(upbeat jazz groove music)
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- [Narrator] George Clooney might be celebrated
for his striking looks and effortless charisma,
but his legacy goes far beyond the allure of Hollywood.
As one of the most influential actors in the world,
Clooney has not only dominated the screen,
but has also proven his exceptional
talent behind the camera.
He was incredibly good looking,
which I think he's always very helpful for an actor,
but he also did have the talent to kind of back it up.
- [Narrator] However, Clooney's contributions extend
beyond the realm of cinema.
He uses his platform to advocate
for causes he deeply believes in,
seamlessly blending his art with activism.
He's become a huge advocate for refugees
and for LGBTQ rights.
We see him a lot of times, really,
putting his money where his mouth is
and being one of the people who really does step up.
Together with his wife Amal,
he co-founded a charity that aims to tackle
some of the world's most challenging problems,
demonstrating his commitment to making a difference.
While some might assume that his path to stardom
was paved by his famous aunt,
the legendary Rosemary Clooney,
George's journey was far from easy.
Before achieving fame,
he endured years of struggle and hard work,
gradually building his career
through perseverance and determination.
This documentary delves into the life of George Clooney,
exploring his rise to fame, his impressive body of work,
and his unwavering dedication to activism and philanthropy.
Join us as we uncover the many layers of George Clooney,
a remarkable individual
whose impact transcends the silver screen.
(gentle country blues music)
In the small town of Lexington, Kentucky,
George Timothy Clooney was born on May 6th, 1961.
Raised in a family with strong connections
to the entertainment industry,
Clooney's early life was steeped in the world
of television and film.
- So George Clooney comes from a showbiz background.
His father worked in television
and his aunt was the singer Rosemary Clooney.
So a very famous American singer
from the middle of the 20th century
who did the Great American Songbook.
So I think when he first hit the scene,
everyone was aware that George Clooney was related
to Rosemary Clooney 'cause she still had such a big name.
[Narrator] Despite his early exposure
to the entertainment industry,
George's initial passions laid elsewhere.
He was an avid sports enthusiast, particularly in baseball.
Growing up, he was a very good student
and wasn't really interested in acting at first.
He was very sporty and wanted to play baseball
and tried out, in fact,
for the Cincinnati Reds when he was about 17.
But unfortunately, he wasn't successful,
and instead decided to go to university
and become a journalist like his dad.
- [Narrator] Two years later, George Clooney's life
took an unexpected turn when his uncle, Jose Ferrer
and cousin Miguel visited Kentucky for a nearby film shoot.
During this visit, Miguel offered George a job opportunity
as an extra on the film set.
This small break set off a chain reaction
prompting Clooney to question his journalism studies
and consider a different path.
Inspired by the experience, he began to wonder
if Los Angeles might hold the key to his future,
sparking a pivotal moment in his journey
towards Hollywood stardom.
(glitzy upbeat music)
After saving up enough money to buy a car,
George Clooney drove off to Los Angeles with dreams
of making it big in Hollywood.
The plan was to move in with his aunt, Rosemary
and his cousin, Miguel, while working as a driver
and auditioning for roles.
However, George and Miguel started partying frequently.
Seeing that George wasn't that focused on his career,
Rosemary eventually kicked him out.
He ended up moving in with his best friend,
sleeping on a mattress on the floor for a year,
struggling with little money and few auditions.
At that stage, he has so little charisma
and screen presence
and so it's really interesting to think about
what changes from that time in the early 1980s
when he's on screen, you're thinking,
"That guy's a little awkward-looking,"
to becoming this enormous screen presence
and this very mature and confident screen presence.
When he's younger, he has too much hair.
He doesn't have a particularly flattering haircut.
Despite having relatives who were actors
and kind of a father
who was a little bit connected in the industry,
he actually had to work quite hard to get his big break.
And he for a while, was starring in quite a lot of small,
low budget, quite bad films.
There's a very memorable one called "Grizzly II: Revenge",
which is about a killer bear
and is regarded for being quite terrible.
[Narrator] Despite the common perception
that George Clooney had an easy ride to fame
thanks to his famous aunt, Rosemary Clooney,
his journey was far from smooth.
He paid his dues in the industry,
taking on roles in notoriously questionable films like
"Return of the Killer Tomatoes".
These early gigs, far from glamorous,
were essential in shaping his resilience and determination.
- So I think something like that is a fascinating relic
that proves that even someone like George Clooney
had to really start at the bottom of the barrel
(chuckles) when it came to his career.
[Narrator] Finally, in 1984,
George Clooney's first breakthrough arrived when he was cast
in a TV series set in a Chicago hospital called "E/R",
not to be confused with the later series "ER"
that would catapult him to stardom.
