Some of the industry’s best actors have come out of entertainer families, and George Clooney is no different. The son of talk-show host Nick Clooney, George’ smost famous relative has to be his aunt Rosemary, the famous singer/actress of such famous movies like “White Christmas.” But don’t get us wrong; George certainly isn’t in the same level as, say, a Pacino or a De Niro, but he’s proven himself time and again as a respectable leading man. Getting his TV start at the age of five on his dad’s talk show, George later went on to graduate from Northern Kentucky University with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, despite aspirations to become a pro baseball player for the Cincinnati Reds. In 1984, George was ironically cast in a medical comedy titled “ER” (no, not that one), and also appeared in some of the most popular shows of the 80’s, including “The Facts of Life,” “TheGolden Girls” and “Roseanne.” In 1994, however, George got his big break when he was cast in the NBC-produced medical drama “ER” as pediatrician Dr. Doug Ross, and after a couple of years as television’s new heart throb he made the jump to film.
His first real film role came in the shape of the Robert Rodriquez South-of-the-border vampire flick “From Dusk Till Dawn,” where he played alongside Quentin Tarantino as runaway convict brothers who stumble upon a secret vampire hideaway in the middle of nowhere. Roles in several romantic comedies and his embarrassing nipples-on-the-Batsuit appearance in “Batman & Robin” threatened his career as a movie star, but after receiving critical praise for his roles in both “Out of Sight” and “Three Kings,” his bad luckseemed to be finally ending. In 1999, George left “ER” to pursue a full-time gigas a movie star, and in 2000, he surprised moviegoers again with an award-winning performance in the Coen Brothers’ “O Brother, Where Art Thou? ”Future appearances in “Ocean’s Eleven” and “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind” only further solidified his place at the top of the Hollywood food chain, and since then, he’s been a verybusy man. Along with small roles in indie films like “Welcome to Collinwood,”George teamed up with industry buddy Steven Soderbergh to create Section Eight,a production company that allows the two to work together even if it’s not asactor and director.
George on the Screen and Behind the Camera
After short stints on popular TV shows like “The Facts of Life” and “Roseanne,” George’s career took off when he landed a starring role on medical drama, “ER.” After six years on the series, he made the jump to the big screen in movies like “Batman & Robin,” “O Brother, Where Art Thou?,” “Three Kings” and “Ocean’s Eleven.” It was the latter film that officially confirmed his A-list status, and he’s had plenty of highlights since, including two more “Ocean’s” movies, “Syriana,” “Michael Clayton,” “Burn After Reading,” “Up in the Air,” “The Fantastic Mr. Fox,” “The Descendants” and “Gravity.” Additionally, he’s directed five films: “Confessions of a Dangerous Mind,” “Good Night, and Good Luck,” “Leatherheads,” and “The Ides of March”
More performances include “Gravity,” “The Monuments Men,” “Tomorrowland,” “Hail, Caesar!,” “Money Monster.” The following is a classic performance:
“Michael Clayton” (2007)
George is excellent in this legal thriller, though our reviewer David Medsker doesn’t think the film quite lived up to the hype from critics. Others on the staff were more impressed with the film and particularly George’s performance. This look back at “Michael Clayton” notes: “Clooney delivers one of his best performances as Michael, playing it straight and leaving aside the playful attitude we see in so many of his popular performances. He’s right out of central casting as the middle aged, big firm lawyer who is doing his best to remain calm as he deals with Arthur and his own issues.”
From the Mouth of George
On life:
“I don’t believe in happy endings, but I do believe in happy travels, because ultimately, you die at a very young age, or you live long enough to watch your friends die. It’s a mean thing, life.”
On politics:
“Run for office? No. I’ve slept with too many women, I’ve done too many drugs, and I’ve been to too many parties.”
On the current situation in the Middle East:
“We’re picking on people we can beat.”