• Clooney to adopt a good-looking 24-year-old girl

George Timothy Clooney was born May 6, 1961, in Lexington, Ky. The Oscar-nominated writer, director and Oscar-winning actor is the son of Nick Clooney and Nina Warren Clooney. George is the nephew of Rosemary Clooney and has a sister, Ada, who is one year older.

George began first grade at Blessed Sacrament School in Ft. Mitchell, Ky. Later, St. Michael's School in Columbus, Ohio, and the Western Row and St. Susanna schools, both in Mason, Ohio, preceded the family's move to Augusta, Ky., for his high school education.

Always a sports fan, George had hoped to play football. Augusta High School, where he graduated in 1979, only offered basketball and baseball. He participated in both, eventually trying out with the Cincinnati Reds to play professional baseball, but this did not materialize.

Although it would take several years, George's livelihood would be in television and motion pictures. First, he attended Northern Kentucky University and, very briefly, the University of Cincinnati. In spring 1981, his cousins Miguel and Rafi Ferrer, two of his Aunt Rosemary's sons, and their father, Jose Ferrer, came to Lexington, Ky., to do a movie and invited George to the set. For George, this exposure to acting was love at first sight, and he never looked back.

George cut tobacco, sold lemonade at the Labor Day festival in Augusta and drew caricatures of people to get enough money together for his trip to Los Angeles, Calif., to become an actor. In fall 1981, he climbed into an old Monte Carlo automobile and three days later he was in his newly adopted hometown of Los Angeles, ready to do what was necessary to become an actor.

Slowly, small television appearances by George led to several unsuccessful television pilots -- until 1984. That year, George was cast in a role on a new television program called "ER" that was soon cancelled. Ironically, George's great TV success came with a second show also named "ER." His engaging portrayal of Dr. Doug Ross, handsome children's medical specialist, quickly transformed George Clooney into a household name.

George had appeared in a half-dozen small films before his portrayal of Dr. Ross on television brought him to the attention of major movie producers and directors. Never one to shrink from an opportunity or his responsibility, George lived up to his five-year contract with Warner Brothers for "ER," while, with their help in scheduling, he also made six movies. Half of them were filmed during summer hiatus of "ER," and the others during regular tapings of the successful hospital drama.
George was Dr. Doug Ross in scrubs in the mornings; then in the afternoons, he would jump on his bicycle and pedal across the Warner production lot to various sound stages where he made "From Dusk to Dawn" (1996), "Batman & Robin" (1997), and "The Peacemaker" (1997).

George has proven his versatility with success in far-ranging movies that include: "Three Kings" (1999); "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" (2000); "The Perfect Storm" (2000); "Oceans Eleven" (2001); "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" (2002); "Intolerable Cruelty" (2003); "Ocean's Twelve" (2004); "Good Night, and Good Luck" (2005); "Syriana" (2005); "Michael Clayton" (2006), and "The Good German" (2006).

Filmography

• White Jazz (2009)
• The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2008)
• Darfur Now (2007)
• Leatherheads (2008)
• Michael Clayton (2007)
• Ocean's Thirteen (2007)
• The Good German (2006)
• Syriana (2005)
• Good Night, and Good Luck (2005)
• Ocean's Twelve (2004)
• Intolerable Cruelty (2003)
• Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003)
• Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002)
• Solaris (2002)
• Welcome to Collinwood (2002)
• Ocean's Eleven (2001)
• Spy Kids (2001)
• The Perfect Storm (2000)
• O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
• "ER" .... Dr. Doug Ross (108 episodes, 1994-2000)
• Fail Safe (2000)
• Three Kings (1999)
• South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut (1999)
• The Thin Red Line (1998)
• Out of Sight (1998)
• "Murphy Brown" .... Doctor 2 (1 episode, 1998)
• The Peacemaker (1997)
• "South Park" .... Sparky the Dog (1 episode, 1997)
• Batman & Robin (1997)
• One Fine Day (1996)
• Curdled (1996)
• From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
• "Friends" .... Dr. Michael Mitchell (1 episode, 1995)
• "Sisters" .... Detective James Falconer (19 episodes, 1993-1994)
• The Harvest (1993)
• "The Building" .... Bonnie's Fiancee (1 episode, 1993)
• "Bodies of Evidence" .... Det. Ryan Walker (16 episodes, 1992-1993)
• Without Warning: Terror in the Towers (1993)
• Unbecoming Age (1992)
• "Roseanne" .... Booker Brooks (11 episodes, 1988-1991)
• Rewrite for Murder (1991)
• "Baby Talk" .... Joe (4 episodes, 1991)
• "Sunset Beat" .... Chic Chesbro (1 episode, 1990)
• Sunset Beat (1990)
• Knights of the Kitchen Table (1990)
• Red Surf (1990)
• Return of the Killer Tomatoes! (1988)
• Bennett Brothers (1987)
• "The Golden Girls" .... Bobby Hopkins (1 episode, 1987)
• "Murder, She Wrote" .... Kip Howard (1 episode, 1987)
• "Hunter" .... Matthew Winfield (1 episode, 1987)
• "The Facts of Life" .... George Burnett (17 episodes, 1985-1987)
• Return to Horror High (1987)
• Predator: The Concert (1987)
• Combat High (1986)
• "Throb" .... Rollo Moldonado (1 episode, 1986)
• "Hotel" .... Nick Miller (1 episode, 1986)
• "Crazy Like a Fox" (1 episode, 1985)
• "E/R" .... Ace (4 episodes, 1984-1985)
• "Street Hawk" .... Kevin Stark (1 episode, 1985)
• "Riptide" .... Lenny Colwell (1 episode, 1984)
• "Centennial" (1978)

Awards

• Golden Globe Best Supporting Actor "Syriana" 2006
• Oscar Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role "Syriana" 2006
• Broadcast Film Critics' Choice Special Freedom Award 2005
• San Francisco Film Critics Best Screenplay "Good Night, And Good Luck" 2005
• The National Board of Review Best Picture "Good Night, and Good Luck" 2005
• Las Vegas Film Critics Best Picture "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind 2002
• National Board of Review Special Filmmaking Achievement "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" 2002
• Saturn Award Best Single Television Presentation "Fail Safe" 2001
• Golden Globe Best Actor in a Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) "O Brother, Where Art Thou?" 2000
• The Actor Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1998
• The Actor Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1997
• MTV Movie Award Best Breakthrough Performance "From Dusk Till Dawn" 1996
• The Actor Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1996
• The Actor Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series "ER" 1995