Although the show only ran for 22 episodes
before being canceled,
it marked his first significant step into the industry.
- He had quite a few small roles around this time,
both on television and in film,
and he was doing kind of guest spots
on shows like "Golden Girls" and "Murder, She Wrote".
But he was really struggling to kind of break through
properly for a couple of years,
and it wouldn't be until the second "ER" in the '90s
that he really found his big break
and started getting noticed in Hollywood.
So George Clooney joined "ER" right at the beginning
when it was starting on NBC,
and it was kind of a cutting-edge show.
It was very grizzly and very realistic,
and took this groundbreaking documentary-style approach
where there were multiple cameras
and it was very, very fast-paced
and had a lot of very technical dialogue.
And George Clooney played Doug Ross, who was a pediatrician
and a notorious ladies man,
which I think is kind of where
his reputation as a ladies man maybe started out.
But the show was really a breath of fresh air
on the networks in America
and became incredibly successful almost overnight.
- When it's working and you can feel when it isn't
or when it's mediocre,
the show is, in every sense of the word, a classy show,
and hits in general are our time slots,
and we have the best time slot NBC has to offer.
So we are a very good show in a very good time slot.
There is always a good sense that you will do well.
- One of the reasons that "ER" was so popular was
that it really was like nothing else
that had been on television up until that point.
It was very much different from the kind of
scripted dramas that had come before,
and there was a real sense of urgency to it,
and it was incredibly dramatic, incredibly tense to watch,
and had this incredible cast of characters
who all felt very realistic and very lived-in.
And I think, particularly for Clooney,
it was a real showcase for him,
not only as a charismatic
and kind of charming presence on screen,
but also as someone with a real dramatic talent.
(upbeat music)
(fans screaming)
- [Narrator] George Clooney, a name synonymous with
Hollywood charisma and versatility,
began his ascent to stardom in the mid '90s.
His first breakthrough in the movie world came in 1996
with the film "From Dusk Till Dawn",
where he co-starred with Quentin Tarantino.
- So "From Dusk Till Dawn" was a vampire film
made in 1996 by Robert Rodriguez
from a script by Quentin Tarantino.
And this was a very different side to George Clooney
than had been seen in "ER".
He was playing a pretty nasty criminal
by the name of Seth Gecko, who was on the run
after a bank robbery with his little brother Richie,
played by Quentin Tarantino.
So it's a very fun concept, I think, for a film.
And I think that George Clooney really embraces
his role within the kind of chaos.
And it was the first time that he had found a role
where he was playing a kind of scummy character,
but still with this real kind of bad boy charm to him
that I think a lot of people found quite appealing.
But the film is also just really fun and really silly
and a little bit scandalous for the time.
I think that even by '90s standards,
it was still considered a little bit shocking.
And Tarantino was someone whose star was really starting
to kind of rise at the same time as Clooney's.
So I think the combination of Clooney, Tarantino
and Robert Rodriguez is really what made the film
a kind of cult classic.
[Narrator] The following year,
Clooney's star power was solidified when he was named
People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive in 1997.
This accolade further boosted his popularity
and solidified his status as a leading man.
It wasn't long before he landed what seemed
to be the pinnacle of his career at the time,
the role of Batman in "Batman and Robin".
Unfortunately, the film was a commercial
and critical disaster with many ridiculing
the infamous bat suit adorned with nipples.
The failure of "Batman & Robin"
was a significant setback for Clooney,
especially given the high expectations set by the success
of previous Batman films.
So Batman is one of the kind of
most enduring roles in Hollywood.
I think that for any actor who takes on that role,
they know not only do they have the weight
of iconic performances on them,
but of a very, very loud
and very committed fan base
who will let you know if they're not happy with a decision.
And I think that it's difficult with such an iconic role,
not only to put your own spin on it,
but to do something that is gonna make everyone happy.
It's definitely a tricky one,
and I think that any actor who has
played the role of Batman will tell you
that you are going to be criticized no matter what you do.
This was Michael Keaton's role
and will always be Michael Keaton's role, he did it first.
Sean Connery is James Bond.
You know, no one else,
a lot of other people have done it, but it's Sean's role.
So whenever you take over someone's role,
you first have to accept the fact
that it's not gonna be yours.
And so you try not to change the part too much.
So I didn't go in saying,
"Let's just throw out everything
and do something completely different."
But by the same token, I thought it was time
and talked with the director Joel Schumacher about it,
I thought it was time that he stopped
talking about his parents being dead
and feeling sorry for himself
because I think that heroes in general
don't say, "Woe is me," and don't...
I think heroes perform admirably in tough situations
and don't talk about it.
