History of George Clooney in Timeline

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George Clooney

George Clooney is a highly acclaimed American actor, filmmaker, and philanthropist. Renowned 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 been nominated for multiple Primetime Emmy Awards and a Tony Award. Clooney's contributions to the entertainment industry have been further acknowledged through prestigious honors such as the Cecil B. DeMille Award, the Honorary César, the AFI Life Achievement Award, and the Kennedy Center Honor.

1977: Tryout for Cincinnati Reds

In 1977, George Clooney tried out for the Cincinnati Reds baseball team.

1987: Dated Kelly Preston

George Clooney dated Kelly Preston beginning in 1987.

1989: Ended relationship with Kelly Preston

In 1989, George Clooney and Kelly Preston ended their relationship. During this relationship, he purchased a Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig named Max as a gift for Preston, but when their relationship ended, Clooney kept the pig for an additional 18 years until Max died in 2006.

1989: Marriage to Talia Balsam

In 1989, George Clooney married actress Talia Balsam.

1993: Divorce from Talia Balsam

In 1993, George Clooney and Talia Balsam divorced.

1995: Dated Cameron Diaz and Frances Fisher

In 1995, George Clooney dated Cameron Diaz and Frances Fisher.

1995: Purchase of Los Angeles Property

In 1995, George Clooney purchased a 7,354-square-foot house in Los Angeles through his George Guilfoyle Trust.

1996: Relationship with Céline Balitran

George Clooney started dating French reality TV personality Céline Balitran in 1996.

1999: Ended relationship with Céline Balitran

George Clooney and Céline Balitran ended their relationship in 1999.

2000: Linked to Charlize Theron and Lucy Liu

In 2000, George Clooney was linked to Charlize Theron and Lucy Liu.

2001: Dated Renée Zellweger

George Clooney dated Renée Zellweger in 2001.

2002: Dated Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Krista Allen

In 2002, George Clooney dated Jennifer Siebel Newsom and Krista Allen.

2005: Ranked Sexiest Star of All Time by TV Guide

In 2005, TV Guide ranked George Clooney No. 1 on its '50 Sexiest Stars of All Time' list.

April 2006: Journey to Darfur TV Special

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 highlighted the plight of Darfur's refugees and advocated for action. The documentary was broadcast on American cable TV, as well as in the UK and France.

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August 2006: Starts Smokehouse Pictures

In August 2006, George Clooney and Grant Heslov started the production company Smokehouse Pictures.

October 2006: American Cinematheque Award

In October 2006, George Clooney received the American Cinematheque Award for his significant contributions to motion pictures.

2006: Dated Linda Thompson

George Clooney dated Linda Thompson in 2006.

2006: Humorous Statements Against Republican Party Figures

In 2006, George Clooney made humorous and sarcastic statements against Republican Party figures at the 63rd Golden Globe Awards.

2006: Death of Max the Pig

In 2006, Max, the Vietnamese Pot-bellied pig owned by George Clooney, died. Clooney had kept Max for 18 years after his relationship with Kelly Preston ended. Clooney has referred to Max as the longest relationship he ever had.

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, citing the failure of Sudan President Omar al-Bashir to respond to UN resolutions.

June 2007: Relationship with Sarah Larson

In June 2007, George Clooney started dating reality personality Sarah Larson.

September 21, 2007: Motorcycle Accident

On September 21, 2007, George Clooney and his then-girlfriend Sarah Larson were injured in a motorcycle accident in Weehawken, New Jersey, when his motorcycle was hit by a car. Conflicting reports emerged regarding the cause of the accident.

October 9, 2007: Medical Records Breach

On October 9, 2007, more than two dozen staff at Palisades Medical Center were suspended without pay for looking at George Clooney's medical records in violation of federal law following his motorcycle accident.

November 2007: Appearance in Darfur Now

In November 2007, George Clooney appeared in the documentary film 'Darfur Now', which was a call-to-action film released for people all over the world to help stop the Darfur crisis.

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December 2007: Summit Peace Award

In December 2007, George Clooney and Don Cheadle received the Summit Peace Award from the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates in Rome for their advocacy work regarding the Darfur crisis. Clooney acknowledged their efforts as 'failures' in his acceptance speech.

2007: Named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People

George Clooney was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2007.

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. This role was to support the UN's efforts in conflict resolution and peacekeeping.

January 22, 2008: Academy Award Nomination

On January 22, 2008, George Clooney was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in "Michael Clayton", but he lost to Daniel Day-Lewis, who won for "There Will Be Blood".

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February 2008: Time Cover Story

In February 2008, George Clooney was featured on the cover of Time magazine with the headline 'George Clooney: The Last Movie Star'.

April 4, 2008: Resignation from the Writers Guild of America

On April 4, 2008, it was reported that George Clooney had resigned from the Writers Guild of America over a dispute concerning "Leatherheads". He withdrew after losing an arbitration vote regarding writing credit for the film.

