George Clooney

George Clooney Returns in New Movie Wolfs, Now in Theaters

George Clooney is back in the spotlight with his latest film, Wolfs, an action-comedy where he stars alongside longtime friend and fellow actor Brad Pitt. The film, which made its debut at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, hit select theaters on September 20. Clooney, now 63, takes on the role of Jack, a professional “fixer” hired to cover up a high-profile crime. However, he must reluctantly team up with his rival, both of whom are known as lone wolves.

This marks the first time Clooney and Pitt have shared the screen in 16 years, their last collaboration being 2008’s Burn After Reading. Reflecting on their reunion, Clooney told Deadline in 2023, “It’s an off-the-charts great film, and it’s fun to work with Brad again. We had a really good time.”

Though Wolfs was initially planned for a wider release, it will be shown in limited theaters for just a week before streaming on Apple TV+ starting September 27. Addressing the shift in release plans, Clooney told The Hollywood Reporter, “We’re happy it’s getting released at all. Of course, we wish it had a wider release, but we’re navigating a revolutionary time in our industry. We’ll get through it.”

Who Is George Clooney?

George Clooney is a two-time Academy Award–winning actor, director, and producer, renowned as one of Hollywood’s most iconic figures. After nearly a decade of steady work, Clooney’s big break came in 1994 when he portrayed Dr. Doug Ross on the hit TV show ER, earning an Emmy nomination for his performance. His success on ER paved the way for major film roles in Batman & Robin and O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Over the years, Clooney has starred in numerous critically acclaimed films, including Ocean’s Eleven and its sequels, Michael Clayton, and The Descendants. He won Oscars for Syriana (2005) and Argo (2012). Once considered one of Hollywood’s most eligible bachelors, Clooney is now married to international human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, and the couple shares two children. His latest project is the 2024 action-comedy Wolfs, now available in select theaters.

Early Life

George Timothy Clooney was born on May 6, 1961, in Lexington, Kentucky, into a prominent family known for their work in media and entertainment. His father, Nick Clooney, was a well-regarded television personality and news anchor, while his mother, Nina, was a former pageant queen, journalist, and later a city councilwoman. His aunt, Rosemary Clooney, was a renowned singer and actress. Due to his father’s career, the family moved frequently across Kentucky and Ohio before finally settling in Augusta, Kentucky, in 1974, where they lived in a large Victorian home.

Despite their recognition, the Clooneys led a relatively modest life. George’s father, Nick, maintained a strong presence at home, ensuring he was available for family dinners despite his demanding work schedule. These dinners were often filled with discussions about current events, reflecting Nick’s admiration for iconic journalists like Edward R. Murrow and Walter Cronkite.

George made his television debut at just five years old, appearing in sketches on his father’s local talk shows. However, his confidence was shaken in middle school when he developed Bell’s palsy, which caused temporary facial paralysis. Fortunately, he recovered, and during his school years, George was more focused on sports than academics, though he was a good student. At 16, he even tried out for the Cincinnati Reds baseball team, but a career in baseball never materialized.

George briefly attended Northern Kentucky University, where he studied broadcast journalism, but left in 1981, feeling unsuited for a career in journalism and tired of constant comparisons to his father. After dropping out, he worked various jobs, including as a shoe salesman and tobacco farmhand. His break into acting came unexpectedly when his cousin, Miguel Ferrer, invited him to work on a film project. Although the movie was never released, the experience reignited his passion for acting, leading him to move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in Hollywood.

Movies and TV Shows

Clooney’s early career in Hollywood involved a series of small roles. He gained his first major break in 1985 with a recurring role on the teen comedy The Facts of Life. Between 1988 and 1991, he made guest appearances on the hit sitcom Roseanne and continued to land roles in various TV series, including Bodies of Evidence and Sisters. He also appeared in small film roles, though nothing seemed to push his career to the next level.

Despite steady work, Clooney felt his career was stagnating. “I was making a couple hundred grand a year, which is beating all the odds, but I wished I was doing better projects,” Clooney later told The New Yorker. His big break was just around the corner.

Today, Clooney is a two-time Academy Award winner and three-time Golden Globe recipient. He has also been honored with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2015 and the American Film Institute’s Life Achievement Award in 2018.

