History of George Clooney in Timeline
George Clooney is a highly acclaimed American actor and filmmaker known for his versatile roles and contributions to cinema. His exceptional talent has garnered numerous prestigious awards, including a British Academy Film Award, four Golden Globe Awards, and two Academy Awards. Beyond his acting prowess, Clooney has received significant recognition for his contributions to the entertainment industry, including the Cecil B. DeMille Award, the Honorary César, the AFI Life Achievement Award, and the Kennedy Center Honors.
May 6, 1961: Birth of George Clooney
George Timothy Clooney was born on May 6, 1961.
1968: Attends Western Row Elementary School
George Clooney began attending Western Row Elementary School in Mason, Ohio in 1968.
1974: Leaves Western Row Elementary School
George Clooney left Western Row Elementary School in 1974.
1977: Cincinnati Reds Tryout
George Clooney tried out for the Cincinnati Reds baseball team in 1977.
1977: Tries Out for the Cincinnati Reds
George Clooney tried out to play professional baseball for the Cincinnati Reds in 1977.
1978: First Acting Role in "Centennial"
George Clooney's first acting role was as an extra in the television miniseries "Centennial" in 1978.
1979: Attends Northern Kentucky University
George Clooney attended Northern Kentucky University, majoring in broadcast journalism, from 1979 to 1981.
1981: Leaves Northern Kentucky University
George Clooney left Northern Kentucky University in 1981.
1984: First Major Role in Sitcom "E/R"
George Clooney's first major role was in the CBS sitcom "E/R" in 1984.
1987: Relationship with Kelly Preston
George Clooney began dating actress Kelly Preston in 1987.
1988: Stars in "Return of the Killer Tomatoes"
In 1988, George Clooney starred in "Return of the Killer Tomatoes".
1989: Marriage to Talia Balsam
George Clooney married actress Talia Balsam in 1989.
1989: End of Relationship with Kelly Preston
George Clooney's relationship with Kelly Preston ended in 1989.
1990: Stars in Police Drama "Sunset Beat"
George Clooney starred in the police drama "Sunset Beat" in 1990.
1993: Divorce from Talia Balsam
George Clooney and Talia Balsam divorced in 1993.
1994: Begins Starring in "ER"
George Clooney's career expanded to a leading role as Dr. Doug Ross on the NBC medical drama "ER" in 1994.
1995: First Primetime Emmy Award Nominations
In 1995, George Clooney received his first two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role in "ER."
1995: Relationships with Cameron Diaz and Frances Fisher
George Clooney had relationships with Cameron Diaz and Frances Fisher in 1995.
1995: Los Angeles Home Purchase
George Clooney bought a house in Los Angeles in 1995 via the George Guilfoyle Trust.
1996: Breakthrough Role in "From Dusk till Dawn"
George Clooney's breakthrough film role was in "From Dusk till Dawn" in 1996.
1996: Receives Emmy and Golden Globe Nominations
George Clooney received his second Primetime Emmy Award nomination and his second Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor in a Television Series Drama for his role in "ER" in 1996.
1996: Relationship with Céline Balitran
George Clooney started dating French reality TV personality Céline Balitran in 1996.
1997: Receives Third Golden Globe Nomination
George Clooney earned his third Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor in a Television Series Drama for "ER" in 1997.
1997: Stars as Batman in "Batman & Robin"
George Clooney starred as Batman in "Batman & Robin" in 1997.
1998: "Out of Sight" and Collaboration with Soderbergh
George Clooney co-starred in "Out of Sight" in 1998, marking the start of his work with director Steven Soderbergh.
1998: Stars in "Out of Sight"
George Clooney starred in the crime-comedy "Out of Sight" in 1998.
1998: Public Statement About Religion
George Clooney stated that he did not know if he believed in "Heaven or even God" in 1998.
1999: End of Relationship with Céline Balitran
George Clooney and Céline Balitran's relationship ended in 1999.
1999: Departs from "ER"
In 1999, George Clooney left the series "ER."
