Supporting Actor
2004 Returned with the original cast for "Ocean's Twelve" directed by Steven Soderbergh
2002 Feature directorial debut, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind"; also had supporting role
2002 Cast as a divorce attorney in the Coen brothers' feature "Intolerable Cruelty"
2002 Had small but memorable role as a crippled crook in "Welcome to Collinwood," a farcical comedy screened at Cannes
2002 Starred in the sci-fi thriller feature "Solaris," directed by Soderberg
2001 With Soderbergh, served as producer of Marc Rocco's "The Jacket"
2001 Reteamed with Soderbergh for remake of "Ocean's Eleven"; made through production company Section Eight
2000 Executive produced and acted in the live, two-hour broadcast of "Fail Safe" (CBS), adapted from the Cold War novel by Harvey Wheeler and Eugene Burdick; directed by Stephen Frears; project reteamed hi
2000 With Wahlberg, co-starred in the film version of Wolfgang Petersen's "The Perfect Storm"
2000 Co-starred in the Coen brothers' "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
1999 Wrote and executive produced the HBO comedy series pilot "Kilroy"
1999 Teamed with Ice Cube and Mark Wahlberg in David O Russell's critically-acclaimed "Three Kings"
1999 Contributed the voice of Dr Gouache to the feature "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut"
1998 Played an escaped prisoner in Steven Soderbergh's "Out of Sight"
1998 Signed separate two-year development deals with CBS and Warner Bros.
1997 Portrayed Batman/Bruce Wayne in "Batman & Robin," the fourth installment in the series, directed by Joel Schumacher
1997 Provided the voice of Sparky the dog on an episode of the Comedy Central animated series "South Park"
1996 Formed Maysville Pictures (formerly Left Bank Productions), named for the Kentucky town in which he grew up
1996 Co-starred with Quentin Tarantino in the vampire horror flick "From Dusk Till Dawn"
1996 Played romantic lead opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in "One Fine Day"
1994 - 1999 Cast as pediatrician, Dr. Doug Ross on the hit NBC medical drama "ER"
1993 Played Falconer, a married policeman who becomes involved with Teddy Reed (Sela Ward), on "Sisters" (NBC)
1991 Appeared on the ABC sitcom "Baby Talk"; quit in frustration over "creative differences" with the producers
1991 Declined Quentin Tarantino's request to read for a role in "Reservoir Dogs"
1990 Cast in the short-lived detective series "Sunset Beat" (ABC); show cancelled after three episodes
1988 Had starring role in the horror spoof "The Return of the Killer Tomatoes"
1988 Played the recurring role of Booker, the male chauvinist boss on the first season of "Roseanne" (ABC)
1987 Played role of Tom Bennett in failed NBC comedy pilot "Bennett Brothers"
1987 Played a drug dealer in the play "Vicious" at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago
1986 TV-movie debut, "Combat High" (NBC)
1985 - 1986 Had a recurring role as carpenter George Burnett on the "The Facts of Life" (NBC)
1984 Debut as TV series regular in the CBS sitcom "E/R" playing a young orderly named Ace
1982 Moved to Los Angeles at age 21; lived with his aunt, Rosemary Clooney, working as her handyman and chauffeur
1982 Appeared as an extra in "... And They're Off," a film starring his cousin Miguel Ferrer
1977 Tried out for Cincinnati Reds baseball team at age 16
1975 Suffered for a year with Bell's palsy
1974 - 1979 Served as a floor manager on his father's locally produced TV show
With Soderbergh, formed Section Eight, a production company
Raised in rural Kentucky and Ohio
Beginning at age five, assisted on father's local Cincinnati talk show, "The Nick Clooney Show"
Worked cutting tobacco to earn enough money to buy a car in order to drive cross-county
Received first professional job, a stereo commercial, by appearing at the audition with a six-pack
Feature acting debut in the unreleased "Grizzly II - The Predator" (Note: some sources say this was filmed in 1982 while others say 1984)
The 80th Annual Academy Awards ( 2008 / Released ): Actor
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Al Pacino ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
Julia Roberts: American Cinematheque Tribute ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
PU-239 ( 2007 / Released ): Executive Producer
Sand and Sorrow ( 2007 / Released ): Executive Producer / Actor
That's the Way It Is: Celebrating Cronkite at 90 ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
Celebrity Debut ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
George Clooney: An American Cinematheque Tribute ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
The 78th Annual Academy Awards ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
The Barbara Walters Special ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
The 11th Annual Critics' Choice Awards ( 2005 / Released ): Actor
Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope ( 2005 / Released ): Actor
Unscripted ( 2005 / Released ): Director / Executive Producer
Tenth Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Ninth Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Eighth Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Seventh Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Sixth Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
( 10 more)
MovieReal ( 2004 / Released ): Actor
John Ritter Remembered ( 2003 / Released ): Actor
K Street ( 2003 / Released ): Camera Operator / Executive Producer
Episode 11 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Episode 10 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Episode 9 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Episode 8 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Episode 7 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
( 6 more)
Real Time with Bill Maher ( 2003 / Released ): Actor
The Stars' First Time . . . On Entertainment Tonight With Mary Hart ( 2003 / Released ): Actor
America: A Tribute to Heroes ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
Revealed With Jules Asner ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
The 58th Annual Golden Globe Awards ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
The Barbara Walters Special (11/16/01) ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
Fail Safe ( 2000 / Released ): Executive Producer / Actor
Hollywood Salutes Bruce Willis: An American Cinematheque Tribute ( 2000 / Released ): Actor
The 2000 MTV Movie Awards ( 2000 / Released ): Actor
Larry King Meets ER ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
Paparazzi ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
The Entertainment Business ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
The Warner Bros. Story: No Guts, No Glory -- 75 Years of Blockbusters ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
The Warner Bros. Story: No Guts, No Glory -- 75 Years of Stars ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
Tony Bennett: An All-Star Tribute -- Live By Request ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
Masters of Fantasy: Joel Schumacher ( 1997 / Released ): Actor
South Park ( 1997 / Released ): Voice
The 1996 Emmy Awards ( 1996 / Released ): Actor
47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
Breakthrough Awards ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
National Memorial Day Concert (1995) ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The 21st Annual People's Choice Awards ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The Barbara Walters Special (11/17/95) ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The Blockbuster Entertainment Awards ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The Rosemary Clooney Golden Anniversary Celebration ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
ER ( 1994 / Released ): Actor
The Storm (Part 2) ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
The Storm (Part 1) ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
Choosing Joi ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
Double Blind ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
Nobody Doesn't Like Amanda Lee ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
( 102 more)
The Building ( 1993 / Released ): Actor
Without Warning: Terror in the Towers ( 1993 / Released ): Actor
Baby Talk ( 1991 / Released ): Actor
Sunset Beat ( 1990 / Released ): Actor
Hot Prospects ( 1989 / Released ): Actor
Bennett Brothers ( 1987 / Released ): Actor
Combat High ( 1986 / Released ): Actor
The Golden Girls ( 1985 / Released ): Actor
e/r ( 1984 / Released ): Actor
The Facts of Life ( 1979 / Released ): Actor
Bodies of Evidence ( Released ): Actor
Friends ( Released ): Actor
Jack's Place ( Released ): Actor
Murder, She Wrote ( Released ): Actor
Murphy Brown ( Released ): Actor
Roseanne ( Released ): Actor
Sisters ( Released ): Actor
The Diamond Age: Or a Young Woman's Illustrated Primer ( Announced ): Executive Producer
Full Biography (Back to top)
After a decade spent toiling on series television – mostly in roles easily forgotten – actor George Clooney jolted to stardom with his portrayal of the charming, but troubled pediatrician Doug Ross on the acclaimed medical series, "ER" (NBC, 1994- ). Thanks to his new found celebrity, Clooney made the jump to films while still on “ER,” quickly establishing himself as a major Hollywood star, with leading roles in “From Dusk Till Dawn” (1996), “Batman & Robin” (1997) and “Out of Sight” (1998). When he left the confines of the small screen for big screen pastures, Clooney transcended mere stardom to become one of the most prominent actors of his time, emulating the devil-may-care nonchalance of a Cary Grant or Clark Gable, while becoming a Academy Award-winning performer, risk-taking director and socially-conscious activist. A famously devout bachelor who eschewed marriage after failing previously as a husband, Clooney maintained a steady stream of lady friends throughout his career, though dating proved difficult with his celebrity status. While enormously successful, Clooney refused to fall prey to the trappings of fame. From not wearing makeup on screen, to cutting his own hair and declining to surgically alter his appearance, Clooney managed to hold tight to his ideals, while struggling to maintain a semblance of his pre-fame normalcy.
Clooney was born on May 6, 1961 and raised in the small Kentucky town of Augusta – a scant 40 miles north of Cincinnati, OH. His father, Nick – brother of famed singer and actress Rosemary Clooney – was a local talk show host-turned-popular news anchor. His mother, Nina, was a beauty queen. Clooney grew up on the set of his father's shows, occasionally serving as a commercial pitchman and sketch player, before later working as a floor manager. With dreams of becoming a professional baseball player, Clooney was invited to tryout for the Cincinnati Reds in 1977 when he was just 16. But his best proved not good enough, and he failed to make the team. Instead, Clooney enrolled at Northern Kentucky University, where he proceeded to party, chase girls and occasionally show up for class. Not that he was entirely irresponsible – Clooney worked odd jobs to put himself through school, selling women’s shoes and men’s suits. After dropping out of NKU, Clooney’s cousin, actor Miguel Ferrer, came to Kentucky to make a low-budget movie about horseracing. Clooney was cast in a small part based on his good looks and became instantly seduced with the business.
In 1982, with money saved up from cutting tobacco, Clooney piled into his rusted 1976 Monte Carlo and drove to Los Angeles, CA in two days without stopping. His car guzzled oil and had ignition problems that forced him to keep it running on the side of the road while he caught an hour’s worth of sleep. He eventually sputtered into Beverly Hills, where he stayed with Rosemary, doing odd jobs around the house and driving his aunt and her famous friends around. Clooney then landed a job cleaning a theater – the money from which he used to pay for his first acting class. His first acting job was a Japanese commercial for Panasonic, followed by a part on the detective series “Riptide” (NBC, 1983-86). Clooney quickly made the jump from thankless television roles to forgettable horror flicks like "Grizzly II - The Predator" (1984), “Return to Horror High” (1986) and "Return of the Killer Tomatoes" 1988). But at least he was working.
Undeterred by the dearth of quality projects, Clooney continued plugging away on auditions, taking whatever job came his way (By the time he was a star, Clooney had worked on a total of 15 unsold pilots). Ironically, his first regular series role was as a young physician working in an emergency room in the short-lived sitcom "E/R" (CBS, 1984-85). He maintained a steady stream of bad recurring roles, playing a good-natured carpenter on "The Facts of Life" (NBC, 1979-1988) during the 1985-86 season; a womanizing factory manager on "Roseanne" (ABC, 1988-1997) for the 1988-89 season; and a construction worker on the short-lived sitcom "Baby Talk" (ABC, 1990-1992), which he left after clashing with the show's producer. After playing a detective on "Bodies of Evidence" (CBS, 1992-93), Clooney stayed with law enforcement, but switched to drama, starring as the married detective who falls for Teddy (Sela Ward) during the 1993-94 season of "Sisters" (NBC).
