GEORGE CLOONEY

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George Clooney emerged during the mid- to late '90s, as one of the most rapidly ascending stars of both small and large screens. Although his rise to big-screen stardom, following his success on the wildly popular TV medical drama E.R., may at first glance seem meteoric, a closer look at Clooney's career reveals that he has more than paid his dues, having spent over a decade mired in relative obscurity as a contract player for Warner Bros. television.

The son of broadcast journalist Nick Clooney and the nephew of famed singer Rosemary Clooney, Clooney was born May 6, 1961, in Lexington, KY. He made his first television appearance at age five, on his father's talk show, The Nick Clooney Show. He did not show up again on television until he was in his early twenties; growing up, Clooney had a passion for baseball and only turned to acting after a failed tryout with the Cincinnati Reds. He started out in television commercials and then signed with Warner Bros. Though he essentially remained unknown throughout the 1980s and early '90s, Clooney had a steady career as a supporting actor.

George Clooney - Premiere of Oceans 12

He appeared in 15 failed television pilots and was a semi-regular on several series, including sitcoms like The Facts of Life and Roseanne, and the drama Sisters. When the 1990s medical drama E.R. became a smash hit, Clooney became particularly popular, owing somewhat to his appeal to young women. This appeal increased as his character -- initially something of a callous womanizer -- matured with the show, eventually evolving into a thoroughly decent, if somewhat hotheaded, human being.

Up until E.R., Clooney had played only occasional roles in feature films (he made his debut with a small role in the 1986 movie Combat High) and had starred in a couple of low-budget videos. Following E.R.'s success, however, he found himself besieged by scripts and movie offers. For his first big-budget project, he chose to play an action hero in the Quentin Tarantino-written and -produced schlock horror extravaganza From Dusk Till Dawn. After that, he appeared in the romantic comedy One Fine Day opposite Michelle Pfeiffer. 

For Clooney, 1997 proved to be a good year, as he appeared in three major films, the most hyped of which was Batman & Robin, with the actor replacing Val Kilmer as the mysterious Dark Knight. Though the film is widely considered the worst of the big-screen Batman series, Clooney did receive some praise for bringing an extra sensitivity to his interpretation of Batman. He received greater praise the following year, with roles in two wildly divergent films, Out of Sight, in which he played a suave bank robber, and Terrence Malick's adaptation of The Thin Red Line. In 1999 -- following his much-talked-about departure from E.R. -- he continued to work on a number of high-profile projects, first lending his voice to the animated South Park: Bigger, Longer, and Uncut and then starring alongside Mark Wahlberg and Ice Cube as an American soldier reclaiming Kuwaiti treasure from Saddam Hussein in David O. Russell's Three Kings.

George Clooney was awarded a 2000 Golden Globe for his portrayal of a pomade-obsessed escaped convict in the Coen brothers' throwback comedy O Brother Where Art Thou? It was around this time that Clooney, now an established actor equally as comfortable on the big screen as the small, began to branch out as the Executive Producer of such made-for-TV efforts as Killroy (1999) and Fail Safe (2000). Soon producing such features as Rock Star (2001) and Insomnia (2002), Clooney next re-teamed with Out of Sight director Steven Soderbergh for a modern take on a classic Rat Pack /comedy with Ocean's Eleven (2001). After the dynamic film duo stuck together for yet another remake, the deep-space psychological science-fiction drama Solaris (2002), busy Clooney would both produce and appear in Welcome to Collinwood and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind later the same year, also making his directorial debut on the latter.

Date of birth (location)   6 May 1961  Lexington, Kentucky, USA  as son of Nick Clooney, a TV newscaster... 