2000: Links with Charlize Theron and Lucy Liu
George Clooney was romantically linked to Charlize Theron and Lucy Liu in 2000.
2000: Success with "The Perfect Storm" and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
In 2000, Clooney starred in the commercially successful films "The Perfect Storm" and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?", the latter earning him a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Ulysses Everett McGill.
2000: "Three Kings", "The Perfect Storm", and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
In 2000, George Clooney appeared in "Three Kings" at the end of his contract with "ER," as well as in "The Perfect Storm" and "O Brother, Where Art Thou?".
2001: Begins Starring in "Ocean's" Franchise
George Clooney began starring in Soderbergh's "Ocean's" film series in 2001.
2001: Relationship with Renée Zellweger
George Clooney dated Renée Zellweger in 2001.
2001: "Ocean's Eleven" and Section Eight Productions
In 2001, Clooney starred in the highly successful heist comedy "Ocean's Eleven", solidifying his status as a leading man. He also co-founded the production company Section Eight Productions with Steven Soderbergh.
2002: "Solaris" and Directorial Debut with "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind"
In 2002, Clooney starred in the science fiction drama "Solaris" and made his directorial debut with "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind", receiving critical acclaim for both.
2002: Relationships with Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Krista Allen
George Clooney had relationships with Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Krista Allen in 2002.
2002: Directorial Debut with "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind"
George Clooney made his directorial debut with "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" in 2002.
2003: Reunion with the Coen Brothers for "Intolerable Cruelty"
Clooney teamed up with the Coen brothers again in 2003 for the romantic comedy "Intolerable Cruelty", starring opposite Catherine Zeta-Jones.
2004: Release of "Ocean's Twelve"
In 2004, the sequel to "Ocean's Eleven", titled "Ocean's Twelve", was released, with Clooney reprising his role as Danny Ocean.
2005: "Syriana" and "Good Night, and Good Luck"
2005 saw Clooney star in the political thriller "Syriana", for which he won an Oscar, and direct, produce, and star in the historical drama "Good Night, and Good Luck".
2005: Releases "Good Night, and Good Luck" and Wins Oscar
George Clooney directed the historical drama "Good Night, and Good Luck" and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for "Syriana" in 2005.
2005: TV Guide's Sexiest Stars
TV Guide ranked Clooney as No. 1 on their "50 Sexiest Stars of All Time" list in 2005.
April 2006: Journey to Darfur
In April 2006, George Clooney traveled to Chad and Sudan to document the plight of refugees in the Darfur region.
August 2006: Founding of Smokehouse Pictures
Clooney and Grant Heslov established the production company Smokehouse Pictures in August 2006.
October 2006: American Cinematheque Award Recipient
In October 2006, Clooney was honored with the American Cinematheque Award for his significant contributions to the film industry.
2006: Max the Pig
George Clooney's beloved pet pig, Max, whom he had gotten with Kelly Preston, passed away in 2006 after 18 years.
2006: First Appearance on "Time" 100 List
George Clooney was included on "Time" magazine's annual "Time" 100 list, which recognizes the world's most influential people, starting in 2006.
2006: Relationship with Linda Thompson
George Clooney dated Linda Thompson in 2006.
2006: Sarcastic Remark about Jack Abramoff
During the 63rd Golden Globe Awards in 2006, George Clooney made a sarcastic comment about Jack Abramoff, a convicted lobbyist, questioning his name and jokingly linking it to his wrongdoings.
2006: Oscar Nominations and Recognition
At the 2006 Academy Awards, Clooney received nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay for "Good Night, and Good Luck", and won Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Syriana".
March 25, 2007: Open Letter for Darfur
On March 25, 2007, George Clooney appealed to the European Union for decisive action in Darfur, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
June 2007: Relationship with Sarah Larson
George Clooney started dating reality personality Sarah Larson in June 2007.
September 21, 2007: Motorcycle Accident
George Clooney and his then-girlfriend Sarah Larson were injured in a motorcycle accident in Weehawken, New Jersey on September 21, 2007, when a car hit their motorcycle.
