George Clooney, the two-time Academy Award-winning movie star, tequila mogul, philanthropist, father of twins, husband to Amal, and silver fox we all know and love, had humble beginnings in Hollywood. In a recent interview with ET, Clooney reminisced about his early days in the industry, revealing that he used to ride a bicycle to auditions because he couldn’t afford a car. “I was doing construction work for a living and I didn’t have any money at all,” he shared.
Clooney’s breakthrough came in 1985 when he landed a guest starring role on the TV series The Facts of Life. This was followed by a semi-regular role on Roseanne in 1988 and appearances on The Golden Girls and Body of Evidence. He even starred in a short-lived ABC drama called Sunset Beat, where he rocked long hair and played a rocker-motorcycle-cop.
However, it was his role as pediatrician Dr. Doug Ross on the medical drama E.R. that catapulted Clooney to stardom. The show not only became a massive hit but also received critical acclaim, earning Clooney Emmy nominations and establishing him as a household name. Reflecting on this pivotal moment in his career, Clooney said, “That was the turning point for my career, absolutely.”
From there, Clooney’s career soared to new heights with roles in acclaimed films like The Perfect Storm, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Syriana (which earned him his first Oscar win), Goodnight and Good Luck, Gravity, The Ides of March, and the Ocean’s films. He also received two “Sexiest Man Alive” titles from People magazine, founded a production company, sold his tequila company, protested peacefully and got arrested, made it to the Time 100 list, became best friends with Julia Roberts, joined the Council on Foreign Relations, won four Golden Globes, and tied the knot with Amal Alamuddin in a lavish wedding in Venice, Italy.
Looking ahead, Clooney remains focused on evolving and taking on new challenges. He recently received his first Tony nomination and expressed his fear of stagnation. “My biggest fear is doing the same things 10 years from now,” he said. “That would be a failure. It’s something you have to constantly reassess, and asking yourself what you are going to do next makes it a good, long, full journey.”
As we celebrate Clooney’s incredible journey, let’s take a look back at some photos of the young and aspiring actor who defied the odds to become a global superstar.