 

 

George Clooney as Danny Ocean

 

 

 

Actor - filmography

1. Goodnight, and Good Luck (2006) (pre-production) .... Fred Friendly

2. Syriana (2005) (filming) .... Robert Baer
   
   

3. Ocean's Twelve (2004) .... Danny Ocean

4. Intolerable Cruelty (2003) .... Miles Massey

5. Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003) .... Devlin
   ... aka Spy Kids 3: Game Over (USA: video title)

6. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002) .... Jim Byrd
   ... aka Confessions d'un homme dangereux (Canada: French title)

7. Solaris (2002) .... Chris Kelvin

8. Welcome to Collinwood (2002) .... Jerzy
   ... aka Safecrackers oder Diebe haben's schwer (Germany)

9. Ocean's Eleven (2001) .... Danny Ocean
   ... aka 11 (USA: promotional abbreviation)
   ... aka O11 (USA: informal short title)

10. Spy Kids (2001) .... Devlin

11. The Perfect Storm (2000) .... Capt. Billy Tyne
    ... aka Sturm, Der (Germany)

12. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) .... Everett
    ... aka O' Brother (France)

13. Fail Safe (2000) (TV) .... Col. Jack Grady (command pilot, Group 6)
    
    

14. Three Kings (1999) .... Maj. Archie Gates

15. South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999) (voice) .... Dr. Gouache/Dr. Doctor
    ... aka South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (USA: closing credits title)

16. The Thin Red Line (1998) .... Captain Charles Bosche
    ... aka Mince ligne rouge, La (Canada: French title)

17. Out of Sight (1998) .... Jack Foley

18. The Peacemaker (1997) .... Colonel Thomas Devoe

19. Batman & Robin (1997) .... Batman (Bruce Wayne)

20. One Fine Day (1996) .... Jack Taylor

21. Curdled (1996) (uncredited) .... Seth Gecko

22. From Dusk Till Dawn (1996) .... Seth Gecko

23. "ER" (1994) TV Series .... Dr. Doug Ross (1994-1999)

24. ER (1994) (TV) .... Dr. Douglas 'Doug' Ross

25. The Harvest (1993) .... Lip Syncing Transvestite

26. Without Warning: Terror in the Towers (1993) (TV) .... Kevin Shea

27. Unbecoming Age (1992) .... Mac
    ... aka The Magic Bubble

28. "Bodies of Evidence" (1992) TV Series .... Det. Ryan Walker (1992-1993)

29. Rewrite for Murder (1991) (TV)

30. "Sisters" (1991) TV Series .... Detective James Falconer (1993-1994)

31. "Baby Talk" (1991) TV Series .... Joe (1991)

32. Knights of the Kitchen Table (1990) (TV) .... Rick Stepjack

33. Red Surf (1990) .... Remar

34. "Sunset Beat" (1990) TV Series .... Chic Chesbro

35. Sunset Beat (1990) (TV) .... Chic Chesbro
    
    

36. Return of the Killer Tomatoes! (1988) .... Matt Stevens
    ... aka Return of the Killer Tomatoes: The Sequel (USA: video box title)

37. "Roseanne" (1988) TV Series .... Booker Brooks (1988-89)

38. Grizzly II: The Predator (1987)

39. Return to Horror High (1987) .... Oliver

40. Combat High (1986) (TV) .... Maj. Biff Woods
    ... aka Combat Academy

41. "E/R" (1984) TV Series .... Ace (1984-1985)
    
    

42. "The Facts of Life" (1979) TV Series .... George Burnett (1985-1987)
    
    

 

George Clooney in The Perfect Storm

 

 

Producer - filmography

 

1. A Confederacy of Dunces (2005) (in production) (executive producer)

2. Garland Bunting Project (2005) (announced) (producer)

3. Goodnight, and Good Luck (2006) (pre-production) (producer)

4. Tishomingo Blues (2005) (pre-production) (executive producer)

5. Syriana (2005) (filming) (producer)

6. A Scanner Darkly (2005) (post-production) (executive producer)

7. Rumor Has It (2005) (post-production) (producer)
   
   

8. The Jacket (2005) (executive producer) (producer)

9. Ocean's Twelve (2004) (executive producer)

10. Criminal (2004) (producer)

11. "K Street" (2003) TV Series (executive producer)

12. Far from Heaven (2002) (executive producer)
    ... aka Loin du paradis (France)

13. Welcome to Collinwood (2002) (executive producer) (producer)
    ... aka Safecrackers oder Diebe haben's schwer (Germany)

14. Insomnia (2002) (executive producer)

15. Rock Star (2001) (executive producer)

16. Fail Safe (2000) (TV) (executive producer)
    
    

