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, filmmaker, and philanthropist. He's celebrated for his leading roles in both major studio and independent films, earning numerous prestigious awards including two Academy Awards, a BAFTA, and four Golden Globes. He has been nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards. Clooney's contributions to the entertainment industry have been recognized with honors such as the Cecil B. DeMille Award, the Honorary César, the AFI Life Achievement Award, and the Kennedy Center Honor.
2005: Release of 'Good Night, and Good Luck' film
In 2005, George Clooney co-wrote and directed the film 'Good Night, and Good Luck', which he and Grant Heslov adapted into a play in 2025.
April 2006: Travel to Chad and Sudan for TV special
In April 2006, George Clooney and his father spent ten days in Chad and Sudan to create the TV special 'A Journey to Darfur,' highlighting the situation of Darfur's refugees and advocating for action.
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" regarding the situation in Sudan due to President Omar al-Bashir's lack of response to UN resolutions.
November 2007: Appearance in 'Darfur Now'
In November 2007, 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, to advocate for peace and human rights.
April 4, 2008: Resignation from Writers Guild of America
On April 4, 2008, George Clooney resigned from the Writers Guild of America over a dispute concerning the film Leatherheads, after being denied a writing credit. He became a "financial core status" non-member.
2008: Support for Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign
In 2008, George Clooney supported Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
2008: Release of 'A Journey to Darfur' on DVD
In 2008, the documentary 'A Journey to Darfur' was released on DVD, with sale proceeds donated to the International Rescue Committee. This was part of Clooney's ongoing advocacy for Darfur.
February 2009: Visit to Goz Beida, Chad
In February 2009, George Clooney visited Goz Beida, Chad, with New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof.
November 2009: Starring in 'The Men Who Stare at Goats' and 'Fantastic Mr. Fox'
In November 2009, George Clooney starred in 'The Men Who Stare at Goats', and voiced the title character in 'Fantastic Mr. Fox'.
December 25, 2009: Wide Release of 'Up in the Air'
On December 25, 2009, the comedy-drama 'Up in the Air,' starring George Clooney, had a wide release in theaters.
January 2010: Organization of 'Hope for Haiti Now' Telethon
In January 2010, George Clooney organized the telethon 'Hope for Haiti Now', which collected donations for the 2010 Haiti earthquake victims.
October 2010: Initiation of Satellite Sentinel Project
Following an October 2010 trip to South Sudan, George Clooney conceived of and initiated the Satellite Sentinel Project (SSP) with John Prendergast. The SSP aimed to monitor armed activity for signs of renewed civil war between Sudan and South Sudan, and to detect and deter mass atrocities along the border regions.
2010: Starring in 'The American'
In 2010, George Clooney produced and starred in the dark crime drama 'The American', which is based on the novel A Very Private Gentleman by Martin Booth.
May 2011: Op-ed in Washington Post
In May 2011, George Clooney and John Prendergast co-wrote a Washington Post op-ed piece titled 'Dancing with a dictator in Sudan'.
2011: Starring in 'The Descendants' and Awards Recognition
In 2011, George Clooney starred in 'The Descendants', earning critical praise and winning the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award and the Golden Globe Award. He was also nominated for several other awards. He was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for 'The Ides of March'.
March 2012: Performance in '8' Play
In March 2012, George Clooney starred in a performance of Dustin Lance Black's play '8', which was held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre.
September 2012: Auction 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: Producing 'August: Osage County'
In 2013, George Clooney produced 'August: Osage County', an adaptation of the play of the same name, starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.
2013: Awards for Producing 'Argo' and Starring in 'Gravity'
In 2013, George Clooney won the Golden Globe Award, the BAFTA Award, and the Academy Award for Best Picture as a producer for 'Argo'. He also co-starred in 'Gravity'.
2014: Release of 'The Monuments Men'
In 2014, George Clooney co-wrote, directed, and starred in 'The Monuments Men', which received critical backlash and was a box office failure. The film is based on The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History by Robert M. Edsel.