Clooney often said how his peripatetic upbringing and the experiences of both his father and aunt prepared him for the pitfalls of a showbiz career. When he finally achieved stardom on "ER,” he took his newfound success in stride. As film offers poured in, Clooney began stretching as an actor, handling roles in diverse genres – though several efforts fell below expectations. He was alongside Quentin Tarantino, battling vampires in the action adventure "From Dusk Till Dawn" (1996), then displayed his boyish charm opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in the romantic comedy "One Fine Day" (1996). Though the former acquired some cult status, neither fared particularly well at the box office. In a bold, but ultimately damaging turn, Clooney inherited the “Batman” franchise from Val Kilmer, making a surprisingly mediocre Bruce Wayne/Batman in Joel Schumacher's "Batman & Robin" (1997). Clooney took the critical drubbings with typical good humor, often joking about his part in the debacle ("I think I've buried that franchise!"). The true culprits, however, were a confusing script, overblown visuals and an ear-splitting soundtrack. Clooney’s other big blockbuster from that year, "The Peacemaker,” also proved disappointing.
Despite a tough year at the box office, Clooney was dubbed “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine in 1997, a time when he was publicly battling the paparazzi for their bounty hunter tactics, especially in light of Princess Diana’s August death in Paris while being chased in her car by photographers. The first glimmers of Clooney’s activist nature surfaced when he organized a celebrity boycott of “Entertainment Tonight” (Syndicated, 1981- ) in retaliation for another Paramount show, “Hard Copy” (Syndicated, 1986-1999), which used this new form of intrusive paparazzi. Clooney was joined by the likes of Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise and Madonna in an effort that proved effective – “Hard Copy” toned down its invasive tactics. Back on screen, Clooney firmly established himself as a bona fide presence in his next project, "Out of Sight" (1998), directed by Steven Soderbergh. As Elmore Leonard's smart-alecky, but fallible escaped con, Jack Foley, Clooney romanced a federal marshal (Jennifer Lopez) while en route to stealing a cache of diamonds from a crooked businessman (Albert Brook). Both Clooney and Lopez entranced critics with their sizzling onscreen chemistry, while Clooney earned praise for the easy-going charm and intelligence of his laid-back, debonair bank robber. Despite good reviews, however, few turned up in the theaters, sadly making “Out of Sight” a box office failure.
After making a cameo as a platoon leader in Terrence Malick's elegiac war film, "The Thin Red Line" (1998), his big screen fortunes changed dramatically with David O Russell's "Three Kings" (1999) – an uncommonly political Hollywood action feature set during the Gulf War that delivered a cautionary message about the responsibility accompanying America's role as policeman of the world. Clooney proved his mettle as an action star with his turn as career military man Major Archie Gates, though not without paying a price. Despite high critical praise for the film, he later cited the enormous stress of working with Russell, who routinely berated everyone on set. Russell was so combative, that the typically unflappable Clooney eventually put him in a chokehold after the director went ballistic, butting heads with the actor while daring him to strike back. Clooney later told Playboy magazine in 2000 that working on the film “was truly, without exception, the worst experience of my life.”
Regardless of his experiences with Russell, Clooney felt that his film career warranted the decision to leave "ER" in February 2000. He made periodic returns to television, including as executive producer and star of the two-hour live broadcast of "Fail Safe" (CBS, 2000), a black-and-white homage to the days of live television and adapted from the Cold War novel by Harvey Wheeler and Eugene Burdick. Superbly acted and flawlessly produced, this welcome addition amidst the standard small screen fare failed to register with younger audiences weaned on MTV. The quality outing was the first real fruit born of Clooney’s production company, Maysville Pictures, and his contract with Warner Bros. – he previously served as executive producer and co-writer on the failed HBO pilot, "Kilroy" (1999). Clooney next reunited with "Three Kings" co-star Mark Wahlberg for Wolfgang Petersen's film adaptation of Sebastian Junger's best selling-novel, "The Perfect Storm" (2000), playing Captain Billy Tyne of the doomed fishing boat, Andrea Gail. Anxiously awaited for its tale of men in the grip of nature's fury, "The Perfect Storm" solidified Clooney as a bankable big screen star in a fine turn as the captain of the doomed boat.
Also in 2000, he starred as escaped con Ulysses Everett McGill in the Coen brothers' deliriously loopy Depression-era jail break movie, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", based loosely on Homer's Odyssey. Back behind the camera, he served as producer on "Rock Star" (2001), a dopey comedy about a cover band singer (Wahlberg) drafted into the world of his heavy metal heroes. Clooney kept his stellar career in fast motion with a starring in Steven Soderbergh's all-star ensemble hit, "Ocean's Eleven" (2001) opposite Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and Bernie Mac, among others. As heist leader Danny Ocean – an ex-con obsessed with robbing a casino heavyweight (Andy Garcia) and winning back his ex-wife (Julia Roberts) from him – Clooney’s comic charm was on full blast, easily overshadowing younger co-stars Pitt and Damon. That same year, following the Sept. 11 attacks, Clooney was instrumental in rallying dozens of Hollywood friends and colleagues for a televised fundraiser for the victims of the terrorist attack, "America: A Tribute to Heroes" (2001). Clooney and company managed to raise over $30 million through the telethon. A public row with Fox News personality Bill O’Reilly erupted, however, when the conservative pundit erroneously claimed that the United Way was mishandling the money. Clooney responded with a sharply worded letter excoriating O’Reilly’s unsubstantiated accusations and questionable journalism. The two continued their public row over the years on various topics, with Clooney typically getting the better of the ill-informed O’Reilly.
In 2002, Clooney had small but memorable role as a crippled crook in "Welcome to Collinwood.” Following up, he made his directorial debut with "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," based on the book by Chuck Barris, the former host of "The Gong Show," who claimed he was a CIA hit man. Clooney aped Soderbergh’s off-kilter visual style, while at the same time, infusing his own breezy sense of humor, creating a daring first film that garnered many admirers. Clooney then co-starred with Natascha McElhorne in the thriller feature, "Solaris," a sci-fi remake of a 1972 Russian film which reunited the actor again with pal Steven Soderbergh. A metaphorical meditation on life and death co-produced by James Cameron, “Solaris” failed to attract much attention at the box office. Meanwhile, a spotty track record was being formed for Section Eight – a production company formed by Clooney and Soderbergh. Though developing an interesting array of film and television projects – including the surprisingly subdued Washington insider docudrama “K Street” (HBO, 2003-04) – Section Eight failed to generate much profit outside “Ocean’s 11.” The team rebounded – creatively at least – with "Unscripted" (2005), a chronicle of the ups and downs of a trio of actors making their way in Hollywood.
As he delved further into producing and directing, Clooney remained among the most in-demand A-list leading men in Hollywood. He reunited with the Coen Brothers, taking the lead in the disappointingly unfunny screwball comedy "Intolerable Cruelty" (2003) as divorce attorney Miles Massey, the millionaire author of a prenuptial agreement so tightly written that it has never been cracked. Meanwhile, he falls for a scheming, gold-digging serial divorcee (Catherine Zeta-Jones) looking to get even after Miles defends her ex-husband and leaves her with nothing. Clooney's disarming performance was one of the film's few comic strengths, though critics tagged the film for being intolerably cold, particularly in regards to the onscreen chemistry – or lack thereof – between Clooney and Zeta-Jones. The actor then recruited Zeta-Jones to join his ensemble of actor friends for the inevitable sequel, "Ocean's Twelve" (2004), which did tremendously at the box office, but suffered in comparison to the group's initial effort. Set in Italy, the film was more like a home movie of the gang on an extended vacation than an actual film.
Clooney the director came to full fruition with his sophomore effort, "Good Night and Good Luck" (2005), an ambitious and adroitly executed profile of pioneer newscaster Edward R. Murrow (David Straithairn) and his effort to publicly expose the headline-grabbing, bully-pulpit tactics of Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his Communist witch hunt in the 1950s. Clooney, who grew up watching his broadcast journalist father in action, showed a great aptitude for the ethical journalistic issues at hand, co-writing the screenplay with his longtime friend and partner Grant Heslov; the duo took greater-than-average pains to insure the historical accuracy of the events dramatized. As director, Clooney made creative use of real news interviews with McCarthy in place of casting an actor in the part, displaying a measured hand and a stylish touch with the rich black and white footage. Clooney also took on a side role as Murrow's respected news producer and confidant Fred Friendly, a role that displayed the actor in his most assured and adult performance. Clooney earned his first award nominations as a director, earning nods at the Independent Spirit Awards, Golden Globes and Academy Awards.
As an actor, Clooney signed onto writer-director Stephen Gaghan's multi-plot potboiler, "Syriana" (2005), playing a career CIA operative who uncovers a disturbing truth about the politics of oil in the Persian Gulf, before finding himself hung out to dry by his government when a mission goes awry. Clooney grew a scraggly beard and gained several extra pounds to play the role, while suffering a painful back injury on the final day of shooting, which required therapy and rehabilitation in a scene that failed to even make the finished film. But his pain and suffering wasn’t for naught – Clooney won a Golden Globe award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture and an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Clooney next reunited with Soderbergh for "The Good German" (2006), playing an American reporter sent to cover the final Allied summit meeting of World War II, secretly hoping to search for a lost love, but becoming tangled up in a murder mystery.
Clooney was again voted “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine in 2006 – only the second time an actor received the title – with his pal Brad Pitt being the other. Then in a third go-round, Clooney hopped back onto the gravy train for “Ocean’s 13” (2007). This time, the gang seeks revenge on a ruthless Las Vegas casino owner (Al Pacino) whose double-crossing of Danny Ocean and company leads to his downfall. He next starred in as the titular “Michael Clayton” (2007), playing a corporate fixer who takes care of all the dirty work for one of the biggest law firms in New York City. But when the firm’s top litigator (Tom Wilkinson) suffers from a nervous breakdown and threatens to sabotage the a lucrative settlement suit, Clayton tries cleaning up the mess, only to come face-to-face with who he’s really become. Meanwhile, Clooney directed his third film, “Leatherheads” (2008), a period sports comedy set in the 1920s world of professional football. While he was awaiting the release of that film, Clooney received an Academy Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for “Michael Clayton.”