October 9, 2007: Palisades Medical Center Staff Suspensions
Over two dozen staff members at Palisades Medical Center were suspended without pay on October 9, 2007, for violating federal law by accessing Clooney's medical records.
November 2007: Darfur Now
In November 2007, George Clooney was featured in "Darfur Now," a documentary urging global action against the Darfur crisis.
December 2007: Summit Peace Award
George Clooney and Don Cheadle were honored with the Summit Peace Award for their Darfur advocacy in December 2007.
2007: Time's 100 Most Influential People
George Clooney was recognized as one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2007.
2007: Release of "Ocean's Thirteen"
The third installment in the "Ocean's" franchise, "Ocean's Thirteen", was released in 2007, with Clooney once again starring as Danny Ocean.
2007: Oscar Nomination for "Michael Clayton"
George Clooney was nominated for Best Actor for the legal thriller "Michael Clayton" in 2007.
2007: Concludes Role in "Ocean's" Franchise
George Clooney concluded his role in Soderbergh's "Ocean's" series in 2007.
2007: Release of "Michael Clayton" and "There Will Be Blood"
Clooney starred in the legal thriller "Michael Clayton", which was released in 2007. The same year saw the release of "There Will Be Blood", starring Daniel Day-Lewis.
January 18, 2008: UN Messenger of Peace
George Clooney was appointed as a UN messenger of peace on January 18, 2008, recognizing his humanitarian work.
January 22, 2008: Oscar Nomination for "Michael Clayton"
Clooney was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his performance in "Michael Clayton" but lost to Daniel Day-Lewis for his role in "There Will Be Blood".
February 2008: Time Magazine Cover Story
Time magazine featured George Clooney on the cover of their February 2008 issue with the headline "George Clooney: The Last Movie Star."
April 4, 2008: Resignation from the Writers Guild of America
Clooney resigned from the Writers Guild of America after a dispute over writing credits for his film "Leatherheads".
May 2008: Breakup with Sarah Larson
George Clooney and Sarah Larson ended their relationship in May 2008.
2008: Becomes UN Messenger of Peace
George Clooney began serving as one of the United Nations Messengers of Peace in 2008.
2008: Darfur Advocacy and DVD Release
George Clooney continued his advocacy for Darfur in 2008, releasing a DVD of "A Journey to Darfur" with proceeds donated to the International Rescue Committee.
2008: Support for Barack Obama's Presidential Campaigns
George Clooney publicly showed his support for Barack Obama during both of his presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012.
2008: Stars in "Burn After Reading"
George Clooney starred in "Burn After Reading" in 2008.
February 2009: Visit to Goz Beida, Chad
George Clooney, accompanied by New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof, visited Goz Beida, Chad in February 2009.
July 2009: Relationship with Elisabetta Canalis
George Clooney began dating Italian actress Elisabetta Canalis in July 2009.
November 2009: Release of "The Men Who Stare at Goats" and "Fantastic Mr. Fox"
Clooney starred in the war comedy "The Men Who Stare at Goats" and voiced the titular character in Wes Anderson's animated film "Fantastic Mr. Fox", both released in November 2009.
December 25, 2009: Wide Release of "Up in the Air"
The comedy-drama "Up in the Air", featuring Clooney in a critically acclaimed performance, received a wide release on December 25, 2009.
2009: Time's 100 Most Influential People
George Clooney was recognized as one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2009.
2009: Receives Best Actor Nomination for "Up in the Air"
In 2009, George Clooney earned a Best Actor nomination for the comedy-drama "Up in the Air."
2009: Last Appearance on "Time" 100 List
George Clooney made his final appearance on "Time" magazine's annual "Time" 100 list in 2009.
January 2010: Hope for Haiti Now Telethon
In January 2010, George Clooney spearheaded the "Hope for Haiti Now" telethon to raise funds for the victims of the devastating earthquake in Haiti that year.