The fact that Batman had changed
so many times within those years
did mean that there was a little bit of a failure
to find consistency.
And there was something about "Batman & Robin"
that just felt a little bit hokey, maybe,
a little bit amateurish.
And now when we look back at it,
it's definitely the one that seems the most slapstick,
which I think was maybe not the vibe
that fans were looking for at the time.
Chicks dig the car.
This is why Superman works alone.
- There has been a bit more of an appreciation
as time has gone on,
but I think George Clooney, certainly even to this day,
finds the whole thing a little bit embarrassing.
And even in 2020 was apologizing
to Howard Stern about his role in it,
which I think is very endearing
that he still finds it quite necessary
to be sorry about how bad his Batman film was.
But it's certainly something that fans, I think,
are more willing to look back on now
with a little bit more levity.
And in 2023,
he did play Bruce Wayne in a cameo in "The Flash" movie.
So I think maybe Clooney has kind of come to terms
with the fact that it wasn't as bad
as he remembers it being.
- [Narrator] Despite the setback, Clooney had the security
of his ongoing role on the popular TV show "ER",
allowing him the luxury
to be selective about his next project.
This careful consideration led to his casting
in "Out of Sight", in 1998, opposite Jennifer Lopez.
Directed by the emerging talent, Steven Soderbergh,
the film was a resounding success.
So Steven Soderbergh had directed
"Sex Lies and Videotape" in 1989,
and he became the youngest winner ever
of the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival,
which is one of the biggest honors
you can win as a director.
So he'd started the '90s as a very exciting filmmaker
and really one to watch,
but he hadn't had that much success until "Out of Sight".
So the film was based on this novel by Elmore Leonard,
who was quite a prolific writer,
and Danny DeVito had bought the rights as a producer.
So for Soderbergh, it was a chance
to kind of find a little bit of redemption almost,
and it felt like something quite different for him.
It was definitely more light-hearted
than some of his past work.
And he brought in George Clooney
and Jennifer Lopez who would play the lead roles.
And it really was a great combination of performers,
in that they brought this real charisma
and a sort of sexiness to the film
that I think appealed to a lot of people.
Well, does this make any sense to you?
Doesn't have to.
It's something that happens.
It's like seeing someone for the first time,
like you could be passing on the street
and you look at each other
and for a few seconds there's this kind of a, a recognition,
like you both know something,
the next moment the person's gone, and,
and it's too late to do anything about it.
And you always remember it because it was there
and you let it go.
And you think to yourself, what if I had stopped?
What if I had said something?
What if?
[Narrator] The movie marked the beginning
of a fruitful collaboration between Clooney and Soderbergh
who would go on to create
several critically acclaimed films together.
With newfound confidence,
Clooney decided to transition fully into Hollywood,
necessitating his departure from "ER".
His exit episode was a poignant moment for the show,
highlighting Clooney's significant impact on its success.
By the end of the 1990s,
I think Clooney had recovered a little bit
from the embarrassment of "Batman & Robin" not doing as well
as I think everyone had hoped for.
He had just decided that he was going to be leaving "ER",
so he was really in a good place to kind of
start this next era of his career.
And I think that "Out of Sight" was a good way
of launching this new sort of era for Clooney.
He'd already worked with people like Nicole Kidman
with Terrence Malick on "The Thin Red Line",
and he'd hosted "Saturday Night Live",
which was kind of the pinnacle for any actor of the time.
So I think that by the time the millennium came along,
he was really in ascent as a star,
and I think that it was a sign of big things
just around the corner for him.
- [Narrator] Clooney continued to take on diverse roles,
including a turn in the Coen Brothers comedic film,
"O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
Known for turning down more lucrative offers,
Clooney prioritized working with directors
and on projects he admired,
demonstrating his dedication to the craft
over mere financial gain.
So "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
is the Coen Brothers' take on "The Odyssey",
which is the epic poem by Homer from ancient Greece
Very amusingly to this day,
neither of them have read the poem.
They were purely going based on
how they thought it might be, which I think speaks a lot
to their own kind of chaotic energy,
which is really encapsulated by this film, which is so fun.
And it really demonstrates, I think,
Clooney's comedic timing
and skill as a comedic actor,
as well as how charming he is on screen.
It is a very unusual role for him.
He usually plays men that are urbane, sophisticated
and intelligent.
And here he's playing a kind of country bumpkin convict
on the run with two other convicts.
They've escaped from prison
and they're trying to find some buried treasure,
and they have adventure after adventure.
It's very episodic.
Is this gentlemen bothering you?
Well, you can't marry my wife!
(upbeat bluegrass music) (punches smacking)
And stay out of the Woolworth.