Profession(s):
Actor, producer, director, screenwriter, floor manager (for father's TV show), tobacco cutter, caricaturist, shoe salesman
Sometimes Credited As:
George Timothy Clooney
Family
aunt:Rosemary Clooney (Appeared on two episodes during the first season of NBC's "ER" as an Alzheimer's patient prone to belting out songs; formerly married to actor Jose Ferrer with whom she had five children; died on June 29, 2002 of lung cancer)
cousin:Miguel Ferrer (Born Feb. 7, 1955; son of Jose Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney)
father:Nick Clooney
mother:Nina Bruce Clooney (Met husband when she was crowned first runner up at Miss Kentucky pageant and he was emcee)
sister:Ada Zeidler (Born c. 1959; married with two children)
wife:Talia Balsam (Met when they appeared together in a play in 1984 and dated briefly; later met and married in Las Vegas in 1989; divorced c. 1992; daughter of actors Martin Balsam and Joyce Van Patten)
Companion(s)
Brooke Langton , Companion , ```..Reportedly dated in 1999
Celine Balitran , Companion , ```..Born c. 1973; French; former law student; dated from 1996 to 1999; met at the trendy Paris nightclub Barfly where she was waitressing while he was filming "The Peacemaker" (1997)
DeDee Pfeiffer , Companion
Denise Crosby , Companion
Jennifer Siebel , Companion , ```..Dated in 2002
Kelly Preston , Companion , ```..Dated from 1987-89; later married actor John Travolta
Kimberly Russell , Companion , ```..Together briefly in 1995
Krista Allen , Companion , ```..Reportedly dated during filming of "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" (2002); began seeing eachother again in 2003; split March 2004
Lisa Snowdon , Companion , ```..Dated in 2001 and again in 2004, while he was filming "Ocean's Twelve" (2004)
Maria Bertrand , Companion , ```..Canadian; born c. 1974; dated in 2002
Renee Zellweger , Companion , ```..Rumored to have dated in 2001; both claim they were only friends
Sarah Larson , Companion , ```..Began dating in 2007; involved in motorcycle accident with Clooney on Sep. 21, 2007, both suffered broken bones; rumored to have split in May 2008
Traylor Howard , Companion , ```..Reportedly dated in 2000
Education
Augusta Independent High School Augusta, KY
Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY 1979
Awards (Back to top)
National Board of Review Award Best Actor "Michael Clayton" 2007
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award Best Actor "Michael Clayton" 2007
Academy Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role "Syriana" 2006
Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor "Syriana" 2006
Broadcast Film Critics' Choice Award Special Freedom Award 2005
San Francisco Film Critics Award Best Screenplay "Good Night, and Good Luck" 2005
The National Board of Review Award Best Picture "Good Night, and Good Luck" 2005
Las Vegas Film Critics Award Best Picture "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind 2002
National Board of Review Award Special Filmmaking Achievement "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" 2002
Golden Globe Award Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" 2000
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1998
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1997
MTV Movie Award Best Breakthrough Performance "From Dusk Till Dawn" 1996
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1996
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1995
Milestones (Back to top)
2008 Directed and co-starred with Renée Zellweger in the 1920s-era football comedy, "Leatherheads"
2008 Joined an ensemble cast for the Coen's brothers' "Burn After Reading"
2007 Reprised role of Danny Ocean for "Ocean's 13"
2007 Played the title role in "Michael Clayton," written and directed by Tony Gilroy; also co-produced; earned Golden Globe, SAG and Oscar nominations for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama
2006 Formed Smoke House production company with Grant Heslov and signed a three-year first-look production and development deal with Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Television
2006 Co-starred with Cate Blanchett in "The Good German," about an American journalist trying to solve a murder mystery in post-war Berlin; directed by Steven Soderbergh
2005 Directed, co-wrote and portrayed producer Fred Friendly in "Goodnight, and Good Luck," the 1950s-era drama about legendary TV newsman Edward R. Murrow; earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination fo
2005 Produced and starred in "Syriana," a geopolitical thriller based on the real-life memoirs of CIA agent Robert Baer; earned a SAG nomination for Supporting Actor
2004 Returned with the original cast for "Ocean's Twelve" directed by Steven Soderbergh
2002 Feature directorial debut, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind"; also had supporting role
2002 Cast as a divorce attorney in the Coen brothers' feature "Intolerable Cruelty"
2002 Had small but memorable role as a crippled crook in "Welcome to Collinwood," a farcical comedy screened at Cannes
2002 Starred in the sci-fi thriller feature "Solaris," directed by Soderberg
2001 With Soderbergh, served as producer of Marc Rocco's "The Jacket"
2001 Reteamed with Soderbergh for remake of "Ocean's Eleven"; made through production company Section Eight
2000 Executive produced and acted in the live, two-hour broadcast of "Fail Safe" (CBS), adapted from the Cold War novel by Harvey Wheeler and Eugene Burdick; directed by Stephen Frears; project reteamed hi
2000 With Wahlberg, co-starred in the film version of Wolfgang Petersen's "The Perfect Storm"
2000 Co-starred in the Coen brothers' "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
1999 Wrote and executive produced the HBO comedy series pilot "Kilroy"
1999 Teamed with Ice Cube and Mark Wahlberg in David O Russell's critically-acclaimed "Three Kings"
1999 Contributed the voice of Dr Gouache to the feature "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut"
1998 Played an escaped prisoner in Steven Soderbergh's "Out of Sight"
1998 Signed separate two-year development deals with CBS and Warner Bros.
1997 Portrayed Batman/Bruce Wayne in "Batman & Robin," the fourth installment in the series, directed by Joel Schumacher
1997 Provided the voice of Sparky the dog on an episode of the Comedy Central animated series "South Park"
1996 Formed Maysville Pictures (formerly Left Bank Productions), named for the Kentucky town in which he grew up
1996 Co-starred with Quentin Tarantino in the vampire horror flick "From Dusk Till Dawn"
1996 Played romantic lead opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in "One Fine Day"
1994 - 1999 Cast as pediatrician, Dr. Doug Ross on the hit NBC medical drama "ER"
1993 Played Falconer, a married policeman who becomes involved with Teddy Reed (Sela Ward), on "Sisters" (NBC)
1991 Appeared on the ABC sitcom "Baby Talk"; quit in frustration over "creative differences" with the producers
1991 Declined Quentin Tarantino's request to read for a role in "Reservoir Dogs"
1990 Cast in the short-lived detective series "Sunset Beat" (ABC); show cancelled after three episodes
1988 Had starring role in the horror spoof "The Return of the Killer Tomatoes"
1988 Played the recurring role of Booker, the male chauvinist boss on the first season of "Roseanne" (ABC)
1987 Played role of Tom Bennett in failed NBC comedy pilot "Bennett Brothers"
1987 Played a drug dealer in the play "Vicious" at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago
1986 TV-movie debut, "Combat High" (NBC)
1985 - 1986 Had a recurring role as carpenter George Burnett on the "The Facts of Life" (NBC)
1984 Debut as TV series regular in the CBS sitcom "E/R" playing a young orderly named Ace
1982 Moved to Los Angeles at age 21; lived with his aunt, Rosemary Clooney, working as her handyman and chauffeur
1982 Appeared as an extra in "... And They're Off," a film starring his cousin Miguel Ferrer
1977 Tried out for Cincinnati Reds baseball team at age 16
1975 Suffered for a year with Bell's palsy
1974 - 1979 Served as a floor manager on his father's locally produced TV show
With Soderbergh, formed Section Eight, a production company
Raised in rural Kentucky and Ohio
Beginning at age five, assisted on father's local Cincinnati talk show, "The Nick Clooney Show"
Worked cutting tobacco to earn enough money to buy a car in order to drive cross-county
Received first professional job, a stereo commercial, by appearing at the audition with a six-pack
Feature acting debut in the unreleased "Grizzly II - The Predator" (Note: some sources say this was filmed in 1982 while others say 1984)
Filmography
The Fantastic Mr. Fox - ( - Cast / 2009 / Announced / )
Bad Connection - ( / / Announced / )
Burnt Creek - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Dead World - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Dillinger - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Escape From Tehran - ( Screenplay / / Announced / )
Escape From Tehran - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Farragut North - ( Director / / Announced / )
Farragut North - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Farragut North - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
Grand Prix (Remake) - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Hail Caesar - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
Head Down Tilt - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Jennifer Government - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Megalopolis - ( / / Announced / )
Men Who Stare at Goats - ( Lyn Cassady / / Announced / )
Men Who Stare at Goats - ( Executive Producer / / Announced / )
Midnight Voices - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Motor City - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Our Brand Is Crisis (Remake) - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Pet Sematary (Remake) - ( Dr. Creed / / Announced / )
Send Me No Flowers - ( / / Announced / )
Suburbicon - ( Director / / Announced / )
The Belmont Boys - ( Director / / Announced / )
The Innocent Man - ( Producer / / Announced / )
The Tourist (Smoke House) - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
The Tourist (Smoke House) - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Untitled (Warner Bros/Garland Bunting project) - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Untitled Todd Alcott Project - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Up in the Air - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
Zig Zag - ( Producer / / Announced / )
The Informant - ( Producer / 2009 / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
Sand and Sorrow - ( Narrator / 2007 / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
Sand and Sorrow - ( Executive Producer / 2007 / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
The Half Life of Timofey Berezin - ( Executive Producer / 2007 / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
Burn After Reading - ( Harry Pfarrer / 2008 / Released / )
Leatherheads - ( Director / 2008 / Released / )
Leatherheads - ( Dodge Connolly / 2008 / Released / )
Darfur Now - ( - Cast / 2007 / Released / )
Michael Clayton - ( Executive Producer / 2007 / Released / )
Michael Clayton - ( Michael Clayton / 2007 / Released / )
Ocean's 13 - ( Danny Ocean / 2007 / Released / )
Wind Chill - ( Executive Producer / 2007 / Released / )
A Scanner Darkly - ( Executive Producer / 2006 / Released / )
The Good German - ( Jake Geismer / 2006 / Released / )
Good Night, And Good Luck - ( Director / 2005 / Released / )
Good Night, And Good Luck - ( Screenplay / 2005 / Released / )
Good Night, And Good Luck - ( Fred Friendly / 2005 / Released / )
Rumor Has It... - ( Executive Producer / 2005 / Released / )
Syriana - ( Executive Producer / 2005 / Released / )
Syriana - ( Bob Barnes / 2005 / Released / )
The Jacket - ( Producer / 2005 / Released / )
Criminal - ( Producer / 2004 / Released / )
Ocean's Twelve - ( Danny Ocean / 2004 / Released / Warner Home Video )
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - ( Director / 2003 / Released / )
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - ( CIA Agent Jim Byrd / 2003 / Released / )
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - ( Executive Producer / 2003 / Released / )
Intolerable Cruelty - ( Miles Massey / 2003 / Released / )
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over - ( Devlin / 2003 / Released / )
Far From Heaven - ( Executive Producer / 2002 / Released / )
Insomnia (Warner Bros) - ( Executive Producer / 2002 / Released / )
Solaris - ( Chris Kelvin / 2002 / Released / )
Welcome to Collinwood - ( Producer / 2002 / Released / Paradiso Filmed Entertainment )
Welcome to Collinwood - ( Jerzy / 2002 / Released / Paradiso Filmed Entertainment )
Ocean's Eleven - ( Danny Ocean / 2001 / Released / )
Rock Star - ( Executive Producer / 2001 / Released / )
Spy Kids - ( Devlin / 2001 / Released / )
O Brother, Where Art Thou? - ( Everett Ulysses McGill / 2000 / Released / )
The Perfect Storm - ( Billy 'Skip' Tyne / 2000 / Released / )
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut - ( of Doctor Gouache / 1999 / Released / )
The Book That Wrote Itself - ( Himself / 1999 / Released / )
The Limey - ( TV Interviewee / 1999 / Released / )
The Thin Red Line - ( Captain Bosche / 1999 / Released / Pioneer Entertainment )
Three Kings - ( Major Archie Gates / 1999 / Released / )
Full-Tilt Boogie - ( Himself / 1998 / Released / Alliance Releasing )
Out of Sight - ( Jack Foley / 1998 / Released / )
Batman & Robin - ( Batman/Bruce Wayne / 1997 / Released / Village Roadshow Pictures Worldwide )
The Peacemaker - ( Thomas Devoe / 1997 / Released / )
From Dusk Till Dawn - ( Seth Gecko / 1996 / Released / Nordisk Film )
One Fine Day - ( Jack Taylor / 1996 / Released / )
Un-Becoming Age - ( Mac / 1993 / Released / )
Red Surf - ( Remar / 1990 / Released / )
Return of the Killer Tomatoes - ( Matt / 1988 / Released / )
Return to Horror High - ( Oliver / 1987 / Released / )
Grizzly II - The Predator - ( / 1984 / Released / )
After a decade spent toiling on series television – mostly in roles easily forgotten – actor George Clooney jolted to stardom with his portrayal of the charming, but troubled pediatrician Doug Ross on the acclaimed medical series, "ER" (NBC, 1994- ). Thanks to his new found celebrity, Clooney made the jump to films while still on “ER,” quickly establishing himself as a major Hollywood star, with leading roles in “From Dusk Till Dawn” (1996), “Batman & Robin” (1997) and “Out of Sight” (1998)....