October 2010: Satellite Sentinel Project
Following a trip to South Sudan, George Clooney co-founded the Satellite Sentinel Project in October 2010 to monitor and deter atrocities in the region.
2010: Stars in "The American"
George Clooney starred in "The American" in 2010.
2010: Release of "The American"
Clooney starred in and produced the crime drama "The American", which was released in 2010.
May 2011: Dancing with a dictator in Sudan
George Clooney co-authored a Washington Post op-ed titled "Dancing with a dictator in Sudan" in May 2011.
June 2011: Split from Elisabetta Canalis
George Clooney and Elisabetta Canalis broke up in June 2011.
July 2011: Relationship with Stacy Keibler
George Clooney began dating former WWE personality Stacy Keibler in July 2011.
November 2011: Release of "Convincing Clooney"
"Convincing Clooney," a film about a Los Angeles artist's plan to cast George Clooney in his low-budget short film, was released on DVD in November 2011.
2011: Directs "The Ides of March" and Receives Oscar Nomination
George Clooney directed "The Ides of March" and was nominated for Best Actor for "The Descendants" in 2011.
2011: Critical Acclaim for "The Descendants" and "The Ides of March"
In 2011, Clooney garnered critical acclaim and numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award, for his performance in "The Descendants". He also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay for the political drama "The Ides of March".
March 2012: Performance in "8"
George Clooney took part in a performance of Dustin Lance Black's play "8" in March 2012, portraying attorney David Boies. This staged reenactment of the federal trial against California's Prop 8, held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre, was broadcast on YouTube to raise funds for the American Foundation for Equal Rights.
March 16, 2012: Arrest for Civil Disobedience
George Clooney was arrested for civil disobedience outside the Sudanese Embassy on March 16, 2012, as part of his protest against the Sudanese government.
September 2012: Charity Lunch Auction for GLSEN
In September 2012, George Clooney participated in a charity auction for the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), offering a lunch date to the highest bidder to support the organization's work in creating safe school environments for LGBTQ+ students.
2012: Support for Barack Obama's Presidential Campaigns
George Clooney publicly showed his support for Barack Obama during both of his presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012.
2012: Wins Academy Award for Best Picture for "Argo"
George Clooney received the Academy Award for Best Picture for co-producing "Argo" in 2012.
July 2013: End of Relationship with Stacy Keibler
George Clooney and Stacy Keibler ended their relationship in July 2013.
2013: Awards for "Argo" and Release of "Gravity"
Clooney won an Academy Award for Best Picture as a producer on the historical thriller "Argo". He also co-starred with Sandra Bullock in Alfonso Cuarón's space thriller "Gravity", both released in 2013.
2013: Co-founding of Casamigos Tequila
Clooney, along with Rande Gerber and Michael Meldman, established the Casamigos Tequila company in 2013.
2013: Stars in "Gravity"
George Clooney starred in "Gravity" in 2013.
2013: Production of "August: Osage County"
In 2013, George Clooney produced "August: Osage County," a film adaptation of a play with the same name, featuring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.
April 28, 2014: Engagement to Amal Alamuddin
George Clooney proposed to British-Lebanese human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin on April 28, 2014.
July 2014: Refusal of Daily Mail Apology
George Clooney refused to accept an apology from the Daily Mail in July 2014 after the tabloid published a false story about his engagement to Amal Alamuddin.
August 7, 2014: Marriage License
George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin obtained their marriage license in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, UK on August 7, 2014.
September 27, 2014: Marriage to Amal Alamuddin
George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin celebrated their wedding on September 27, 2014, in Venice, Italy.
2014: Mill House Purchase in Oxfordshire
George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin bought the Grade II listed Mill House in Sonning Eye, Oxfordshire, England, for around £10 million in 2014.
2014: Releases War Film "The Monuments Men"
George Clooney directed the war film "The Monuments Men" in 2014.
2014: Rejection of Daily Mail Apology
In 2014, Clooney refused an apology from the Daily Mail for a false story, labeling them as the "worst kind of tabloid."