May 2015: Statement on Syrian conflict
In May 2015, George Clooney told the BBC that the Syrian conflict was too complicated politically to get involved in and he wanted to focus on helping the refugees.
2015: Starring in 'Tomorrowland' and 'A Very Murray Christmas'
In 2015, George Clooney starred in 'Tomorrowland' as Frank Walker and appeared as himself in '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: Starring in 'Hail, Caesar!'
In February 2016, George Clooney starred in 'Hail, Caesar!', a comedy from the Coen brothers set in the Hollywood film industry in the 1950s.
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, before meeting with German chancellor Angela Merkel to thank her for Germany's open-door policy.
April 2016: Commemoration of Armenian Genocide
In April 2016, George Clooney visited Armenia to commemorate the 101st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide, reaffirming his support for its recognition.
2016: Endorsement of Hillary Clinton
In 2016, George Clooney endorsed Hillary Clinton for the presidential election.
June 2017: Sale of Casamigos Tequila to Diageo
In June 2017, Casamigos Tequila, co-founded by George Clooney, was sold to Diageo for $700 million with a possible additional $300 million.
October 2017: Release of 'Suburbicon'
In October 2017, George Clooney's directorial project 'Suburbicon', a 1950s-set crime comedy, was released.
2018: Pledge to March for Our Lives
In 2018, following the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, the Clooneys pledged $500,000 to the March for Our Lives and said they would be in attendance.
March 28, 2019: Call for boycott of Sultan of Brunei's hotels
On March 28, 2019, George Clooney wrote an open letter calling for the boycott of the Sultan of Brunei's hotels, including The Dorchester, The Beverly Hills Hotel, and Hotel Bel-Air, in response to a new law that punishes homosexual sex and adultery with death by stoning.
May 31, 2019: Premiere of 'Catch-22'
On May 31, 2019, the Hulu historical miniseries 'Catch-22', starring, directing, and producing by George Clooney, premiered to critical acclaim.
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 Obama.
August 7, 2020: Donation to Lebanese Charities
On August 7, 2020, George and Amal Clooney donated $100,000 to three Lebanese charities after the Beirut explosion.
February 2021: Docuseries Production Announcement
In February 2021, it was reported that George Clooney's Smokehouse Pictures would produce a docuseries about the Ohio State University abuse scandal.
December 22, 2021: Nationwide Premiere of 'The Tender Bar'
On December 22, 2021, 'The Tender Bar', directed by George Clooney, had its nationwide premiere.
January 7, 2022: 'The Tender Bar' Streaming on Amazon Prime Video
On January 7, 2022, 'The Tender Bar', directed by George Clooney, began streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
June 2022: HBO Announces Documentary Production
In June 2022, HBO announced the start of production for the documentary about the Ohio State University abuse scandal, with a planned debut on HBO and HBO MAX.
September 30, 2022: Initial Release Date of 'Ticket to Paradise'
Initially, George Clooney's 'Ticket to Paradise' was set to release on September 30, 2022, before being pushed back a month.
October 21, 2022: Release of 'Ticket to Paradise'
On October 21, 2022, 'Ticket to Paradise', starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts, was released in theaters.
December 25, 2023: Release of 'The Boys in the Boat'
On December 25, 2023, 'The Boys in the Boat', directed by George Clooney, was released. The film is based on the book of the same name by Daniel James Brown.
2023: Nomination for Academy Awards in six different categories
As of 2023, George Clooney is one of four people to have been nominated for Academy Awards in six different categories during his career.
2024: Premier of 'Wolfs'
In 2024, George Clooney's film, Wolfs, which he co-starred alongside Brad Pitt, premiered to positive reviews at the Venice International Film Festival.
2025: Broadway Debut in 'Good Night, and Good Luck'
In 2025, George Clooney made his Broadway debut in the stage adaptation of 'Good Night, and Good Luck', portraying Edward R. Murrow.
2025: Theatre World Award for Good Night, and Good Luck
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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