Filmography
The Fantastic Mr. Fox - ( - Cast / 2009 / Announced / )
Bad Connection - ( / / Announced / )
Burnt Creek - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Dead World - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Dillinger - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Escape From Tehran - ( Screenplay / / Announced / )
Escape From Tehran - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Farragut North - ( Director / / Announced / )
Farragut North - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Farragut North - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
Grand Prix (Remake) - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Hail Caesar - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
Head Down Tilt - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Jennifer Government - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Megalopolis - ( / / Announced / )
Men Who Stare at Goats - ( Lyn Cassady / / Announced / )
Men Who Stare at Goats - ( Executive Producer / / Announced / )
Midnight Voices - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Motor City - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Our Brand Is Crisis (Remake) - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Pet Sematary (Remake) - ( Dr. Creed / / Announced / )
Send Me No Flowers - ( / / Announced / )
Suburbicon - ( Director / / Announced / )
The Belmont Boys - ( Director / / Announced / )
The Innocent Man - ( Producer / / Announced / )
The Tourist (Smoke House) - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
The Tourist (Smoke House) - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Untitled (Warner Bros/Garland Bunting project) - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Untitled Todd Alcott Project - ( Producer / / Announced / )
Up in the Air - ( - Cast / / Announced / )
Zig Zag - ( Producer / / Announced / )
The Informant - ( Producer / 2009 / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
Sand and Sorrow - ( Narrator / 2007 / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
Sand and Sorrow - ( Executive Producer / 2007 / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
The Half Life of Timofey Berezin - ( Executive Producer / 2007 / Lensing/Awaiting Release / )
Burn After Reading - ( Harry Pfarrer / 2008 / Released / )
Leatherheads - ( Director / 2008 / Released / )
Leatherheads - ( Dodge Connolly / 2008 / Released / )
Darfur Now - ( - Cast / 2007 / Released / )
Michael Clayton - ( Executive Producer / 2007 / Released / )
Michael Clayton - ( Michael Clayton / 2007 / Released / )
Ocean's 13 - ( Danny Ocean / 2007 / Released / )
Wind Chill - ( Executive Producer / 2007 / Released / )
A Scanner Darkly - ( Executive Producer / 2006 / Released / )
The Good German - ( Jake Geismer / 2006 / Released / )
Good Night, And Good Luck - ( Director / 2005 / Released / )
Good Night, And Good Luck - ( Screenplay / 2005 / Released / )
Good Night, And Good Luck - ( Fred Friendly / 2005 / Released / )
Rumor Has It... - ( Executive Producer / 2005 / Released / )
Syriana - ( Executive Producer / 2005 / Released / )
Syriana - ( Bob Barnes / 2005 / Released / )
The Jacket - ( Producer / 2005 / Released / )
Criminal - ( Producer / 2004 / Released / )
Ocean's Twelve - ( Danny Ocean / 2004 / Released / Warner Home Video )
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - ( Director / 2003 / Released / )
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - ( CIA Agent Jim Byrd / 2003 / Released / )
Confessions of a Dangerous Mind - ( Executive Producer / 2003 / Released / )
Intolerable Cruelty - ( Miles Massey / 2003 / Released / )
Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over - ( Devlin / 2003 / Released / )
Far From Heaven - ( Executive Producer / 2002 / Released / )
Insomnia (Warner Bros) - ( Executive Producer / 2002 / Released / )
Solaris - ( Chris Kelvin / 2002 / Released / )
Welcome to Collinwood - ( Producer / 2002 / Released / Paradiso Filmed Entertainment )
Welcome to Collinwood - ( Jerzy / 2002 / Released / Paradiso Filmed Entertainment )
Ocean's Eleven - ( Danny Ocean / 2001 / Released / )
Rock Star - ( Executive Producer / 2001 / Released / )
Spy Kids - ( Devlin / 2001 / Released / )
O Brother, Where Art Thou? - ( Everett Ulysses McGill / 2000 / Released / )
The Perfect Storm - ( Billy 'Skip' Tyne / 2000 / Released / )
South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut - ( of Doctor Gouache / 1999 / Released / )
The Book That Wrote Itself - ( Himself / 1999 / Released / )
The Limey - ( TV Interviewee / 1999 / Released / )
The Thin Red Line - ( Captain Bosche / 1999 / Released / Pioneer Entertainment )
Three Kings - ( Major Archie Gates / 1999 / Released / )
Full-Tilt Boogie - ( Himself / 1998 / Released / Alliance Releasing )
Out of Sight - ( Jack Foley / 1998 / Released / )
Batman & Robin - ( Batman/Bruce Wayne / 1997 / Released / Village Roadshow Pictures Worldwide )
The Peacemaker - ( Thomas Devoe / 1997 / Released / )
From Dusk Till Dawn - ( Seth Gecko / 1996 / Released / Nordisk Film )
One Fine Day - ( Jack Taylor / 1996 / Released / )
Un-Becoming Age - ( Mac / 1993 / Released / )
Red Surf - ( Remar / 1990 / Released / )
Return of the Killer Tomatoes - ( Matt / 1988 / Released / )
Return to Horror High - ( Oliver / 1987 / Released / )
Grizzly II - The Predator - ( / 1984 / Released / )
TV Credits
The 80th Annual Academy Awards ( 2008 / Released ): Actor
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Al Pacino ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
Julia Roberts: American Cinematheque Tribute ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
PU-239 ( 2007 / Released ): Executive Producer
Sand and Sorrow ( 2007 / Released ): Executive Producer / Actor
That's the Way It Is: Celebrating Cronkite at 90 ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
Celebrity Debut ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
George Clooney: An American Cinematheque Tribute ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
The 78th Annual Academy Awards ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
The Barbara Walters Special ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
The 11th Annual Critics' Choice Awards ( 2005 / Released ): Actor
Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope ( 2005 / Released ): Actor
Unscripted ( 2005 / Released ): Director / Executive Producer
Tenth Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Ninth Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Eighth Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Seventh Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Sixth Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
( 10 more)
MovieReal ( 2004 / Released ): Actor
John Ritter Remembered ( 2003 / Released ): Actor
K Street ( 2003 / Released ): Camera Operator / Executive Producer
Episode 11 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Episode 10 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Episode 9 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Episode 8 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Episode 7 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
( 6 more)
Real Time with Bill Maher ( 2003 / Released ): Actor
The Stars' First Time . . . On Entertainment Tonight With Mary Hart ( 2003 / Released ): Actor
America: A Tribute to Heroes ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
Revealed With Jules Asner ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
The 58th Annual Golden Globe Awards ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
The Barbara Walters Special (11/16/01) ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
Fail Safe ( 2000 / Released ): Executive Producer / Actor
Hollywood Salutes Bruce Willis: An American Cinematheque Tribute ( 2000 / Released ): Actor
The 2000 MTV Movie Awards ( 2000 / Released ): Actor
Larry King Meets ER ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
Paparazzi ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
The Entertainment Business ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
The Warner Bros. Story: No Guts, No Glory -- 75 Years of Blockbusters ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
The Warner Bros. Story: No Guts, No Glory -- 75 Years of Stars ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
Tony Bennett: An All-Star Tribute -- Live By Request ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
Masters of Fantasy: Joel Schumacher ( 1997 / Released ): Actor
South Park ( 1997 / Released ): Voice
The 1996 Emmy Awards ( 1996 / Released ): Actor
47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
Breakthrough Awards ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
National Memorial Day Concert (1995) ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The 21st Annual People's Choice Awards ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The Barbara Walters Special (11/17/95) ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The Blockbuster Entertainment Awards ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The Rosemary Clooney Golden Anniversary Celebration ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
ER ( 1994 / Released ): Actor
The Storm (Part 2) ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
The Storm (Part 1) ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
Choosing Joi ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
Double Blind ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
Nobody Doesn't Like Amanda Lee ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
( 102 more)
The Building ( 1993 / Released ): Actor
Without Warning: Terror in the Towers ( 1993 / Released ): Actor
Baby Talk ( 1991 / Released ): Actor
Sunset Beat ( 1990 / Released ): Actor
Hot Prospects ( 1989 / Released ): Actor
Bennett Brothers ( 1987 / Released ): Actor
Combat High ( 1986 / Released ): Actor
The Golden Girls ( 1985 / Released ): Actor
e/r ( 1984 / Released ): Actor
The Facts of Life ( 1979 / Released ): Actor
Bodies of Evidence ( Released ): Actor
Friends ( Released ): Actor
Jack's Place ( Released ): Actor
Murder, She Wrote ( Released ): Actor
Murphy Brown ( Released ): Actor
Roseanne ( Released ): Actor
Sisters ( Released ): Actor
The Diamond Age: Or a Young Woman's Illustrated Primer ( Announced ): Executive Producer
Full Biography
After a decade spent toiling on series television – mostly in roles easily forgotten – actor George Clooney jolted to stardom with his portrayal of the charming, but troubled pediatrician Doug Ross on the acclaimed medical series, "ER" (NBC, 1994- ). Thanks to his new found celebrity, Clooney made the jump to films while still on “ER,” quickly establishing himself as a major Hollywood star, with leading roles in “From Dusk Till Dawn” (1996), “Batman & Robin” (1997) and “Out of Sight” (1998). When he left the confines of the small screen for big screen pastures, Clooney transcended mere stardom to become one of the most prominent actors of his time, emulating the devil-may-care nonchalance of a Cary Grant or Clark Gable, while becoming a Academy Award-winning performer, risk-taking director and socially-conscious activist. A famously devout bachelor who eschewed marriage after failing previously as a husband, Clooney maintained a steady stream of lady friends throughout his career, though dating proved difficult with his celebrity status. While enormously successful, Clooney refused to fall prey to the trappings of fame. From not wearing makeup on screen, to cutting his own hair and declining to surgically alter his appearance, Clooney managed to hold tight to his ideals, while struggling to maintain a semblance of his pre-fame normalcy.
Clooney was born on May 6, 1961 and raised in the small Kentucky town of Augusta – a scant 40 miles north of Cincinnati, OH. His father, Nick – brother of famed singer and actress Rosemary Clooney – was a local talk show host-turned-popular news anchor. His mother, Nina, was a beauty queen. Clooney grew up on the set of his father's shows, occasionally serving as a commercial pitchman and sketch player, before later working as a floor manager. With dreams of becoming a professional baseball player, Clooney was invited to tryout for the Cincinnati Reds in 1977 when he was just 16. But his best proved not good enough, and he failed to make the team. Instead, Clooney enrolled at Northern Kentucky University, where he proceeded to party, chase girls and occasionally show up for class. Not that he was entirely irresponsible – Clooney worked odd jobs to put himself through school, selling women’s shoes and men’s suits. After dropping out of NKU, Clooney’s cousin, actor Miguel Ferrer, came to Kentucky to make a low-budget movie about horseracing. Clooney was cast in a small part based on his good looks and became instantly seduced with the business.
