George Timothy Clooney was born on May 6, 1961, in Lexington, Kentucky. He is the younger of two children born to television journalist Nick Clooney and his wife, Nina (née Warren). His family was prominent in the media: his father worked for many years as a TV news anchor, while his mother was a former beauty pageant queen and later became a journalist and city councillor. He has an older sister, Adelia “Ada,” born in 1960. His paternal aunt is Rosemary Clooney, a well-known singer and actress.
Clooney spent his childhood in small-town Kentucky. When he was very young, the family moved several times between Kentucky and Ohio due to his father’s broadcasting career, but in 1974 they settled permanently in Augusta, Kentucky. Augusta is a rural town of about 1,000 residents located along the Ohio River.
Growing up there, Clooney was exposed early to his family’s media world; at the age of five, he appeared on one of his father’s local talk shows. He was also active in school sports. For example, he played baseball and, at 16, earned a tryout with the Cincinnati Reds, although he did not make the team.
Clooney attended Augusta High School, graduating in 1979. He then studied broadcast journalism at Northern Kentucky University from 1979 to 1981 and also took some classes at the University of Cincinnati. However, he did not complete a college degree and left school in 1981.
| Fact | Details |
| Full Name | George Timothy Clooney |
| Birth Date | May 6, 1961 |
| Birthplace | Kentucky, USA |
| Profession | Actor, Director, Producer |
| Breakthrough | ER (1994–1999) |
| Oscars | 2 Academy Awards |
| Business | Casamigos (sold for $1B) |
| Company | Smokehouse Pictures |
| Recent Work | Wolfs, Jay Kelly |
| Net Worth 2026 | Not publicly confirmed |
George Clooney’s career spans decades of success in television, film, directing, and producing, making him one of Hollywood’s most respected figures. George Clooney began acting in the late 1970s, appearing in minor television roles before gaining prominence. His early credits included guest spots and recurring parts on series such as The Facts of Lifeand Roseannein the mid-1980s.
Clooney’s big break came in 1994 when he was cast as Dr. Doug Ross on NBC’s hit medical drama ER. He played the charismatic pediatrician for five seasons (1994–1999), earning two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor. Clooney left ERin 1999 to focus on film work, though he later returned briefly for a 2000 episode and the series finale in 2009.
While still on ER, Clooney began building a film career. In 1997 and 1998 he appeared in studio pictures like Batman & Robinand Steven Soderbergh’s Out of Sight. After leaving television in 1999 he took leading roles in movies including Three Kings(1999), a critically acclaimed Gulf War satire. He then starred opposite the Coen brothers in O Brother, Where Art Thou?(2000), a period comedy set in the Deep South.
Clooney’s profile rose dramatically with the 2001 release of Ocean’s Eleven, a high-profile heist remake that became a major box-office success. In Ocean’s Elevenhe played the suave Danny Ocean, an ex-con assembling a team for a casino heist.
Clooney cemented his stardom in the 2000s with a string of leading performances across genres. He returned as Danny Ocean in the sequels Ocean’s Twelve(2004) and Ocean’s Thirteen(2007).
In 2005 he took on more dramatic material, earning widespread acclaim for playing a hard-edged CIA officer in the thriller Syriana(2005). For Syrianahe won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2006.
That same year he directed and starred in Good Night, and Good Luck(2005), a historical drama about 1950s broadcast journalism; Clooney later explained he chose the project because it portrayed “two great moments in broadcast journalism” that “had an effect on American policy.”
Other notable roles in this period included the title lawyer in the legal thriller Michael Clayton(2007) and the driven corporate downsizer in Up in the Air(2009). Both of these performances earned Best Actor Oscar nominations.
Clooney also starred as a father in grief in The Descendants(2011), for which he received another Academy Award nomination. These roles reinforced his reputation as a versatile leading man.
In addition to acting, Clooney has built a significant career behind the camera. He made his feature-film directorial debut with the comedy Confessions of a Dangerous Mindin 2002.
