George Clooney

Photo of George Clooney

Biography

Thanks to his newfound celebrity, Clooney made the jump to films while still on the series, quickly establishing himself as a major Hollywood player 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 era, emulating the devil-may-care …
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Job Title

Actor, Director, Producer, Writer, Other

Born

George Timothy Clooney on May 6, 1961 in Lexington, Kentucky, USA

Career Milestones

2011

Starred as the father of two who learns his comatose wife had cheated on him in Alexander Payne's "The Descendants"

2011

Wrote, directed, produced and starred in the political drama "The Ides of March"

2010

Starred as an assassin who hides out in Italy for one last assignment in the drama thriller "The American"; also produced

2009

Played an isolated man who travels around the country to terminate corporate employees in Jason Reitman's "Up in the Air"

2009

Voiced the title role in Wes Anderson's stop-motion animation adaptation of the Roald Dahl book, "Fantastic Mr. Fox"

2009

Directed by Grant Heslov in "The Men Who Stare At Goats"; also co-produced

2008

Joined an ensemble cast for the Coen brothers' "Burn After Reading"

2008

Directed and co-starred with Renée Zellweger in the 1920s-era football comedy "Leatherheads"

2007

Played the title role in "Michael Clayton," written and directed by Tony Gilroy; also co-produced

2007

Reprised role of Danny Ocean for "Ocean's 13"

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

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

2005

Produced and starred in "Syriana," a geopolitical thriller based on the real-life memoirs of CIA agent Robert Baer

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

2004

Returned with the original cast for "Ocean's Twelve," directed by Soderbergh

2002

Starred in the sci-fi thriller feature "Solaris," directed by Soderbergh

2002

Had small but memorable role as a crippled crook in "Welcome to Collinwood," a farcical comedy screened at Cannes

2002

Cast as a divorce attorney in the Coen brothers' feature "Intolerable Cruelty"

2002

Feature directorial debut, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind"; also had supporting role

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

Co-starred in the Coen brothers' "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"

2000

With Wahlberg, co-starred in the film version of Wolfgang Petersen's "The Perfect Storm"

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 him with "ER" co-star Noah Wyle

1999

Contributed the voice of Dr. Gouache to the feature "South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut"

1999

Teamed with Ice Cube and Mark Wahlberg in David O Russell's critically-acclaimed "Three Kings"

With Soderbergh, formed Section Eight, a production company

1999

Wrote and executive produced the HBO comedy series pilot "Kilroy"

1998

Signed separate two-year development deals with CBS and Warner Bros.

1998

Played an escaped prisoner in Steven Soderbergh's "Out of Sight"

1997

Provided the voice of Sparky the dog on an episode of the Comedy Central animated series "South Park"

1997

Portrayed Batman/Bruce Wayne in "Batman & Robin," the fourth installment in the series; directed by Joel Schumacher

1996

Played romantic lead opposite Michelle Pfeiffer in "One Fine Day"

1996

Co-starred with Quentin Tarantino in the vampire horror flick "From Dusk Till Dawn"

1996

Formed Maysville Pictures (formerly Left Bank Productions), named for the Kentucky town in which he grew up

1994

Cast as pediatrician Dr. Doug Ross on the hit NBC medical drama "ER"; reprised role for one episode in the final season (2009)

1993

Played Falconer, a married policeman who becomes involved with Teddy Reed (Sela Ward) on "Sisters" (NBC)

1991

Declined Quentin Tarantino's request to read for a role in "Reservoir Dogs"

1991

Appeared on the ABC sitcom "Baby Talk"; quit in frustration over "creative differences" with the producers

1990

Cast in the short-lived detective series "Sunset Beat" (ABC); show cancelled after three episodes

1988

Played the recurring role of Booker, the male chauvinist boss on the first season of "Roseanne" (ABC)

1988

Had starring role in the horror spoof "The Return of the Killer Tomatoes"

1987

Played a drug dealer in the play "Vicious" at the Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago

1987

Feature acting debut in the unreleased "Grizzly II - The Concert"

1987

Played role of Tom Bennett in failed NBC comedy pilot "Bennett Brothers"

1986

TV-movie debut, "Combat High" (NBC)

1985

Had a recurring role as carpenter George Burnett on the "The Facts of Life" (NBC)

1984

Debut as TV series regular on the CBS sitcom "E/R" playing a young orderly named Ace

1982

Appeared as an extra in "... And They're Off," a film starring his cousin Miguel Ferrer