Big Break in ER

In 1994, Clooney was cast as Dr. Doug Ross on ER, a role that would make him a household name. Playing a charming yet troubled pediatrician, Clooney became one of the show’s breakout stars. His good looks and charisma made him a natural fit for the big screen, and soon he was balancing his work on ER with movie roles. Notable early film appearances during this period included From Dusk till Dawn (1996) and One Fine Day (1996), where he starred alongside Michelle Pfeiffer.

Clooney’s performance on ER earned him two Emmy nominations and three consecutive Golden Globe nominations. In 1999, after five successful seasons, Clooney left the series to pursue his movie career full-time.

Batman & Robin

In 1997, Clooney took on the iconic role of Batman in Batman & Robin. Despite the film’s commercial success, it was widely criticized, and Clooney himself has often reflected negatively on the experience, even apologizing for his involvement. “It was a difficult film to be good in,” Clooney admitted. “I don’t know what I could have done differently.”

However, this setback did not derail his career. Clooney soon rebounded with critically acclaimed roles in films such as Out of Sight (1998) and Three Kings (1999).

O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Ocean’s Eleven

Clooney continued his rise to stardom, starring in O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000) and The Perfect Storm (2000). In 2001, he starred as Danny Ocean in Ocean’s Eleven, a role that became one of his most defining. The film’s success led to two sequels, Ocean’s Twelve (2004) and Ocean’s Thirteen (2007), solidifying Clooney’s status as one of Hollywood’s leading men.

Academy Awards and Directorial Success

Clooney made his directorial debut in 2002 with Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and further established himself as a filmmaker with Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), for which he earned Oscar nominations for Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. That same year, he won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Syriana.

Later Career and Legacy

In 2025, Clooney is set to make his Broadway debut in the stage adaptation of Good Night, and Good Luck, further showcasing his multifaceted talents. His journey from small TV roles to Hollywood royalty has cemented his legacy as one of the most accomplished actors and filmmakers of his generation.

Up in the Air and The Descendants

In 2007, George Clooney delivered a standout performance in the legal thriller Michael Clayton, playing a law firm’s “fixer” who handles complex problems for clients. His portrayal earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Following this, Clooney took on roles in films such as the sports comedy Leatherheads (2008) and the Brad Pitt-led satire Burn After Reading (2008). In 2009, Clooney’s career reached new heights with his role in Up in the Air. As Ryan Bingham, a corporate consultant who specializes in terminating employees, Clooney captivated audiences and critics alike, earning another Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

In 2011, Clooney showcased his versatility with The Ides of March, a political drama in which he directed, co-wrote, and starred as a presidential candidate. The film, based on the play Farragut North, also featured Ryan Gosling. Clooney received an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, along with Golden Globe nominations for his direction and writing.

Also in 2011, Clooney delivered a remarkable performance in Alexander Payne’s family drama The Descendants. Playing a father grappling with personal and familial crises after his wife’s severe accident, Clooney earned a Golden Globe for Best Actor and another Academy Award nomination.

Gravity and Suburbicon

Clooney won his second Oscar as a producer for Argo, the 2012 political thriller that took home the Academy Award for Best Picture. The film, directed by and starring Ben Affleck, was based on real events during the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis.

In 2013, Clooney starred alongside Sandra Bullock in Gravity, a space disaster epic that became one of the year’s highest-grossing films. The following year, Clooney directed and starred in The Monuments Men, a historical drama centered on World War II art preservationists.

In 2016, Clooney appeared in Hail, Caesar! and Money Monster (directed by Jodie Foster), followed by the 2017 directorial project Suburbicon, a dark satire starring Matt Damon and Julianne Moore. Shortly after the release of Suburbicon, Clooney hinted at stepping back from acting, citing his desire to focus on more selective projects.

Catch-22

One of those projects was Catch-22, a 2019 limited series adaptation of Joseph Heller’s classic novel. Clooney both directed and starred in the series, marking his first regular television role since ER. His portrayal of the neurotic Colonel Cathcart was part of a broader effort to bring Heller’s World War II satire to modern audiences.

The Midnight Sky and Ticket to Paradise

In 2020, Clooney returned to directing and acting in The Midnight Sky, a Netflix science-fiction film in which he played a lone scientist trying to warn astronauts of a global catastrophe. Based on Lily Brooks-Dalton’s novel Good Morning, Midnight, the film received mixed reviews.