2014: Release of "The Monuments Men" and Production of "August: Osage County"
In 2014, George Clooney starred in and directed "The Monuments Men," a movie that faced criticism for historical inaccuracies. He also produced the film adaptation of the play "August: Osage County" in the same year.
January 11, 2015: Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award
George Clooney received the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award on January 11, 2015.
May 2015: Syrian Refugee Crisis
In May 2015, George Clooney expressed his concern for Syrian refugees, focusing on providing aid amidst the complex political situation.
2015: Cecil B. DeMille Award
In 2015, George Clooney was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award.
2015: Adoption of Millie
George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin expanded their family in 2015 by adopting a rescue Bassett Hound named Millie.
2015: Appearance in "Tomorrowland" and "A Very Murray Christmas"
George Clooney starred in the science fiction adventure film "Tomorrowland" and made an appearance as himself in the Netflix Christmas musical comedy "A Very Murray Christmas" in 2015.
February 2016: Premiere of "Hail, Caesar!"
In February 2016, "Hail, Caesar!," a comedy set in the 1950s Hollywood film industry and starring George Clooney as a Robert Taylor-esque movie star, premiered.
March 2016: Meeting with Syrian Refugees and Angela Merkel
George Clooney and his wife, Amal, met with Syrian refugees in Berlin in March 2016, marking the fifth anniversary of the conflict and thanking Chancellor Angela Merkel for her support.
April 2016: Armenian Genocide Recognition Advocacy
George Clooney advocated for recognition of the Armenian Genocide and launched the Aurora Prize, visiting Armenia in April 2016 to commemorate the 101st anniversary of the event.
2016: Endorsement of Hillary Clinton
George Clooney expressed his endorsement for Hillary Clinton during her 2016 presidential campaign.
2016: Stars in "Hail, Caesar!"
George Clooney starred in "Hail, Caesar!" in 2016.
February 9, 2017: News of Expecting Twins
On February 9, 2017, CBS talk show, The Talk, reported that George and Amal Clooney were expecting twins.
June 1, 2017: Start of Highest-Paid Actor Period
This date marks the beginning of the period during which Clooney was ranked the world's highest-paid actor by Forbes.
June 6, 2017: Birth of Twins
Amal Clooney gave birth to twins, a daughter named Ella and a son named Alexander, on June 6, 2017.
June 2017: Sale of Casamigos Tequila
Casamigos Tequila was sold to Diageo for a staggering $700 million in June 2017, with the potential for an additional $300 million based on the company's future performance.
October 2017: Release of "Suburbicon"
George Clooney's directorial project, "Suburbicon," a crime comedy set in the 1950s and written by the Coen brothers, was released in October 2017.
2017: Honorary César Award
George Clooney received the Honorary César in 2017.
June 1, 2018: End of Highest-Paid Actor Period
This date marks the end of Clooney's reign as the world's highest-paid actor according to Forbes.
June 7, 2018: AFI Life Achievement Award
On June 7, 2018, George Clooney was honored with the AFI Life Achievement Award, presented by Shirley MacLaine, with tributes from notable figures like Julianna Margulies, Cate Blanchett, and Bill Murray.
July 10, 2018: Motorcycle Accident in Sardinia
George Clooney was hit by a car while riding a motorcycle to a film set in Sardinia on July 10, 2018, resulting in hospitalization with minor injuries.
2018: Support for March for Our Lives
George Clooney and Amal pledged $500,000 to the March for Our Lives in 2018 following the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, advocating for gun control.
2018: AFI Life Achievement Award
George Clooney was awarded the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2018.
March 28, 2019: LGBTQ+ Rights Advocacy and Brunei Boycott
On March 28, 2019, George Clooney called for a boycott of hotels owned by the Sultan of Brunei in response to the country's anti-LGBTQ+ laws.
April 3, 2019: New Law in Brunei
A law punishing homosexual sex and adultery with death by stoning came into force in Brunei on April 3, 2019, prompting George Clooney's call for a boycott.