Received first professional job, a stereo commercial, by appearing at the audition with a six-pack

1982

Moved to Los Angeles at age 21; lived with his aunt Rosemary Clooney, working as her handyman and chauffeur

Worked cutting tobacco to earn enough money to buy a car in order to drive cross-county

1977

Tried out for Cincinnati Reds baseball team at age 16

1975

Suffered for a year with Bell's palsy

1974

Served as a floor manager on his father's locally produced TV show

Beginning at age five, assisted on father's local Cincinnati talk show "The Nick Clooney Show"

Raised in rural Kentucky and Ohio

Awards

2012

Producers Guild of America Award for Theatrical Motion Pictures in The Ides of March

2011

Academy Award for Actor In a Leading Role in The Descendants

2011

Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in The Descendants

2011

National Board of Review Award for Best Actor in The Descendants

2011

Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor in The Descendants

2011

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in The Descendants

2011

BAFTA Award for Leading Actor in The Descendants

2011

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in The Descendants

2011

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in The Descendants

2011

BAFTA Award for Adapted Screenplay in The Ides of March

2011

Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture in The Ides of March

2011

Golden Globe Award for Best Screenplay - Motion Picture in The Ides of March

2011

Academy Award for Writing (Adapted Screenplay) in The Ides of March

2010

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in Up in the Air

2009

New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in The Fantastic Mr. Fox

2009

Academy Award for Actor In a Leading Role in Up in the Air

2009

National Board of Review Award for Best Actor in Up in the Air

2009

New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in Up in the Air

2009

Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in Up in the Air

2009

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Up in the Air

2009

BAFTA Award for Leading Actor in Up in the Air

2008

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role in Michael Clayton

2008

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video For a Series in Real Time with Bill Maher

2007

Academy Award for Actor In a Leading Role in Michael Clayton

2007

Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in Michael Clayton

2007

San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in Michael Clayton

2007

National Board of Review Award for Best Actor in Michael Clayton

2007

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama in Michael Clayton

2007

BAFTA Award for Leading Actor in Michael Clayton

2006

Independent Spirit Award for Best Director in Good Night, And Good Luck

2006

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture in Good Night, And Good Luck

2006

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video For a Series in Real Time with Bill Maher

2006

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Syriana

2005

Los Angeles Film Festival for Spirit of Independence Award

2005

BAFTA Award for Actor In a Supporting Role in Good Night, And Good Luck

2005

Critics' Choice Award for Best Director in Good Night, And Good Luck

2005

Golden Globe Award for Best Director - Motion Picture in Good Night, And Good Luck

2005

Critics' Choice Award for Best Writer (Original or Adapted Screenplay) in Good Night, And Good Luck

2005

BAFTA Award for David Lean Award For Achievement In Direction, The in Good Night, And Good Luck

2005

Academy Award for Directing in Good Night, And Good Luck

2005

Directors Guild of America Award for Feature Film in Good Night, And Good Luck

2005

Critics' Choice Award for Freedom Award in Good Night, And Good Luck

2005

BAFTA Award for Original Screenplay in Good Night, And Good Luck

2005

Venice International Film Festival for Osella for Best Screenplay in Good Night, And Good Luck

2005

Academy Award for Writing (Original Screenplay) in Good Night, And Good Luck

2005

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video For a Series in Real Time with Bill Maher

2005

Academy Award for Actor In a Supporting Role in Syriana

2005

BAFTA Award for Actor In a Supporting Role in Syriana

2005

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture in Syriana

2005

Critics' Choice Award for Best Supporting Actor in Syriana

2004

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video For a Series in Real Time with Bill Maher

2003

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video For a Series in Real Time with Bill Maher

2002

National Board of Review Award for Special Filmmaking Achievement in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind

2002

MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Team in Ocean's Eleven

2002

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Technical Direction, Camerawork, Video For a Series in Real Time with Bill Maher

2001

MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Duo in O Brother, Where Art Thou?

2000

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy Or Musical in O Brother, Where Art Thou?

1999

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in ER

1999

MTV Movie Award for Best Kiss in Out of Sight

1998

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in ER

1997

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama in ER

1997

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series in ER

1997

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in ER

1996

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama in ER

1996

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor For a Drama Series in ER

1996

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series in ER

1996

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in ER

1996

MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance in From Dusk Till Dawn

1995

Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama in ER

1995

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in ER

1995

Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in ER