Clooney followed this with The Tender Bar (2021), a coming-of-age story adapted from the memoir by J.R. Moehringer. Clooney directed the film, which featured Ben Affleck in a key role as a mentor figure.

In 2022, Clooney reunited with Julia Roberts for the romantic comedy Ticket to Paradise, where they played divorced parents attempting to stop their daughter’s wedding. While the film received lukewarm reviews, it marked Clooney’s return to the big screen after a six-year hiatus.

The Boys in the Boat and Wolfs

In 2023, Clooney directed The Boys in the Boat, a sports drama based on the true story of the University of Washington rowing team’s journey to the 1936 Olympics. Though the film grossed over $50 million, it garnered mixed critical reception.

Clooney’s next role was a voice performance as Spaceman in the 2024 fantasy film IF. He returned to action-comedy with Wolfs (2024), an Apple TV+ film where Clooney stars alongside Brad Pitt as rival professional fixers. Released in September 2024, Wolfs marked Clooney’s return to his roots in action-packed, high-stakes comedy.

Net Worth

As of August 2024, George Clooney’s estimated net worth stands at $500 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. A significant portion of his wealth comes from his tequila brand, Casamigos, which he co-founded in 2013. When Casamigos was sold in 2017, Clooney received $233 million from the deal, earning him the top spot on Forbes’ annual ranking of highest-paid actors in 2018.

Clooney is also the co-founder of Smokehouse Pictures, a production company he launched in 2006 with Grant Heslov. The company has produced numerous notable films, including the Oscar-winning Argo (2012) and August: Osage County (2013), along with several of Clooney’s own directorial projects, such as Good Night, and Good Luck (2005).

Wife Amal Clooney

Clooney met Amal Alamuddin, a distinguished British-Lebanese human rights lawyer, in July 2013 through a mutual friend. At the time, Clooney was 52, and Amal was 35. After a few months of dating, Clooney proposed in April 2014, and the couple married in September of that year in Venice, Italy. Amal took Clooney’s last name, and in June 2017, the couple welcomed twins, Ella and Alexander. Currently, the family resides in the quiet village of Cotignac, France, after previously living in a villa on Lake Como, Italy.

First Wife Talia Balsam and Other Relationships

Clooney was married once before to actress Talia Balsam. The pair wed in December 1989 but divorced in September 1993. Following their split, Clooney famously declared that he would never marry or have children again—a promise he later broke. During the years after his divorce, Clooney was romantically linked to several high-profile women, including actresses Kimberly Russell, Krista Allen, and Stacy Keibler.

Children

Clooney and Amal are the proud parents of twins, Alexander and Ella, born in 2017. Despite his celebrity status, Clooney has made a conscious effort to keep his children out of the public eye. He has shared glimpses into their lives, mentioning that both children are fluent in French and Italian and have a great sense of humor. Clooney’s dedication to fatherhood includes balancing his work and family life, and he enjoys driving his kids to school whenever possible. His primary concern is their safety, leading him to maintain a strict policy against publicizing their photos.

Political Causes and Philanthropy

Clooney is known for his active involvement in political and humanitarian causes. An outspoken liberal, he has been a consistent critic of U.S. policies, particularly during the presidency of George W. Bush and the Iraq War. He supported Barack Obama’s campaigns in 2008 and 2012 and later endorsed Joe Biden in 2020. In July 2024, Clooney penned an op-ed urging President Biden to end his bid for reelection due to his age, a call that was followed by Biden’s decision to step out of the race. Clooney then endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris.

In 2006, Clooney visited the Darfur region in Sudan, documenting the atrocities of the conflict there. His efforts helped raise global awareness about the crisis. He later co-founded Not On Our Watch, a nonprofit organization aimed at stopping mass atrocities, alongside other celebrities such as Brad Pitt and Don Cheadle. For his activism, Clooney received numerous accolades, including the Peace Summit Award in 2007.

Philanthropic Contributions

In addition to his advocacy, Clooney has made substantial financial contributions to various causes. He raised $129 million through a star-studded fundraiser for United Way after the 9/11 attacks. In 2005, he donated $1 million to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina. In 2018, after the tragic Parkland school shooting, Clooney and Amal contributed $500,000 to the March for Our Lives movement, inspiring others like Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg to follow suit. His philanthropy earned him the Bob Hope Humanitarian Award in 2010.