George Clooney

I first knew of George Clooney when he was on The Facts of Life. I didn’t see anything that was heartthrob worthy. His character seemed a bit dorky to me. Little did I know he’d be some big movie star one day. FYI, he still doesn’t do much for me. I don’t think he’s ugly or anything. He’s just not my type.

George Timothy Clooney, born May 6, 1961 in Lexington, Kentucky, attended religious schools as a youth. He is of Irish, German, and English descent. Clooney developed Bell’s Palsy when he was in 8th or 9th grade. That’s some scary stuff. It’s hard enough just to be in the 8th or 9th grade. To have an illness that paralyzes your face just makes it all so much worse. I’ve known a lot of trumpet players who have developed Bell’s Palsy. I wonder if it has to do with the muscles they use.

Clooney was a good student in school and usually earned A’s and B’s. He was active in sports, playing baseball and basketball. He tried out for the Cincinnati Reds in 1977 but did not pass the first round of cuts. Clooney attended college for a brief time but did not graduate. His jobs before becoming an actor included door to door sales (can you imagine George Clooney at your door?), construction, selling women’s shoes, stocking shelves, and more.

TV Beginnings

Clooney’s first role was as an extra in a mini-series (Centennial) in 1978. One of his first roles on TV included handyman George Burnett on The Facts of Life. After Facts, he had an even more steady job of playing Booker Brooks, Roseanne Barr’s supervisor on the show Roseanne.

His big thrust into stardom came in 1994 as he portrayed Dr. Doug Ross on the medical drama ER. He had the ER gig from 1994 to 1999 and was now a bona fide star. Clooney was starting to make movies while working on ER. His first big role in the movies was in From Dusk till Dawn. He continued with One Fine Day, The Peacemaker, and Batman & Robin (he was Batman).

The Movies

After leaving ER, George Clooney starred in The Perfect Storm with Mark Wahlberg. I loved that movie…..until it got to the end. Sad stories shouldn’t be told. After The Perfect Storm, Clooney acted in a remake of Ocean’s Eleven with Brad Pitt and Matt Damon. (And then Ocean’s Twelve and Ocean’s Thirteen and…..)

He continues to make tons of movies, most of which I’ve not seen. I did like The Perfect Storm and one of the Ocean’s movies. I can’t remember anything else I’ve seen him in. Clooney co-founded a tequila in 2013 and sold it a few years later for a ton of money. Forbes listed him as the world’s highest-paid actor for 2017-2018, but I wonder if his tequila income was included in that calculation.

Trivia

• Once owned a pet pig named Max.
• Clooney is related to singer Debby Boone.
• His first steady TV role was in a show called E/R (1984). Ten years later he hit it big on ER.
• He was the very first guest on The Rosie O’Donnell Show. I remember this!
• Clooney was the sixth actor to play Batman.
• He loves South Park. I love South Park! Cartman is my favorite. Clooney asked for a part on the show and was given the role of Sparky the gay dog. Yay!
• Clooney auditioned five times for the role in Thelma & Louise. That part ended up going to Brad Pitt.
• He was related to Dick Van Patten (so also Vincent Van Patten) when he was married to his first wife. Dick Van Patten was the uncle of Clooney’s first wife.

 

George Clooney is on his second marriage. He and his wife Amal have a son and a daughter (twins). Their main home is in Los Angeles but they also have homes in Italy, England, and Mexico.

I’ve seen George Clooney on talk shows (probably my faves The Talk or Ellen), and he seems like a great guy. With 90 acting credits to his name, homes throughout the world, and a wife and family, George Clooney appears to have it all. He has a perfect look about him and he’s a great actor. He just doesn’t do much for me. Go figure.