May 2008: Broke up with Sarah Larson

In May 2008, George Clooney and Sarah Larson broke up.

2008: Supported Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign

In 2008, George Clooney supported Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

2008: Darfur documentary released on DVD

In 2008, the documentary 'A Journey to Darfur' was released on DVD, with the proceeds from the sales being donated to the International Rescue Committee, to further aid their humanitarian work.

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February 2009: Visited Goz Beida, Chad

In February 2009, George Clooney visited Goz Beida, Chad, with New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof.

July 2009: Relationship with Elisabetta Canalis

In July 2009, George Clooney began a relationship with Italian actress Elisabetta Canalis.

November 2009: Releases and Voices Films

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, was given a wide release. His performance was highly praised, with many considering it an awards contender.

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2009: Named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People

George Clooney was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2009.

January 2010: Organized 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

In October 2010, George Clooney, along with John Prendergast, initiated the Satellite Sentinel Project (SSP) following a trip to South Sudan. The SSP aims 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.

May 2011: Op-ed in Washington Post

In May 2011, George Clooney and John Prendergast co-wrote an op-ed piece in the Washington Post titled 'Dancing with a dictator in Sudan', where they argued about...

June 2011: Split with Elisabetta Canalis

In June 2011, George Clooney and Elisabetta Canalis split up.

July 2011: Relationship with Stacy Keibler

In July 2011, George Clooney began dating former WWE personnel Stacy Keibler.

2011: Stars in The Descendants and Receives Accolades

In 2011, George Clooney starred in "The Descendants", earning critical acclaim and winning the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor. He also received multiple nominations for other awards. Clooney was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for "The Ides of March".

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March 2012: Performance in Dustin Lance Black's play 8

In March 2012, George Clooney starred alongside 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. Clooney played attorney David Boies in the production, which was held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre and broadcast on YouTube to raise money for the American Foundation for Equal Rights.

March 16, 2012: Arrested Outside Sudanese Embassy

On March 16, 2012, George Clooney was arrested outside the Sudanese Embassy for civil disobedience during a planned protest. Several other prominent participants, including Martin Luther King III, were also arrested. Clooney has been noted as a vocal critic of Omar al-Bashir.

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). GLSEN aims to create a safe space in schools for children who are or may be perceived to be gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender.

2012: Supported Barack Obama's Presidential Campaign

In 2012, George Clooney supported Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

July 2013: Ended relationship with Stacy Keibler

In July 2013, George Clooney and Stacy Keibler ended their relationship.

2013: Co-founded Casamigos Tequila

In 2013, George Clooney co-founded Casamigos Tequila with Rande Gerber and Michael Meldman.

2013: Produced 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.

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2013: Wins Awards for Producing Argo and Stars in Gravity

In 2013, George Clooney won the Golden Globe Award, the BAFTA Award, and the Academy Award for Best Picture for producing "Argo". He also co-starred with Sandra Bullock in "Gravity".

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April 28, 2014: Engagement to Amal Alamuddin

On April 28, 2014, George Clooney became engaged to British-Lebanese human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin. They bonded over their shared interest in campaigning work, particularly concerning the Elgin Marbles.

July 2014: Public Mockery of Daily Mail

In July 2014, George Clooney publicly mocked the British tabloid newspaper 'Daily Mail' after it claimed his fiancée's mother opposed their marriage on religious grounds. He refused to accept their apology, calling them 'the worst kind of tabloid'.

August 7, 2014: Obtained Marriage Licenses

On August 7, 2014, George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin obtained marriage licenses at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea of the United Kingdom.

September 27, 2014: Marriage to Amal Alamuddin

On September 27, 2014, George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin were officially married at Ca' Farsetti in a ceremony officiated by Clooney's friend Walter Veltroni, the former mayor of Rome.

2014: Purchase of Mill House in England

In 2014, George Clooney and his wife Amal Alamuddin bought the Grade II listed Mill House on an island in the River Thames at Sonning Eye in Oxfordshire, England for around £10 million.

2014: Releases The Monuments Men

In 2014, George Clooney co-wrote, directed, and starred in "The Monuments Men", which was based on the book "The Monuments Men: Allied Heroes, Nazi Thieves and the Greatest Treasure Hunt in History" by Robert M. Edsel. The film received negative reviews and was a box office failure.

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2014: Rejection of apology from the Daily Mail

In 2014, George Clooney rejected an apology from the Daily Mail for printing a false story, calling the Mail the "worst kind of tabloid."

May 2015: Focus on Syrian Refugees

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: Adoption of Millie the Rescue Dog

In 2015, George Clooney and Amal Alamuddin adopted a rescue dog, a Basset Hound named Millie, from the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society.

2015: Stars in Tomorrowland and A Very Murray Christmas

In 2015, George Clooney starred in "Tomorrowland" as Frank Walker and appeared as himself in the Netflix Christmas musical comedy "A Very Murray Christmas".

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2015: Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award

In 2015, George Clooney was awarded the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his significant contributions to the entertainment industry.

