Rise to Success: Career Highlights of George Clooney
Discover the career path of George Clooney, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
George Clooney is a highly acclaimed American actor and filmmaker celebrated for his leading roles in both mainstream and independent cinema. He has garnered significant recognition, including two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, and four Golden Globe Awards. He has also received nominations for three Primetime Emmy Awards and a Tony Award. Clooney's contributions to the film industry have been further acknowledged through prestigious honors such as the Cecil B. DeMille Award (2015), the Honorary César (2017), the AFI Life Achievement Award (2018), and the Kennedy Center Honor (2022).
2005: Film 'Good Night, and Good Luck'
In 2005, George Clooney and Grant Heslov created the film "Good Night, and Good Luck".
April 2006: Advocacy for Darfur conflict resolution
In April 2006, George Clooney spent ten days in Chad and Sudan with his father to film the TV special A Journey to Darfur, which aimed to reflect the plight of Darfur's refugees and advocate for action regarding the Darfur conflict.
March 25, 2007: Open Letter to Angela Merkel
On March 25, 2007, George Clooney sent an open letter to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, urging the European Union to take "decisive action" in the Darfur region due to Sudan President Omar al-Bashir's lack of response to UN resolutions.
November 2007: Appearance in Darfur Now
In November 2007, George Clooney appeared in the documentary film Darfur Now, a call-to-action film urging people worldwide to help stop the Darfur crisis.
January 18, 2008: Appointment as UN Messenger of Peace
On January 18, 2008, the United Nations announced George Clooney's appointment as a UN messenger of peace, effective January 31.
April 4, 2008: Clooney Resigns from Writers Guild of America
On April 4, 2008, George Clooney resigned from the Writers Guild of America due to a dispute over writing credits for his film "Leatherheads". He claimed to have written a significant portion of the film but was denied a writing credit by the guild. As a result, Clooney became a "financial core status" non-member.
2008: Continued Darfur Advocacy
In 2008, George Clooney continued his advocacy for resolving the Darfur conflict. The documentary "A Journey to Darfur" was released on DVD, with sale proceeds donated to the International Rescue Committee. In September, Clooney addressed the UN Security Council with Elie Wiesel, urging action to resolve the conflict and aid the people of Darfur.
2008: Support for Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign
In 2008, George Clooney supported Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
February 2009: Visit to Goz Beida, Chad
In February 2009, George Clooney visited Goz Beida, Chad, with New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof.
January 2010: Organization of 'Hope for Haiti Now' Telethon
In January 2010, George Clooney organized the "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon to collect donations for the 2010 Haiti earthquake victims.
October 2010: Initiation of Satellite Sentinel Project
After an October 2010 trip to South Sudan, George Clooney, with John Prendergast, conceived of and initiated the Satellite Sentinel Project (SSP) to monitor armed activity and detect mass atrocities along the border regions between Sudan and South Sudan.
May 2011: Op-ed on Sudan
In May 2011, George Clooney and John Prendergast co-wrote a Washington Post op-ed piece titled "Dancing with a dictator in Sudan", arguing their views on the situation.
2011: Starring in 'The Descendants' and Awards Nominations
In 2011, George Clooney starred in "The Descendants", receiving critical acclaim and winning the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award and the Golden Globe Award. He also received several nominations for his role in the film, including Screen Actors Guild, BAFTA, and Academy Award nominations. Also in 2011, Clooney was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the political drama "The Ides of March".
March 2012: Performance in '8' Play
In March 2012, George Clooney starred with Martin Sheen and Brad Pitt in a performance of Dustin Lance Black's play "8", a staged reenactment of the federal trial that overturned California's Prop 8 ban on same-sex marriage.
September 2012: Auction Lunch for GLSEN
In September 2012, George Clooney offered to take an auction winner out to lunch to benefit the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN).
2012: Support for Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign
In 2012, George Clooney supported Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
2013: Co-founding Casamigos Tequila
In 2013, George Clooney co-founded Casamigos Tequila with Rande Gerber and Michael Meldman.
2013: Production of August: Osage County
In 2013, George Clooney produced "August: Osage County", an adaptation of the play of the same title, starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.
2013: Awards for Producing 'Argo' and Co-starring in 'Gravity'
In 2013, George Clooney won the Golden Globe Award, BAFTA Award, and Academy Award for Best Picture for producing "Argo". In the same year, he co-starred with Sandra Bullock in "Gravity", a space thriller.
2014: Release of 'The Monuments Men'
In 2014, George Clooney co-wrote, directed, and starred in "The Monuments Men", a film adaptation of the book "The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History".
May 2015: Statement on Syrian Conflict
In May 2015, George Clooney stated to the BBC that the Syrian conflict was too politically complicated to get involved in, and he preferred to focus on assisting refugees.
2015: Starring in 'Tomorrowland' and 'A Very Murray Christmas'
In 2015, George Clooney starred in the science fiction film "Tomorrowland" as Frank Walker, and he appeared as himself in the Netflix Christmas special "A Very Murray Christmas".