In 1982, with money saved up from cutting tobacco, Clooney piled into his rusted 1976 Monte Carlo and drove to Los Angeles, CA in two days without stopping. His car guzzled oil and had ignition problems that forced him to keep it running on the side of the road while he caught an hour’s worth of sleep. He eventually sputtered into Beverly Hills, where he stayed with Rosemary, doing odd jobs around the house and driving his aunt and her famous friends around. Clooney then landed a job cleaning a theater – the money from which he used to pay for his first acting class. His first acting job was a Japanese commercial for Panasonic, followed by a part on the detective series “Riptide” (NBC, 1983-86). Clooney quickly made the jump from thankless television roles to forgettable horror flicks like "Grizzly II - The Predator" (1984), “Return to Horror High” (1986) and "Return of the Killer Tomatoes" 1988). But at least he was working.
Undeterred by the dearth of quality projects, Clooney continued plugging away on auditions, taking whatever job came his way (By the time he was a star, Clooney had worked on a total of 15 unsold pilots). Ironically, his first regular series role was as a young physician working in an emergency room in the short-lived sitcom "E/R" (CBS, 1984-85). He maintained a steady stream of bad recurring roles, playing a good-natured carpenter on "The Facts of Life" (NBC, 1979-1988) during the 1985-86 season; a womanizing factory manager on "Roseanne" (ABC, 1988-1997) for the 1988-89 season; and a construction worker on the short-lived sitcom "Baby Talk" (ABC, 1990-1992), which he left after clashing with the show's producer. After playing a detective on "Bodies of Evidence" (CBS, 1992-93), Clooney stayed with law enforcement, but switched to drama, starring as the married detective who falls for Teddy (Sela Ward) during the 1993-94 season of "Sisters" (NBC).
Clooney often said how his peripatetic upbringing and the experiences of both his father and aunt prepared him for the pitfalls of a showbiz career. When he finally achieved stardom on "ER,” he took his newfound success in stride. As film offers poured in, Clooney began stretching as an actor, handling roles in diverse genres – though several efforts fell below expectations. He was alongside Quentin Tarantino, battling vampires in the action adventure "From Dusk Till Dawn" (1996), then displayed his boyish charm opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in the romantic comedy "One Fine Day" (1996). Though the former acquired some cult status, neither fared particularly well at the box office. In a bold, but ultimately damaging turn, Clooney inherited the “Batman” franchise from Val Kilmer, making a surprisingly mediocre Bruce Wayne/Batman in Joel Schumacher's "Batman & Robin" (1997). Clooney took the critical drubbings with typical good humor, often joking about his part in the debacle ("I think I've buried that franchise!"). The true culprits, however, were a confusing script, overblown visuals and an ear-splitting soundtrack. Clooney’s other big blockbuster from that year, "The Peacemaker,” also proved disappointing.
Despite a tough year at the box office, Clooney was dubbed “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine in 1997, a time when he was publicly battling the paparazzi for their bounty hunter tactics, especially in light of Princess Diana’s August death in Paris while being chased in her car by photographers. The first glimmers of Clooney’s activist nature surfaced when he organized a celebrity boycott of “Entertainment Tonight” (Syndicated, 1981- ) in retaliation for another Paramount show, “Hard Copy” (Syndicated, 1986-1999), which used this new form of intrusive paparazzi. Clooney was joined by the likes of Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise and Madonna in an effort that proved effective – “Hard Copy” toned down its invasive tactics. Back on screen, Clooney firmly established himself as a bona fide presence in his next project, "Out of Sight" (1998), directed by Steven Soderbergh. As Elmore Leonard's smart-alecky, but fallible escaped con, Jack Foley, Clooney romanced a federal marshal (Jennifer Lopez) while en route to stealing a cache of diamonds from a crooked businessman (Albert Brook). Both Clooney and Lopez entranced critics with their sizzling onscreen chemistry, while Clooney earned praise for the easy-going charm and intelligence of his laid-back, debonair bank robber. Despite good reviews, however, few turned up in the theaters, sadly making “Out of Sight” a box office failure.
After making a cameo as a platoon leader in Terrence Malick's elegiac war film, "The Thin Red Line" (1998), his big screen fortunes changed dramatically with David O Russell's "Three Kings" (1999) – an uncommonly political Hollywood action feature set during the Gulf War that delivered a cautionary message about the responsibility accompanying America's role as policeman of the world. Clooney proved his mettle as an action star with his turn as career military man Major Archie Gates, though not without paying a price. Despite high critical praise for the film, he later cited the enormous stress of working with Russell, who routinely berated everyone on set. Russell was so combative, that the typically unflappable Clooney eventually put him in a chokehold after the director went ballistic, butting heads with the actor while daring him to strike back. Clooney later told Playboy magazine in 2000 that working on the film “was truly, without exception, the worst experience of my life.”
Regardless of his experiences with Russell, Clooney felt that his film career warranted the decision to leave "ER" in February 2000. He made periodic returns to television, including as executive producer and star of the two-hour live broadcast of "Fail Safe" (CBS, 2000), a black-and-white homage to the days of live television and adapted from the Cold War novel by Harvey Wheeler and Eugene Burdick. Superbly acted and flawlessly produced, this welcome addition amidst the standard small screen fare failed to register with younger audiences weaned on MTV. The quality outing was the first real fruit born of Clooney’s production company, Maysville Pictures, and his contract with Warner Bros. – he previously served as executive producer and co-writer on the failed HBO pilot, "Kilroy" (1999). Clooney next reunited with "Three Kings" co-star Mark Wahlberg for Wolfgang Petersen's film adaptation of Sebastian Junger's best selling-novel, "The Perfect Storm" (2000), playing Captain Billy Tyne of the doomed fishing boat, Andrea Gail. Anxiously awaited for its tale of men in the grip of nature's fury, "The Perfect Storm" solidified Clooney as a bankable big screen star in a fine turn as the captain of the doomed boat.
Also in 2000, he starred as escaped con Ulysses Everett McGill in the Coen brothers' deliriously loopy Depression-era jail break movie, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", based loosely on Homer's Odyssey. Back behind the camera, he served as producer on "Rock Star" (2001), a dopey comedy about a cover band singer (Wahlberg) drafted into the world of his heavy metal heroes. Clooney kept his stellar career in fast motion with a starring in Steven Soderbergh's all-star ensemble hit, "Ocean's Eleven" (2001) opposite Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and Bernie Mac, among others. As heist leader Danny Ocean – an ex-con obsessed with robbing a casino heavyweight (Andy Garcia) and winning back his ex-wife (Julia Roberts) from him – Clooney’s comic charm was on full blast, easily overshadowing younger co-stars Pitt and Damon. That same year, following the Sept. 11 attacks, Clooney was instrumental in rallying dozens of Hollywood friends and colleagues for a televised fundraiser for the victims of the terrorist attack, "America: A Tribute to Heroes" (2001). Clooney and company managed to raise over $30 million through the telethon. A public row with Fox News personality Bill O’Reilly erupted, however, when the conservative pundit erroneously claimed that the United Way was mishandling the money. Clooney responded with a sharply worded letter excoriating O’Reilly’s unsubstantiated accusations and questionable journalism. The two continued their public row over the years on various topics, with Clooney typically getting the better of the ill-informed O’Reilly.
In 2002, Clooney had small but memorable role as a crippled crook in "Welcome to Collinwood.” Following up, he made his directorial debut with "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," based on the book by Chuck Barris, the former host of "The Gong Show," who claimed he was a CIA hit man. Clooney aped Soderbergh’s off-kilter visual style, while at the same time, infusing his own breezy sense of humor, creating a daring first film that garnered many admirers. Clooney then co-starred with Natascha McElhorne in the thriller feature, "Solaris," a sci-fi remake of a 1972 Russian film which reunited the actor again with pal Steven Soderbergh. A metaphorical meditation on life and death co-produced by James Cameron, “Solaris” failed to attract much attention at the box office. Meanwhile, a spotty track record was being formed for Section Eight – a production company formed by Clooney and Soderbergh. Though developing an interesting array of film and television projects – including the surprisingly subdued Washington insider docudrama “K Street” (HBO, 2003-04) – Section Eight failed to generate much profit outside “Ocean’s 11.” The team rebounded – creatively at least – with "Unscripted" (2005), a chronicle of the ups and downs of a trio of actors making their way in Hollywood.
As he delved further into producing and directing, Clooney remained among the most in-demand A-list leading men in Hollywood. He reunited with the Coen Brothers, taking the lead in the disappointingly unfunny screwball comedy "Intolerable Cruelty" (2003) as divorce attorney Miles Massey, the millionaire author of a prenuptial agreement so tightly written that it has never been cracked. Meanwhile, he falls for a scheming, gold-digging serial divorcee (Catherine Zeta-Jones) looking to get even after Miles defends her ex-husband and leaves her with nothing. Clooney's disarming performance was one of the film's few comic strengths, though critics tagged the film for being intolerably cold, particularly in regards to the onscreen chemistry – or lack thereof – between Clooney and Zeta-Jones. The actor then recruited Zeta-Jones to join his ensemble of actor friends for the inevitable sequel, "Ocean's Twelve" (2004), which did tremendously at the box office, but suffered in comparison to the group's initial effort. Set in Italy, the film was more like a home movie of the gang on an extended vacation than an actual film.
Clooney the director came to full fruition with his sophomore effort, "Good Night and Good Luck" (2005), an ambitious and adroitly executed profile of pioneer newscaster Edward R. Murrow (David Straithairn) and his effort to publicly expose the headline-grabbing, bully-pulpit tactics of Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his Communist witch hunt in the 1950s. Clooney, who grew up watching his broadcast journalist father in action, showed a great aptitude for the ethical journalistic issues at hand, co-writing the screenplay with his longtime friend and partner Grant Heslov; the duo took greater-than-average pains to insure the historical accuracy of the events dramatized. As director, Clooney made creative use of real news interviews with McCarthy in place of casting an actor in the part, displaying a measured hand and a stylish touch with the rich black and white footage. Clooney also took on a side role as Murrow's respected news producer and confidant Fred Friendly, a role that displayed the actor in his most assured and adult performance. Clooney earned his first award nominations as a director, earning nods at the Independent Spirit Awards, Golden Globes and Academy Awards.
As an actor, Clooney signed onto writer-director Stephen Gaghan's multi-plot potboiler, "Syriana" (2005), playing a career CIA operative who uncovers a disturbing truth about the politics of oil in the Persian Gulf, before finding himself hung out to dry by his government when a mission goes awry. Clooney grew a scraggly beard and gained several extra pounds to play the role, while suffering a painful back injury on the final day of shooting, which required therapy and rehabilitation in a scene that failed to even make the finished film. But his pain and suffering wasn’t for naught – Clooney won a Golden Globe award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture and an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Clooney next reunited with Soderbergh for "The Good German" (2006), playing an American reporter sent to cover the final Allied summit meeting of World War II, secretly hoping to search for a lost love, but becoming tangled up in a murder mystery.
Clooney was again voted “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine in 2006 – only the second time an actor received the title – with his pal Brad Pitt being the other. Then in a third go-round, Clooney hopped back onto the gravy train for “Ocean’s 13” (2007). This time, the gang seeks revenge on a ruthless Las Vegas casino owner (Al Pacino) whose double-crossing of Danny Ocean and company leads to his downfall. He next starred in as the titular “Michael Clayton” (2007), playing a corporate fixer who takes care of all the dirty work for one of the biggest law firms in New York City. But when the firm’s top litigator (Tom Wilkinson) suffers from a nervous breakdown and threatens to sabotage the a lucrative settlement suit, Clayton tries cleaning up the mess, only to come face-to-face with who he’s really become. Meanwhile, Clooney directed his third film, “Leatherheads” (2008), a period sports comedy set in the 1920s world of professional football. While he was awaiting the release of that film, Clooney received an Academy Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for “Michael Clayton.”