He went on to direct several of his own projects: Good Night, and Good Luck(2005), Leatherheads(2008), The Ides of March(2011) and The Monuments Men(2014). More recently he directed the films The Midnight Sky(2020) and The Tender Bar(2021).
For The Midnight Sky, Clooney said the story ultimately became about “our desperate need to be home or to be with the people we love.” He continues to take on directing projects, including the series The Department, where he serves as director and executive producer through his Smokehouse Pictures company.
Clooney has also been prolific as a producer. He co-founded Smokehouse Pictures with Grant Heslov to develop and produce film and television projects. Under that banner he produced the political thriller Argo(2012), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture. He also produced The Ides of March(2011) and films such as Ticket to Paradise(2022).
In television, he has served as executive producer on projects including the miniseries Catch-22(2019) and Impeachment: American Crime Story(2021). Smokehouse Pictures remains central to his production work.
Clooney’s work has earned significant industry recognition. He has won two Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor for Syrianaand Best Picture as a producer of Argo. He has also received multiple Academy Award nominations, including several for Best Actor. He has won three Golden Globe Awards for his performances in Ocean’s Eleven, Syriana, and The Descendants.
Earlier in his career, he received Emmy nominations for his work on ER. In 2025, his Broadway debut in Good Night, and Good Luckearned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actor.
Additional honors include the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement and a Kennedy Center Honor. He has also been recognized as one of the most influential figures in the entertainment industry.
Clooney is regarded as a leading figure in modern Hollywood due to his success across acting, directing, and producing. He played a key role in demonstrating that television actors could successfully transition to major film careers during the 1990s and 2000s.
His screen presence reflects a classic Hollywood style, and his film choices often emphasize character-driven storytelling and socially relevant themes. The Ocean’sfilm series exemplifies his ability to combine commercial success with ensemble-driven storytelling. His work behind the camera has further expanded his influence, positioning him as a creative leader who contributes to both mainstream and prestige projects.
George Clooney’s career reflects a successful transition from television to film, shaping modern Hollywood through acting, directing, and producing. Clooney has remained active in recent years across multiple areas of the industry. He continues to take on acting roles, including starring alongside Brad Pitt in the 2024 action-comedy Wolfs.
In 2025, he leads the cast of Jay Kelly, a film directed by Noah Baumbach and released on Netflix. He has also continued directing, with The Boys in the Boatreleased as a feature film based on a historical sports story.
In television, he is attached to The Departmentas both director and executive producer. Additionally, he expanded into theater with a Broadway production of Good Night, and Good Luckin 2025. Through ongoing collaborations and projects under Smokehouse Pictures, Clooney continues to play an active role in shaping film and television production.
As of 2026, George Clooney’s net worth has not been publicly disclosed, and no figure has been officially verified by major financial authorities. His income comes from multiple well-documented sources. He earns substantial multi-million-dollar fees for starring in major Hollywood films and is also active as a producer and director across film and television projects.
Clooney co-founded the Casamigos tequila company in 2013, which was later sold to Diageo for up to $1 billion. In addition, he generates income through long-term endorsement and partnership deals, including his ongoing collaboration with Nespresso, as well as campaigns with other consumer and automotive brands. However, specific earnings figures from these ventures are not publicly available.
George Clooney is best known for his role as Dr. Doug Ross on ERand for starring in films like Ocean’s Elevenand Syriana. He is also recognized for his work as a director and producer.
Yes, George Clooney has won two Academy Awards. He received Best Supporting Actor for Syrianaand Best Picture as a producer of Argo.
George Clooney co-founded Casamigos tequila in 2013. The company was later sold to Diageo in a deal valued at up to $1 billion.
Yes, George Clooney remains active in acting. He continues to take on roles in films while also working as a director and producer.
George Clooney co-founded Smokehouse Pictures with Grant Heslov. The company develops and produces film and television projects.