17. Kilroy (1999) (TV) (producer)
    
    

Director - filmography

(In Production) (2000s)

1. Leatherheads (2005) (announced)

2. Goodnight, and Good Luck (2006) (pre-production)
   
   

3. "Unscripted" (2004) TV Series

4. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)
   ... aka Confessions d'un homme dangereux (Canada: French title)
   
   

Writer - filmography

(In Production) (1990s)

1. Goodnight, and Good Luck (2006) (pre-production)
   
   

2. Kilroy (1999) (TV)
   
   

 

George Clooney in 'Solaris'

 

 

 

Miscellaneous Crew - filmography

1. Inside 'Out of Sight' (1998) (V) (special thanks)

2. Warner Bros. 75th Anniversary: No Guts, No Glory (1998) (TV) (special thanks)
   
   

Himself - filmography

1. A&E Biography: Brad Pitt (2004) (TV) .... Himself

2. Tim Janis: Beautiful America (2004) (TV) .... Himself (Narrator)

3. A Look Inside 'Intolerable Cruelty' (2004) (V) .... Himself

4. Freedom2speak v2.0 (2004) .... Himself - Actor, USA

5. Comic Relief 2003: The Big Hair Do (2003) (TV) .... Himself

6. The Gong Show: The E! True Hollywood Story (2003) (TV) .... Himself

7. Starbuck Holger Meins (2002) .... Himself

8. Inside the Playboy Mansion (2002) (TV) (uncredited) .... Himself

9. America: A Tribute to Heroes (2001) (TV) .... Himself

10. Inside Look: Down from the Mountain (2000) (TV) .... Himself

11. Revisiting 'Fail-Safe' (2000) (V) .... Himself

12. Hollywood Goes to Hell (2000) (TV) .... Himself

13. 2000 MTV Movie Awards (2000) (TV) .... Himself - Presenter

14. 2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards (2000) (TV) (uncredited) .... Himself
    
    

15. An Intimate Look Inside the Acting Process with Ice Cube (1999) (V) .... Himself

16. The Book That Wrote Itself (1999) .... Himself

17. Inside 'Out of Sight' (1998) (V) .... Himself - "Jack Foley"

18. Waiting for Woody (1998) .... Himself

19. Warner Bros. 75th Anniversary: No Guts, No Glory (1998) (TV) .... Himself

20. Full Tilt Boogie (1997) .... Himself

21. Town Meeting with Diane Sawyer: Celebrities vs. the Press (1997) (TV) .... Himself

22. Golden Anniversary (1995) (TV) .... Himself
    ... aka Rosemary Clooney's Demi-Centennial (USA: complete title)
    ... aka Rosemary Clooney's Golden Anniversary (USA)
    
    

23. "The More You Know" (1989) TV Series .... Himself
    
    

George Clooney in 'A Perfect Storm'

Archive Footage

1. 40 ans de la 2, Les (2004) (TV) .... Himself

2. 101 Biggest Celebrity Oops (2004) (TV) .... #57 George Clooney: Batman & Robin

3. Shirtless: Hollywood's Sexiest Men (2002) (TV) (uncredited) .... Himself

4. The Limey (1999) (uncredited) .... Himself

5. Playmate Pajama Party (1999) (V) (uncredited) .... Himself

6. 1st Annual Mystery Science Theater 3000 Summer Blockbuster Review (1997) (TV) .... Himself

Notable TV Guest Appearances

1. "Rove Live" playing "Himself" (episode # 5.41) 23 November 2004

2. "Ahora" playing "Himself" 10 July 2004

3. "Friends" playing "Dr. Michael Mitchell" (archive footage) (uncredited) in episode: "The One with All the Other Ones: Part 1" (episode # 10.17) 6 May 2004

4. "Celebrities Uncensored" playing "Himself" (archive footage) (episode # 2.6) 24 March 2004

5. "Celebrities Uncensored" playing "Himself" (archive footage) (episode # 2.4) 3 March 2004

6. "Celebrities Uncensored" playing "Himself" (archive footage) (episode # 2.3) 25 February 2004