Profession(s):
Actor, producer, director, screenwriter, floor manager (for father's TV show), tobacco cutter, caricaturist, shoe salesman
Sometimes Credited As:
George Timothy Clooney
Family
aunt:Rosemary Clooney (Appeared on two episodes during the first season of NBC's "ER" as an Alzheimer's patient prone to belting out songs; formerly married to actor Jose Ferrer with whom she had five children; died on June 29, 2002 of lung cancer)
cousin:Miguel Ferrer (Born Feb. 7, 1955; son of Jose Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney)
father:Nick Clooney
mother:Nina Bruce Clooney (Met husband when she was crowned first runner up at Miss Kentucky pageant and he was emcee)
sister:Ada Zeidler (Born c. 1959; married with two children)
wife:Talia Balsam (Met when they appeared together in a play in 1984 and dated briefly; later met and married in Las Vegas in 1989; divorced c. 1992; daughter of actors Martin Balsam and Joyce Van Patten)
Companion(s)
Brooke Langton , Companion , ```..Reportedly dated in 1999
Celine Balitran , Companion , ```..Born c. 1973; French; former law student; dated from 1996 to 1999; met at the trendy Paris nightclub Barfly where she was waitressing while he was filming "The Peacemaker" (1997)
DeDee Pfeiffer , Companion
Denise Crosby , Companion
Jennifer Siebel , Companion , ```..Dated in 2002
Kelly Preston , Companion , ```..Dated from 1987-89; later married actor John Travolta
Kimberly Russell , Companion , ```..Together briefly in 1995
Krista Allen , Companion , ```..Reportedly dated during filming of "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" (2002); began seeing eachother again in 2003; split March 2004
Lisa Snowdon , Companion , ```..Dated in 2001 and again in 2004, while he was filming "Ocean's Twelve" (2004)
Maria Bertrand , Companion , ```..Canadian; born c. 1974; dated in 2002
Renee Zellweger , Companion , ```..Rumored to have dated in 2001; both claim they were only friends
Sarah Larson , Companion , ```..Began dating in 2007; involved in motorcycle accident with Clooney on Sep. 21, 2007, both suffered broken bones; rumored to have split in May 2008
Traylor Howard , Companion , ```..Reportedly dated in 2000
Education
Augusta Independent High School Augusta, KY
Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY 1979
Awards
National Board of Review Award Best Actor "Michael Clayton" 2007
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award Best Actor "Michael Clayton" 2007
Academy Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role "Syriana" 2006
Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor "Syriana" 2006
Broadcast Film Critics' Choice Award Special Freedom Award 2005
San Francisco Film Critics Award Best Screenplay "Good Night, and Good Luck" 2005
The National Board of Review Award Best Picture "Good Night, and Good Luck" 2005
Las Vegas Film Critics Award Best Picture "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind 2002
National Board of Review Award Special Filmmaking Achievement "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" 2002
Golden Globe Award Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" 2000
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1998
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1997
MTV Movie Award Best Breakthrough Performance "From Dusk Till Dawn" 1996
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1996
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1995
Milestones
2008 Directed and co-starred with Renée Zellweger in the 1920s-era football comedy, "Leatherheads"
2008 Joined an ensemble cast for the Coen's brothers' "Burn After Reading"
2007 Reprised role of Danny Ocean for "Ocean's 13"
2007 Played the title role in "Michael Clayton," written and directed by Tony Gilroy; also co-produced; earned Golden Globe, SAG and Oscar nominations for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama
2006 Formed Smoke House production company with Grant Heslov and signed a three-year first-look production and development deal with Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Television
2006 Co-starred with Cate Blanchett in "The Good German," about an American journalist trying to solve a murder mystery in post-war Berlin; directed by Steven Soderbergh
2005 Directed, co-wrote and portrayed producer Fred Friendly in "Goodnight, and Good Luck," the 1950s-era drama about legendary TV newsman Edward R. Murrow; earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination fo
2005 Produced and starred in "Syriana," a geopolitical thriller based on the real-life memoirs of CIA agent Robert Baer; earned a SAG nomination for Supporting Actor
2004 Returned with the original cast for "Ocean's Twelve" directed by Steven Soderbergh
2002 Feature directorial debut, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind"; also had supporting role
2002 Cast as a divorce attorney in the Coen brothers' feature "Intolerable Cruelty"
2002 Had small but memorable role as a crippled crook in "Welcome to Collinwood," a farcical comedy screened at Cannes
2002 Starred in the sci-fi thriller feature "Solaris," directed by Soderberg
2001 With Soderbergh, served as producer of Marc Rocco's "The Jacket"
2001 Reteamed with Soderbergh for remake of "Ocean's Eleven"; made through production company Section Eight
2000 Executive produced and acted in the live, two-hour broadcast of "Fail Safe" (CBS), adapted from the Cold War novel by Harvey Wheeler and Eugene Burdick; directed by Stephen Frears; project reteamed hi
2000 With Wahlberg, co-starred in the film version of Wolfgang Petersen's "The Perfect Storm"
2000 Co-starred in the Coen brothers' "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
1999 Wrote and executive produced the HBO comedy series pilot "Kilroy"
1999 Teamed with Ice Cube and Mark Wahlberg in David O Russell's critically-acclaimed "Three Kings"
1999 Contributed the voice of Dr Gouache to the feature "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut"
1998 Played an escaped prisoner in Steven Soderbergh's "Out of Sight"
1998 Signed separate two-year development deals with CBS and Warner Bros.
1997 Portrayed Batman/Bruce Wayne in "Batman & Robin," the fourth installment in the series, directed by Joel Schumacher
1997 Provided the voice of Sparky the dog on an episode of the Comedy Central animated series "South Park"
1996 Formed Maysville Pictures (formerly Left Bank Productions), named for the Kentucky town in which he grew up
1996 Co-starred with Quentin Tarantino in the vampire horror flick "From Dusk Till Dawn"
1996 Played romantic lead opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in "One Fine Day"
1994 - 1999 Cast as pediatrician, Dr. Doug Ross on the hit NBC medical drama "ER"
1993 Played Falconer, a married policeman who becomes involved with Teddy Reed (Sela Ward), on "Sisters" (NBC)
1991 Appeared on the ABC sitcom "Baby Talk"; quit in frustration over "creative differences" with the producers
1991 Declined Quentin Tarantino's request to read for a role in "Reservoir Dogs"
1990 Cast in the short-lived detective series "Sunset Beat" (ABC); show cancelled after three episodes
1988 Had starring role in the horror spoof "The Return of the Killer Tomatoes"
1988 Played the recurring role of Booker, the male chauvinist boss on the first season of "Roseanne" (ABC)
1987 Played role of Tom Bennett in failed NBC comedy pilot "Bennett Brothers"
1987 Played a drug dealer in the play "Vicious" at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago
1986 TV-movie debut, "Combat High" (NBC)
1985 - 1986 Had a recurring role as carpenter George Burnett on the "The Facts of Life" (NBC)
1984 Debut as TV series regular in the CBS sitcom "E/R" playing a young orderly named Ace
1982 Moved to Los Angeles at age 21; lived with his aunt, Rosemary Clooney, working as her handyman and chauffeur
1982 Appeared as an extra in "... And They're Off," a film starring his cousin Miguel Ferrer
1977 Tried out for Cincinnati Reds baseball team at age 16
1975 Suffered for a year with Bell's palsy
1974 - 1979 Served as a floor manager on his father's locally produced TV show
With Soderbergh, formed Section Eight, a production company
Raised in rural Kentucky and Ohio
Beginning at age five, assisted on father's local Cincinnati talk show, "The Nick Clooney Show"
Worked cutting tobacco to earn enough money to buy a car in order to drive cross-county
Received first professional job, a stereo commercial, by appearing at the audition with a six-pack
Feature acting debut in the unreleased "Grizzly II - The Predator" (Note: some sources say this was filmed in 1982 while others say 1984)
The 80th Annual Academy Awards ( 2008 / Released ): Actor
AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Al Pacino ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
Julia Roberts: American Cinematheque Tribute ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
Oprah Winfrey Oscar Special ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
PU-239 ( 2007 / Released ): Executive Producer
Sand and Sorrow ( 2007 / Released ): Executive Producer / Actor
That's the Way It Is: Celebrating Cronkite at 90 ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards ( 2007 / Released ): Actor
Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
Celebrity Debut ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
George Clooney: An American Cinematheque Tribute ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
The 78th Annual Academy Awards ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
The Barbara Walters Special ( 2006 / Released ): Actor
The 11th Annual Critics' Choice Awards ( 2005 / Released ): Actor
Tsunami Aid: A Concert of Hope ( 2005 / Released ): Actor
Unscripted ( 2005 / Released ): Director / Executive Producer
Tenth Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Ninth Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Eighth Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Seventh Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Sixth Episode ( 2005 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
( 10 more)
MovieReal ( 2004 / Released ): Actor
John Ritter Remembered ( 2003 / Released ): Actor
K Street ( 2003 / Released ): Camera Operator / Executive Producer
Episode 11 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Episode 10 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Episode 9 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Episode 8 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
Episode 7 ( 2003 )
TV Episode Executive Producer
( 6 more)
Real Time with Bill Maher ( 2003 / Released ): Actor
The Stars' First Time . . . On Entertainment Tonight With Mary Hart ( 2003 / Released ): Actor
America: A Tribute to Heroes ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
Revealed With Jules Asner ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
The 58th Annual Golden Globe Awards ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
The Barbara Walters Special (11/16/01) ( 2001 / Released ): Actor
Fail Safe ( 2000 / Released ): Executive Producer / Actor
Hollywood Salutes Bruce Willis: An American Cinematheque Tribute ( 2000 / Released ): Actor
The 2000 MTV Movie Awards ( 2000 / Released ): Actor
Larry King Meets ER ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
Paparazzi ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
The Entertainment Business ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
The Warner Bros. Story: No Guts, No Glory -- 75 Years of Blockbusters ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
The Warner Bros. Story: No Guts, No Glory -- 75 Years of Stars ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
Tony Bennett: An All-Star Tribute -- Live By Request ( 1998 / Released ): Actor
Masters of Fantasy: Joel Schumacher ( 1997 / Released ): Actor
South Park ( 1997 / Released ): Voice
The 1996 Emmy Awards ( 1996 / Released ): Actor
47th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
Breakthrough Awards ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
National Memorial Day Concert (1995) ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The 21st Annual People's Choice Awards ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The Barbara Walters Special (11/17/95) ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The Blockbuster Entertainment Awards ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
The Rosemary Clooney Golden Anniversary Celebration ( 1995 / Released ): Actor
ER ( 1994 / Released ): Actor
The Storm (Part 2) ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
The Storm (Part 1) ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
Choosing Joi ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
Double Blind ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
Nobody Doesn't Like Amanda Lee ( 1999 )
TV Episode Dr Douglas Ross
( 102 more)
The Building ( 1993 / Released ): Actor
Without Warning: Terror in the Towers ( 1993 / Released ): Actor
Baby Talk ( 1991 / Released ): Actor
Sunset Beat ( 1990 / Released ): Actor
Hot Prospects ( 1989 / Released ): Actor
Bennett Brothers ( 1987 / Released ): Actor
Combat High ( 1986 / Released ): Actor
The Golden Girls ( 1985 / Released ): Actor
e/r ( 1984 / Released ): Actor
The Facts of Life ( 1979 / Released ): Actor
Bodies of Evidence ( Released ): Actor
Friends ( Released ): Actor
Jack's Place ( Released ): Actor
Murder, She Wrote ( Released ): Actor
Murphy Brown ( Released ): Actor
Roseanne ( Released ): Actor
Sisters ( Released ): Actor
The Diamond Age: Or a Young Woman's Illustrated Primer ( Announced ): Executive Producer
Full Biography (Back to top)
After a decade spent toiling on series television – mostly in roles easily forgotten – actor George Clooney jolted to stardom with his portrayal of the charming, but troubled pediatrician Doug Ross on the acclaimed medical series, "ER" (NBC, 1994- ). Thanks to his new found celebrity, Clooney made the jump to films while still on “ER,” quickly establishing himself as a major Hollywood star, with leading roles in “From Dusk Till Dawn” (1996), “Batman & Robin” (1997) and “Out of Sight” (1998). When he left the confines of the small screen for big screen pastures, Clooney transcended mere stardom to become one of the most prominent actors of his time, emulating the devil-may-care nonchalance of a Cary Grant or Clark Gable, while becoming a Academy Award-winning performer, risk-taking director and socially-conscious activist. A famously devout bachelor who eschewed marriage after failing previously as a husband, Clooney maintained a steady stream of lady friends throughout his career, though dating proved difficult with his celebrity status. While enormously successful, Clooney refused to fall prey to the trappings of fame. From not wearing makeup on screen, to cutting his own hair and declining to surgically alter his appearance, Clooney managed to hold tight to his ideals, while struggling to maintain a semblance of his pre-fame normalcy.