May 31, 2019: Premiere of "Catch-22"
"Catch-22," a Hulu historical miniseries based on Joseph Heller's novel, premiered on May 31, 2019, with George Clooney starring in, directing, and producing the critically acclaimed show.
July 28, 2020: Virtual Fundraiser for Joe Biden
George Clooney, along with Barack Obama, hosted a virtual fundraiser event on July 28, 2020, to gather support for Joe Biden's 2020 presidential campaign.
August 7, 2020: Donation to Lebanese Charities
On August 7, 2020, in response to a devastating explosion in Beirut, Lebanon, George and Amal Clooney donated $100,000 to support relief efforts through the Lebanese Red Cross, Impact Lebanon, and Baytna Baytak.
October 2020: Publication of Sports Illustrated Article on Ohio State University Abuse Scandal
Jon Wertheim authored an article in Sports Illustrated in October 2020 about the Ohio State University abuse scandal, which would later serve as the basis for a docuseries co-produced by George Clooney's company.
2020: Releases Science Fiction Film "The Midnight Sky"
George Clooney directed the science fiction film "The Midnight Sky" in 2020.
2020: Twins' Fluency in Italian
In 2020, George Clooney revealed that his twins could speak Italian fluently, even though neither he nor Amal spoke the language.
February 2021: Announcement of Ohio State University Abuse Scandal Docuseries
In February 2021, The Hollywood Reporter announced George Clooney's Smokehouse Pictures would collaborate with Sports Illustrated Studios and 101 Studios to create a docuseries exploring the Ohio State University abuse scandal.
May 2021: Planned Vineyard Purchase in France
The Economic Times reported in May 2021 that George Clooney planned to purchase a vineyard near Brignoles, France.
November 2021: Open Letter to The Daily Mail
Clooney penned an op-ed in The Daily Mail in November 2021, urging them to cease publishing pictures of his children. He stressed the potential danger it posed, given his wife's work as an international lawyer dealing with terrorist groups.
December 22, 2021: Premiere of "The Tender Bar"
On December 22, 2021, "The Tender Bar," a coming-of-age film directed by George Clooney and starring Ben Affleck, premiered across the nation.
January 7, 2022: "The Tender Bar" Streaming Release
"The Tender Bar," directed by George Clooney, became available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video starting January 7, 2022.
June 2022: HBO Announces Production of Ohio State University Abuse Scandal Documentary
HBO confirmed in June 2022 that production had begun on a documentary about the Ohio State University abuse scandal, a project involving George Clooney's Smokehouse Pictures, with plans to release it on HBO and HBO Max.
September 30, 2022: Initial Release Date for "Ticket to Paradise"
"Ticket to Paradise," a romantic comedy featuring George Clooney and Julia Roberts, was initially scheduled for release in theaters on September 30, 2022.
October 21, 2022: Theatrical Release of "Ticket to Paradise"
"Ticket to Paradise," a romantic comedy directed by Ol Parker and starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts, was released in theaters on October 21, 2022.
2022: Kennedy Center Honors
In 2022, George Clooney was recognized with the Kennedy Center Honors.
December 25, 2023: Release of "The Boys in the Boat"
George Clooney directed the biographical sports drama "The Boys in the Boat," based on the book by Daniel James Brown. The film, starring Callum Turner and Joel Edgerton, premiered on December 25, 2023, receiving mixed reviews.
2023: One of Four People Nominated for an Oscar in Six Categories
As of 2023, George Clooney is one of four people to be nominated for Academy Awards in six different categories.
2023: Releases "The Boys in the Boat"
George Clooney directed the biographical sports drama "The Boys in the Boat," which was released in 2023.
2024: Involvement in "Wolfs" and an Untitled Noah Baumbach Film
In 2024, George Clooney is set to appear in Jon Watts' thriller "Wolfs" alongside Brad Pitt and has been cast in a leading role for an upcoming Netflix film directed by Noah Baumbach.