February 2016: Stars in Hail, Caesar!

In February 2016, George Clooney starred in "Hail, Caesar!", a comedy by the Coen brothers, portraying Baird Whitlock, a kidnapped film star.

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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, and subsequently met with German chancellor Angela Merkel to thank her for Germany's open-door policy regarding refugees.

April 2016: Commemoration of Armenian Genocide Anniversary

In April 2016, George Clooney visited Armenia to commemorate the 101st anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. He supports the recognition of the Armenian Genocide and is a chief associate of the 100 Lives Initiative and launched the Aurora Prize.

2016: Endorsed Hillary Clinton

In 2016, George Clooney endorsed Hillary Clinton for the presidential election.

February 9, 2017: Pregnancy Announcement

On February 9, 2017, it was reported that Amal Clooney was pregnant with twins on the CBS talk show, The Talk.

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June 6, 2017: Birth of Twins

On June 6, 2017, Amal Clooney gave birth to twins, a daughter named Ella and a son named Alexander.

June 2017: Sells 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 depending on future performance.

October 2017: Suburbicon Release

In October 2017, George Clooney's directorial project "Suburbicon", a 1950s-set crime comedy, was released.

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June 1, 2018: Highest-Paid Actor

According to Forbes, George Clooney was the world's highest-paid actor for 2017–2018, earning $239 million between June 1, 2017, and June 1, 2018.

June 7, 2018: Receives AFI Life Achievement Award

On June 7, 2018, George Clooney received the 2018 AFI Life Achievement Award, presented by Shirley MacLaine.

July 10, 2018: Car Accident in Sardinia

On July 10, 2018, George Clooney was hit by a car while riding a motorcycle to a film set in Sardinia. He was hospitalized with minor injuries.

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 to support the cause.

March 28, 2019: Call to Boycott 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 over a new law set to come into force on April 3, 2019, that punishes homosexual sex and adultery with death by stoning.

April 3, 2019: Law punishing homosexual sex and adultery with death by stoning came into force

The new law in Brunei that punishes homosexual sex and adultery with death by stoning came into force on April 3, 2019. George Clooney called for boycott of the Sultan of Brunei's hotels.

May 31, 2019: Catch-22 Premieres

On May 31, 2019, the Hulu historical miniseries "Catch-22", starring, directing, and producing George Clooney, premiered to critical acclaim.

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July 2020: Hosted Virtual Fundraiser for Joe Biden

In July 2020, George Clooney hosted a virtual fundraiser for Joe Biden 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 Beirut was devastated by an explosion that killed at least 145 people and injured over 5,000.

2020: Twins Speak Italian Fluently

In 2020, George Clooney revealed on talk shows with Jimmy Kimmel and Graham Norton that his twins could speak Italian fluently, even though neither he nor Amal Alamuddin spoke the language.

February 2021: Smokehouse Pictures to Produce Docuseries

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.

May 2021: Plans to Buy Vineyard in France

In May 2021, it was reported that George Clooney plans to buy a vineyard near the village of Brignoles in France, which includes an 18th-century manor with its own swimming pool and a tennis court.

November 2021: Op-ed to The Daily Mail

In November 2021, George Clooney wrote an op-ed to British tabloid The Daily Mail, petitioning them to stop publishing photos of his children, highlighting that his wife is an international lawyer who works "confronting and putting on trial terrorist groups" and that the tabloid was endangering their lives.

December 22, 2021: The Tender Bar Nationwide Premiere

On December 22, 2021, "The Tender Bar", directed by George Clooney and based on the memoir by J. R. Moehringer, had its nationwide premiere.

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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.

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June 2022: HBO Announces Surviving Ohio State Documentary

In June 2022, HBO announced that production had started on a feature-length documentary film titled "Surviving Ohio State" based on the Ohio State University abuse scandal.

October 21, 2022: Ticket to Paradise Theatrical Release

Ticket to Paradise, the romantic comedy film starring George Clooney, was released in theatres on October 21, 2022.

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December 25, 2023: The Boys in the Boat Released

On December 25, 2023, George Clooney's film as a director, the biographical sports drama "The Boys in the Boat" was released, receiving mixed reviews.

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2023: Nominated for Academy Awards in six categories

As of 2023, George Clooney is one of four people to have been nominated for Academy Awards in six different categories.

July 2024: Called 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 concerns about Biden's age and performance.

2024: Wolfs Premieres

In 2024, George Clooney re-teamed with Brad Pitt for the Apple TV+ thriller film "Wolfs", which premiered at the Venice International Film Festival to positive reviews.

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June 17, 2025: Release Date for Surviving Ohio State

The documentary film, titled "Surviving Ohio State", is scheduled for release on June 17, 2025, on HBO and HBO MAX.

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.

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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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2025: Stands by Op-Ed Choice

In 2025, George Clooney, while promoting his Broadway play, stated that he stood by his choice in writing the op-ed calling for Biden to withdraw, emphasizing his commitment to truth.