Clooney was born on May 6, 1961 and raised in the small Kentucky town of Augusta – a scant 40 miles north of Cincinnati, OH. His father, Nick – brother of famed singer and actress Rosemary Clooney – was a local talk show host-turned-popular news anchor. His mother, Nina, was a beauty queen. Clooney grew up on the set of his father's shows, occasionally serving as a commercial pitchman and sketch player, before later working as a floor manager. With dreams of becoming a professional baseball player, Clooney was invited to tryout for the Cincinnati Reds in 1977 when he was just 16. But his best proved not good enough, and he failed to make the team. Instead, Clooney enrolled at Northern Kentucky University, where he proceeded to party, chase girls and occasionally show up for class. Not that he was entirely irresponsible – Clooney worked odd jobs to put himself through school, selling women’s shoes and men’s suits. After dropping out of NKU, Clooney’s cousin, actor Miguel Ferrer, came to Kentucky to make a low-budget movie about horseracing. Clooney was cast in a small part based on his good looks and became instantly seduced with the business.
In 1982, with money saved up from cutting tobacco, Clooney piled into his rusted 1976 Monte Carlo and drove to Los Angeles, CA in two days without stopping. His car guzzled oil and had ignition problems that forced him to keep it running on the side of the road while he caught an hour’s worth of sleep. He eventually sputtered into Beverly Hills, where he stayed with Rosemary, doing odd jobs around the house and driving his aunt and her famous friends around. Clooney then landed a job cleaning a theater – the money from which he used to pay for his first acting class. His first acting job was a Japanese commercial for Panasonic, followed by a part on the detective series “Riptide” (NBC, 1983-86). Clooney quickly made the jump from thankless television roles to forgettable horror flicks like "Grizzly II - The Predator" (1984), “Return to Horror High” (1986) and "Return of the Killer Tomatoes" 1988). But at least he was working.
Undeterred by the dearth of quality projects, Clooney continued plugging away on auditions, taking whatever job came his way (By the time he was a star, Clooney had worked on a total of 15 unsold pilots). Ironically, his first regular series role was as a young physician working in an emergency room in the short-lived sitcom "E/R" (CBS, 1984-85). He maintained a steady stream of bad recurring roles, playing a good-natured carpenter on "The Facts of Life" (NBC, 1979-1988) during the 1985-86 season; a womanizing factory manager on "Roseanne" (ABC, 1988-1997) for the 1988-89 season; and a construction worker on the short-lived sitcom "Baby Talk" (ABC, 1990-1992), which he left after clashing with the show's producer. After playing a detective on "Bodies of Evidence" (CBS, 1992-93), Clooney stayed with law enforcement, but switched to drama, starring as the married detective who falls for Teddy (Sela Ward) during the 1993-94 season of "Sisters" (NBC).
Clooney often said how his peripatetic upbringing and the experiences of both his father and aunt prepared him for the pitfalls of a showbiz career. When he finally achieved stardom on "ER,” he took his newfound success in stride. As film offers poured in, Clooney began stretching as an actor, handling roles in diverse genres – though several efforts fell below expectations. He was alongside Quentin Tarantino, battling vampires in the action adventure "From Dusk Till Dawn" (1996), then displayed his boyish charm opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in the romantic comedy "One Fine Day" (1996). Though the former acquired some cult status, neither fared particularly well at the box office. In a bold, but ultimately damaging turn, Clooney inherited the “Batman” franchise from Val Kilmer, making a surprisingly mediocre Bruce Wayne/Batman in Joel Schumacher's "Batman & Robin" (1997). Clooney took the critical drubbings with typical good humor, often joking about his part in the debacle ("I think I've buried that franchise!"). The true culprits, however, were a confusing script, overblown visuals and an ear-splitting soundtrack. Clooney’s other big blockbuster from that year, "The Peacemaker,” also proved disappointing.
Despite a tough year at the box office, Clooney was dubbed “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine in 1997, a time when he was publicly battling the paparazzi for their bounty hunter tactics, especially in light of Princess Diana’s August death in Paris while being chased in her car by photographers. The first glimmers of Clooney’s activist nature surfaced when he organized a celebrity boycott of “Entertainment Tonight” (Syndicated, 1981- ) in retaliation for another Paramount show, “Hard Copy” (Syndicated, 1986-1999), which used this new form of intrusive paparazzi. Clooney was joined by the likes of Steven Spielberg, Tom Cruise and Madonna in an effort that proved effective – “Hard Copy” toned down its invasive tactics. Back on screen, Clooney firmly established himself as a bona fide presence in his next project, "Out of Sight" (1998), directed by Steven Soderbergh. As Elmore Leonard's smart-alecky, but fallible escaped con, Jack Foley, Clooney romanced a federal marshal (Jennifer Lopez) while en route to stealing a cache of diamonds from a crooked businessman (Albert Brook). Both Clooney and Lopez entranced critics with their sizzling onscreen chemistry, while Clooney earned praise for the easy-going charm and intelligence of his laid-back, debonair bank robber. Despite good reviews, however, few turned up in the theaters, sadly making “Out of Sight” a box office failure.
After making a cameo as a platoon leader in Terrence Malick's elegiac war film, "The Thin Red Line" (1998), his big screen fortunes changed dramatically with David O Russell's "Three Kings" (1999) – an uncommonly political Hollywood action feature set during the Gulf War that delivered a cautionary message about the responsibility accompanying America's role as policeman of the world. Clooney proved his mettle as an action star with his turn as career military man Major Archie Gates, though not without paying a price. Despite high critical praise for the film, he later cited the enormous stress of working with Russell, who routinely berated everyone on set. Russell was so combative, that the typically unflappable Clooney eventually put him in a chokehold after the director went ballistic, butting heads with the actor while daring him to strike back. Clooney later told Playboy magazine in 2000 that working on the film “was truly, without exception, the worst experience of my life.”
Regardless of his experiences with Russell, Clooney felt that his film career warranted the decision to leave "ER" in February 2000. He made periodic returns to television, including as executive producer and star of the two-hour live broadcast of "Fail Safe" (CBS, 2000), a black-and-white homage to the days of live television and adapted from the Cold War novel by Harvey Wheeler and Eugene Burdick. Superbly acted and flawlessly produced, this welcome addition amidst the standard small screen fare failed to register with younger audiences weaned on MTV. The quality outing was the first real fruit born of Clooney’s production company, Maysville Pictures, and his contract with Warner Bros. – he previously served as executive producer and co-writer on the failed HBO pilot, "Kilroy" (1999). Clooney next reunited with "Three Kings" co-star Mark Wahlberg for Wolfgang Petersen's film adaptation of Sebastian Junger's best selling-novel, "The Perfect Storm" (2000), playing Captain Billy Tyne of the doomed fishing boat, Andrea Gail. Anxiously awaited for its tale of men in the grip of nature's fury, "The Perfect Storm" solidified Clooney as a bankable big screen star in a fine turn as the captain of the doomed boat.
Also in 2000, he starred as escaped con Ulysses Everett McGill in the Coen brothers' deliriously loopy Depression-era jail break movie, "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", based loosely on Homer's Odyssey. Back behind the camera, he served as producer on "Rock Star" (2001), a dopey comedy about a cover band singer (Wahlberg) drafted into the world of his heavy metal heroes. Clooney kept his stellar career in fast motion with a starring in Steven Soderbergh's all-star ensemble hit, "Ocean's Eleven" (2001) opposite Brad Pitt, Matt Damon, Don Cheadle and Bernie Mac, among others. As heist leader Danny Ocean – an ex-con obsessed with robbing a casino heavyweight (Andy Garcia) and winning back his ex-wife (Julia Roberts) from him – Clooney’s comic charm was on full blast, easily overshadowing younger co-stars Pitt and Damon. That same year, following the Sept. 11 attacks, Clooney was instrumental in rallying dozens of Hollywood friends and colleagues for a televised fundraiser for the victims of the terrorist attack, "America: A Tribute to Heroes" (2001). Clooney and company managed to raise over $30 million through the telethon. A public row with Fox News personality Bill O’Reilly erupted, however, when the conservative pundit erroneously claimed that the United Way was mishandling the money. Clooney responded with a sharply worded letter excoriating O’Reilly’s unsubstantiated accusations and questionable journalism. The two continued their public row over the years on various topics, with Clooney typically getting the better of the ill-informed O’Reilly.
In 2002, Clooney had small but memorable role as a crippled crook in "Welcome to Collinwood.” Following up, he made his directorial debut with "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," based on the book by Chuck Barris, the former host of "The Gong Show," who claimed he was a CIA hit man. Clooney aped Soderbergh’s off-kilter visual style, while at the same time, infusing his own breezy sense of humor, creating a daring first film that garnered many admirers. Clooney then co-starred with Natascha McElhorne in the thriller feature, "Solaris," a sci-fi remake of a 1972 Russian film which reunited the actor again with pal Steven Soderbergh. A metaphorical meditation on life and death co-produced by James Cameron, “Solaris” failed to attract much attention at the box office. Meanwhile, a spotty track record was being formed for Section Eight – a production company formed by Clooney and Soderbergh. Though developing an interesting array of film and television projects – including the surprisingly subdued Washington insider docudrama “K Street” (HBO, 2003-04) – Section Eight failed to generate much profit outside “Ocean’s 11.” The team rebounded – creatively at least – with "Unscripted" (2005), a chronicle of the ups and downs of a trio of actors making their way in Hollywood.