2015: Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2015, George Clooney was awarded the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award.
February 2016: Premiere of 'Hail, Caesar!'
In February 2016, the comedy "Hail, Caesar!", starring George Clooney, premiered. Clooney played Baird Whitlock, a film star kidnapped during a movie production.
March 2016: Meeting with Syrian refugees and Angela Merkel
In March 2016, George Clooney and his wife Amal met with Syrian refugees living in Berlin to mark the fifth anniversary of the conflict. Following this, they met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to express gratitude for Germany's open-door policy towards refugees.
April 2016: Armenian Genocide Commemoration Visit
In April 2016, George Clooney visited Armenia to commemorate the 101st anniversary of the Armenian genocide as part of the 100 Lives Initiative.
2016: Endorsement of Hillary Clinton for President
In 2016, George Clooney endorsed Hillary Clinton for the presidential election.
June 2017: Sale of Casamigos Tequila
In June 2017, Casamigos Tequila, co-founded by George Clooney, was sold to Diageo for $700 million, with a possible additional $300 million based on future performance.
October 2017: Release of 'Suburbicon'
In October 2017, George Clooney's directorial project, "Suburbicon", was released. The 1950s-set crime comedy stars Matt Damon, Julianne Moore, and Oscar Isaac.
June 1, 2018: Highest-Paid Actor
Between June 1, 2017, and June 1, 2018, George Clooney was the world's highest-paid actor, earning $239 million.
2018: Pledge to March for Our Lives
In 2018, following the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, George and Amal Clooney pledged $500,000 to the March for Our Lives and announced their attendance.
May 31, 2019: Premiere of 'Catch-22' Miniseries
On May 31, 2019, the Hulu historical miniseries "Catch-22", starring, directed, and produced by George Clooney, premiered to critical acclaim. The miniseries is based on the novel of the same name by Joseph Heller.
July 2020: Fundraiser for Joe Biden
In July 2020, George Clooney endorsed Joe Biden for the 2020 presidential election and hosted a virtual fundraiser for him with Barack Obama.
August 7, 2020: Donation to Lebanese charities
On August 7, 2020, George and Amal Clooney donated $100,000 to three Lebanese charities: the Lebanese Red Cross, Impact Lebanon, and Baytna Baytak, after the devastating explosion in Beirut.
February 2021: Docuseries on Ohio State University Abuse Scandal
In February 2021, it was reported that George Clooney's Smokehouse Pictures would team with Sports Illustrated Studios and 101 Studios to produce a docuseries about the Ohio State University abuse scandal.
December 22, 2021: Nationwide Premiere of 'The Tender Bar'
On December 22, 2021, George Clooney's directorial film "The Tender Bar" had its nationwide premiere. The film is based on the memoir of the same name by J.R. Moehringer.
January 7, 2022: 'The Tender Bar' Streaming Release
On January 7, 2022, "The Tender Bar", directed by George Clooney, began streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
September 30, 2022: Initial Release Date for 'Ticket to Paradise'
Originally, George Clooney's romantic comedy film "Ticket to Paradise", which reunited him with Julia Roberts, was set to release in theaters on September 30, 2022, but was later pushed back.
October 21, 2022: Release of 'Ticket to Paradise'
In October 21, 2022, George Clooney reunited with Julia Roberts for the romantic comedy film "Ticket to Paradise", directed by Ol Parker, in theaters.
December 25, 2023: Release of 'The Boys in the Boat'
On December 25, 2023, George Clooney's film as a director, the biographical sports drama "The Boys in the Boat" was released. The film was based on the book of the same name by Daniel James Brown.
2023: Academy Award Nominations
As of 2023, George Clooney is one of two people to have been nominated for Academy Awards in six different categories.
July 2024: Call for Biden to Withdraw from 2024 Election
In a July 2024 op-ed for The New York Times, George Clooney called for Joe Biden to withdraw from the 2024 presidential election, citing his performance in a debate and concerns about his age.
2024: Premiere of 'Wolfs' at Venice International Film Festival
In 2024, George Clooney re-teamed with Brad Pitt for the Apple TV+ thriller film "Wolfs", written and directed by Jon Watts, which premiered to positive reviews at the Venice International Film Festival.
June 17, 2025: Release of 'Surviving Ohio State'
The documentary "Surviving Ohio State", which is a feature-length film, was released on June 17, 2025.
2025: Broadway Debut in 'Good Night, and Good Luck'
In 2025, George Clooney made his Broadway debut as an actor in the stage adaption of "Good Night, and Good Luck", portraying Edward R. Murrow. He and Grant Heslov are the playwrights for the adaption of the 2005 film of the same name.
2025: Standing by Op-Ed Choice
In 2025, George Clooney stated that he stood by his choice in writing the op-ed about Joe Biden, citing his belief in telling the truth.
2025: Theatre World Award
In 2025, George Clooney was honored with a Theatre World Award for his performance in Good Night, and Good Luck on Broadway.
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