7. "Celebrities Uncensored" playing "Himself" (archive footage) (episode # 1.15) 26 November 2003

8. "God kveld Norge" playing "Himself" 8 November 2003

9. "Entertainment Tonight" playing "Himself" 13 October 2003

10. "Extra" playing "Himself" 10 October 2003

11. "Tinseltown TV" playing "Himself" 4 October 2003

12. "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" playing "Himself" 1 October 2003

13. "This Morning" playing "Himself" 11 September 2003

14. "Celebrities Uncensored" playing "Himself" (archive footage) (episode # 1.8) 27 August 2003

15. "Celebrities Uncensored" playing "Himself" (archive footage) (episode # 1.7) 13 August 2003

16. "Filmland" playing "Himself" (episode # 1.12) 12 May 2003

17. "Ant and Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway" playing "Himself" (episode # 2.10) 15 March 2003

18. "Film '72" playing "Himself" 11 March 2003

19. "Beckmann" playing "Himself" 24 February 2003

20. "Jimmy Kimmel Live" playing "Himself" 26 January 2003

21. "Love Chain" playing "Himself" (archive footage) in episode: "George Clooney" (episode # 1.7) 2003

22. "Revealed with Jules Asner" playing "Himself" in episode: "George Clooney" 27 November 2002

23. "Listen Up! Charles Barkley with Ernie Johnson" playing "Himself" (episode # 1.4) 21 November 2002

24. "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" playing "Himself" 5 December 2001

25. "Howard Stern" playing "Himself" 25 July 2000

26. "ER" playing "Dr. Doug Ross" (uncredited) in episode: "Such Sweet Sorrow" (episode # 6.21) 11 May 2000

27. "The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn" playing "Himself" 30 September 1999

28. "Murphy Brown" playing "Doctor #2" in episode: "Never Can Say Goodbye: Part 2" (episode # 10.22) 18 May 1998

29. "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" playing "Himself" 1 May 1998

30. "Howard Stern" playing "Himself" 21 April 1998

31. "Howard Stern" playing "Himself" 20 April 1998

32. "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" playing "Himself" 5 February 1998

33. "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" playing "Himself" 22 September 1997

34. "South Park" playing "Sparky" (voice) in episode: "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride" (episode # 1.4) 3 September 1997

35. "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" playing "Himself" 16 May 1997

36. "The Rosie O'Donnell Show" playing "Himself" 10 June 1996

37. "Dennis Miller Live" playing "Himself" in episode: "Being Single" (episode # 3.1) 26 January 1996

38. "Late Show with David Letterman" playing "Himself" 23 November 1995

39. "Saturday Night Live" playing "Host" (episode # 20.14) 25 February 1995

40. "Friends" playing "Dr. Michael Mitchell" in episode: "The One with Two Parts: Part 2" (episode # 1.16) 23 February 1995

41. "The Building" playing "Bonnie's Fiancee" in episode: "Pilot" (episode # 1.1) 20 August 1993

42. "Roseanne" playing "Booker" in episode: "Trick Me Up, Trick Me Down" (episode # 4.6) 29 October 1991

43. "The Golden Girls" playing "Bobby Hopkins" in episode: "To Catch a Neighbor" (episode # 2.24) 2 May 1987

44. "Murder, She Wrote" playing "Kip Howard" in episode: "No Laughing Murder" (episode # 3.18) 15 March 1987

45. "Hunter" playing "Matthew Winfield" in episode: "Double Exposure" (episode # 3.15) 14 February 1987

46. "Hotel" playing "Nick Miller" in episode: "Recriminations" (episode # 3.13) 29 January 1986

47. "Crazy Like a Fox" in episode: "Suitable for Framing" (episode # 1.12) 31 March 1985

48. "Street Hawk" playing "Kevin Stark" in episode: "A Second Self" (episode # 1.2) 11 January 1985

49. "Riptide" playing "Lenny Colwell" in episode: "Where the Girls Are" (episode # 2.1) 2 October 1984

50. "Evening Magazine" playing "Himself" 1 May 1981

George Clooney is at home in water

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George Clooney jumps in

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George enjoys a good laugh

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