As he delved further into producing and directing, Clooney remained among the most in-demand A-list leading men in Hollywood. He reunited with the Coen Brothers, taking the lead in the disappointingly unfunny screwball comedy "Intolerable Cruelty" (2003) as divorce attorney Miles Massey, the millionaire author of a prenuptial agreement so tightly written that it has never been cracked. Meanwhile, he falls for a scheming, gold-digging serial divorcee (Catherine Zeta-Jones) looking to get even after Miles defends her ex-husband and leaves her with nothing. Clooney's disarming performance was one of the film's few comic strengths, though critics tagged the film for being intolerably cold, particularly in regards to the onscreen chemistry – or lack thereof – between Clooney and Zeta-Jones. The actor then recruited Zeta-Jones to join his ensemble of actor friends for the inevitable sequel, "Ocean's Twelve" (2004), which did tremendously at the box office, but suffered in comparison to the group's initial effort. Set in Italy, the film was more like a home movie of the gang on an extended vacation than an actual film.
Clooney the director came to full fruition with his sophomore effort, "Good Night and Good Luck" (2005), an ambitious and adroitly executed profile of pioneer newscaster Edward R. Murrow (David Straithairn) and his effort to publicly expose the headline-grabbing, bully-pulpit tactics of Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his Communist witch hunt in the 1950s. Clooney, who grew up watching his broadcast journalist father in action, showed a great aptitude for the ethical journalistic issues at hand, co-writing the screenplay with his longtime friend and partner Grant Heslov; the duo took greater-than-average pains to insure the historical accuracy of the events dramatized. As director, Clooney made creative use of real news interviews with McCarthy in place of casting an actor in the part, displaying a measured hand and a stylish touch with the rich black and white footage. Clooney also took on a side role as Murrow's respected news producer and confidant Fred Friendly, a role that displayed the actor in his most assured and adult performance. Clooney earned his first award nominations as a director, earning nods at the Independent Spirit Awards, Golden Globes and Academy Awards.
As an actor, Clooney signed onto writer-director Stephen Gaghan's multi-plot potboiler, "Syriana" (2005), playing a career CIA operative who uncovers a disturbing truth about the politics of oil in the Persian Gulf, before finding himself hung out to dry by his government when a mission goes awry. Clooney grew a scraggly beard and gained several extra pounds to play the role, while suffering a painful back injury on the final day of shooting, which required therapy and rehabilitation in a scene that failed to even make the finished film. But his pain and suffering wasn’t for naught – Clooney won a Golden Globe award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture and an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Clooney next reunited with Soderbergh for "The Good German" (2006), playing an American reporter sent to cover the final Allied summit meeting of World War II, secretly hoping to search for a lost love, but becoming tangled up in a murder mystery.
Clooney was again voted “Sexiest Man Alive” by People magazine in 2006 – only the second time an actor received the title – with his pal Brad Pitt being the other. Then in a third go-round, Clooney hopped back onto the gravy train for “Ocean’s 13” (2007). This time, the gang seeks revenge on a ruthless Las Vegas casino owner (Al Pacino) whose double-crossing of Danny Ocean and company leads to his downfall. He next starred in as the titular “Michael Clayton” (2007), playing a corporate fixer who takes care of all the dirty work for one of the biggest law firms in New York City. But when the firm’s top litigator (Tom Wilkinson) suffers from a nervous breakdown and threatens to sabotage the a lucrative settlement suit, Clayton tries cleaning up the mess, only to come face-to-face with who he’s really become. Meanwhile, Clooney directed his third film, “Leatherheads” (2008), a period sports comedy set in the 1920s world of professional football. While he was awaiting the release of that film, Clooney received an Academy Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for “Michael Clayton.”
Profession(s):
Actor, producer, director, screenwriter, floor manager (for father's TV show), tobacco cutter, caricaturist, shoe salesman
Sometimes Credited As:
George Timothy Clooney
Family
aunt:Rosemary Clooney (Appeared on two episodes during the first season of NBC's "ER" as an Alzheimer's patient prone to belting out songs; formerly married to actor Jose Ferrer with whom she had five children; died on June 29, 2002 of lung cancer)
cousin:Miguel Ferrer (Born Feb. 7, 1955; son of Jose Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney)
father:Nick Clooney
mother:Nina Bruce Clooney (Met husband when she was crowned first runner up at Miss Kentucky pageant and he was emcee)
sister:Ada Zeidler (Born c. 1959; married with two children)
wife:Talia Balsam (Met when they appeared together in a play in 1984 and dated briefly; later met and married in Las Vegas in 1989; divorced c. 1992; daughter of actors Martin Balsam and Joyce Van Patten)
Companion(s)
Brooke Langton , Companion , ```..Reportedly dated in 1999
Celine Balitran , Companion , ```..Born c. 1973; French; former law student; dated from 1996 to 1999; met at the trendy Paris nightclub Barfly where she was waitressing while he was filming "The Peacemaker" (1997)
DeDee Pfeiffer , Companion
Denise Crosby , Companion
Jennifer Siebel , Companion , ```..Dated in 2002
Kelly Preston , Companion , ```..Dated from 1987-89; later married actor John Travolta
Kimberly Russell , Companion , ```..Together briefly in 1995
Krista Allen , Companion , ```..Reportedly dated during filming of "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" (2002); began seeing eachother again in 2003; split March 2004
Lisa Snowdon , Companion , ```..Dated in 2001 and again in 2004, while he was filming "Ocean's Twelve" (2004)
Maria Bertrand , Companion , ```..Canadian; born c. 1974; dated in 2002
Renee Zellweger , Companion , ```..Rumored to have dated in 2001; both claim they were only friends
Sarah Larson , Companion , ```..Began dating in 2007; involved in motorcycle accident with Clooney on Sep. 21, 2007, both suffered broken bones; rumored to have split in May 2008
Traylor Howard , Companion , ```..Reportedly dated in 2000
Education
Augusta Independent High School Augusta, KY
Northern Kentucky University Highland Heights, KY 1979
Awards (Back to top)
National Board of Review Award Best Actor "Michael Clayton" 2007
San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award Best Actor "Michael Clayton" 2007
Academy Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role "Syriana" 2006
Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor "Syriana" 2006
Broadcast Film Critics' Choice Award Special Freedom Award 2005
San Francisco Film Critics Award Best Screenplay "Good Night, and Good Luck" 2005
The National Board of Review Award Best Picture "Good Night, and Good Luck" 2005
Las Vegas Film Critics Award Best Picture "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind 2002
National Board of Review Award Special Filmmaking Achievement "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" 2002
Golden Globe Award Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" 2000
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1998
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1997
MTV Movie Award Best Breakthrough Performance "From Dusk Till Dawn" 1996
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1996
Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1995
Milestones (Back to top)
2008 Directed and co-starred with Renée Zellweger in the 1920s-era football comedy, "Leatherheads"
2008 Joined an ensemble cast for the Coen's brothers' "Burn After Reading"
2007 Reprised role of Danny Ocean for "Ocean's 13"
2007 Played the title role in "Michael Clayton," written and directed by Tony Gilroy; also co-produced; earned Golden Globe, SAG and Oscar nominations for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama
2006 Formed Smoke House production company with Grant Heslov and signed a three-year first-look production and development deal with Warner Bros. Pictures and Warner Bros. Television
2006 Co-starred with Cate Blanchett in "The Good German," about an American journalist trying to solve a murder mystery in post-war Berlin; directed by Steven Soderbergh
2005 Directed, co-wrote and portrayed producer Fred Friendly in "Goodnight, and Good Luck," the 1950s-era drama about legendary TV newsman Edward R. Murrow; earned an Independent Spirit Award nomination fo
2005 Produced and starred in "Syriana," a geopolitical thriller based on the real-life memoirs of CIA agent Robert Baer; earned a SAG nomination for Supporting Actor
2004 Returned with the original cast for "Ocean's Twelve" directed by Steven Soderbergh
2002 Feature directorial debut, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind"; also had supporting role
2002 Cast as a divorce attorney in the Coen brothers' feature "Intolerable Cruelty"
2002 Had small but memorable role as a crippled crook in "Welcome to Collinwood," a farcical comedy screened at Cannes
2002 Starred in the sci-fi thriller feature "Solaris," directed by Soderberg
2001 With Soderbergh, served as producer of Marc Rocco's "The Jacket"
2001 Reteamed with Soderbergh for remake of "Ocean's Eleven"; made through production company Section Eight
2000 Executive produced and acted in the live, two-hour broadcast of "Fail Safe" (CBS), adapted from the Cold War novel by Harvey Wheeler and Eugene Burdick; directed by Stephen Frears; project reteamed hi
2000 With Wahlberg, co-starred in the film version of Wolfgang Petersen's "The Perfect Storm"
2000 Co-starred in the Coen brothers' "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
1999 Wrote and executive produced the HBO comedy series pilot "Kilroy"
1999 Teamed with Ice Cube and Mark Wahlberg in David O Russell's critically-acclaimed "Three Kings"
1999 Contributed the voice of Dr Gouache to the feature "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut"
1998 Played an escaped prisoner in Steven Soderbergh's "Out of Sight"
1998 Signed separate two-year development deals with CBS and Warner Bros.
1997 Portrayed Batman/Bruce Wayne in "Batman & Robin," the fourth installment in the series, directed by Joel Schumacher
1997 Provided the voice of Sparky the dog on an episode of the Comedy Central animated series "South Park"
1996 Formed Maysville Pictures (formerly Left Bank Productions), named for the Kentucky town in which he grew up
1996 Co-starred with Quentin Tarantino in the vampire horror flick "From Dusk Till Dawn"
1996 Played romantic lead opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in "One Fine Day"
1994 - 1999 Cast as pediatrician, Dr. Doug Ross on the hit NBC medical drama "ER"
1993 Played Falconer, a married policeman who becomes involved with Teddy Reed (Sela Ward), on "Sisters" (NBC)
1991 Appeared on the ABC sitcom "Baby Talk"; quit in frustration over "creative differences" with the producers
1991 Declined Quentin Tarantino's request to read for a role in "Reservoir Dogs"
1990 Cast in the short-lived detective series "Sunset Beat" (ABC); show cancelled after three episodes
1988 Had starring role in the horror spoof "The Return of the Killer Tomatoes"
1988 Played the recurring role of Booker, the male chauvinist boss on the first season of "Roseanne" (ABC)
1987 Played role of Tom Bennett in failed NBC comedy pilot "Bennett Brothers"
1987 Played a drug dealer in the play "Vicious" at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago
1986 TV-movie debut, "Combat High" (NBC)
1985 - 1986 Had a recurring role as carpenter George Burnett on the "The Facts of Life" (NBC)
1984 Debut as TV series regular in the CBS sitcom "E/R" playing a young orderly named Ace
1982 Moved to Los Angeles at age 21; lived with his aunt, Rosemary Clooney, working as her handyman and chauffeur
1982 Appeared as an extra in "... And They're Off," a film starring his cousin Miguel Ferrer
1977 Tried out for Cincinnati Reds baseball team at age 16
1975 Suffered for a year with Bell's palsy
1974 - 1979 Served as a floor manager on his father's locally produced TV show
With Soderbergh, formed Section Eight, a production company
Raised in rural Kentucky and Ohio
Beginning at age five, assisted on father's local Cincinnati talk show, "The Nick Clooney Show"
Worked cutting tobacco to earn enough money to buy a car in order to drive cross-county
Received first professional job, a stereo commercial, by appearing at the audition with a six-pack
Feature acting debut in the unreleased "Grizzly II - The Predator" (Note: some sources say this was filmed in 1982 while others say 1984)
Advertisements
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