- He was able to deliver the Coen's very trademark,
witty banter in a way that felt totally natural.
And this definitely set the stage again
for a very prolific friendship
and working relationship with the Coens.
- [Narrator] The film quickly became a cultural sensation,
earning widespread acclaim
and achieving notable box office success.
George Clooney's performance was particularly lauded,
earning him a Golden Globe for Best Actor.
This accolade further cemented Clooney's reputation
as a versatile and talented actor,
proving he was far more than just his looks.
Following the triumph of his recent films
and his ascent as a Hollywood icon,
George Clooney was determined
to elevate his career even further.
Reuniting with Stephen Soderbergh,
the duo launched a new production company
setting the stage for their next ambitious project,
"Ocean's 11".
Clooney believed that a stellar cast
was crucial for a blockbuster.
So he enlisted Hollywood's finest, including Brad Pitt,
Julia Roberts, and Matt Damon.
So "Ocean's 11" is a caper film
or a heist film based on an early 1960s film
that had great success back then.
I don't think anyone remembered it
by the time Clooney came to remake it,
it was a forgotten film.
And so it was really ripe for the picking,
a great story.
Soderbergh was able to take
this pretty straightforward idea of
a very charismatic character bringing together a gang
of sort of motley crew to carry off this heist.
And he took what is, I think, quite a simple story,
but just did it with such elegance and such charm
and casting Clooney as the centerpiece of this amazing cast,
including Brad Pitt and Matt Damon and Bernie Mac,
and just the most kind of 2000s
powerhouse cast you can imagine.
It's such a feat of not only performance, but directing.
And it's just such a fun film to watch,
particularly with people who haven't seen it before.
Because when you know how it's going to go,
you kind of feel like you are in on the job a little bit.
You're kind of part of it,
even though you're sat there in the audience,
Never been done before.
What's the target?
When was the last time you were in Vegas?
You wanna knock over a casino?
Three casinos?
(scoffs) Oh.
(upbeat jazz groove music)
- Vegas, huh? - Vegas.
- Vegas. - Fantastic.
[Announcer] The heist is impossible.
Casino security cannot be beaten.
You're out of your minds.
Exactly.
You're up to something, Danny. What?
You're pulling a job, aren't you?
You're a thief and a liar.
I only lied about being a thief.
- It's something that I think really elevated the heist film
to something that could be slick and cool,
but also charming and sexy.
And it's something that not many other directors
have been able to pull off since.
And I think that a lot of that is down to Soderbergh
and it's down to Clooney
and down to their kind of easiness together as a duo.
And certainly I think it's maybe the best
heist film ever made.
It still, to this day, when I watch them all
standing at the Bellagio Fountain after the heist,
it gives me goosebumps every time.
I think it is the pinnacle of
what is possible from a heist movie.
(smooth upbeat music)
- [Narrator] George Clooney's career in Hollywood
has been nothing short of remarkable,
marked by a blend of exceptional talent
and relentless determination.
After achieving worldwide success with "Ocean's 11" in 2001,
Clooney took on a transformative role
in the 2005 film "Syriana", a political thriller
written and directed by Stephen Gaghan.
"Syriana" was directed by Stephen Gaghan,
who was one of Soderbergh's close friends and collaborators.
He'd worked on "Traffic",
and it's quite a complex film
about Middle Eastern politics.
George Clooney's character is a veteran CIA agent
who is employed onto this detail,
which ends up kind of being embroiled
in this whole corruption case within the Middle East.
And to play the role,
Clooney had gained quite a significant amount of weight,
about 30 pounds to play this CIA agent.
And he suffered quite a bad injury on set,
I think, when they were filming the kind of key moment,
which is a big explosion scene within the film.
And he ended up damaging his spine
and had spinal fluid coming out of his nose,
which sounds horrifying to think about,
but to his credit, finished filming the film
and then went and got surgery to fix it.
So he really suffered for his art in "Syriana",
but he did win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
And I think a lot of people do consider it
one of his finest roles.
So it wasn't all for nothing.
- And the Oscar goes to George Clooney in "Syriana".
(audience applauding)
- [Announcer] This is the first Academy Award
and third nomination tonight for George Clooney.
This is the first time a nominee in the directing category
is also nominated in an acting category for another film.
Wow.
All right, so I'm not winning director.
(audience laughing)
- [Narrator] After participating in politically charged
and historical films like "Syriana" and "The Good German",
Clooney's growing interest in political
and humanitarian issues became even more evident.
In 2007, he co-created a poignant documentary
with his father, traveling to Darfur
to capture the harsh realities
of the genocide taking place there.
This powerful film served as a clarion call
for global awareness and action,
highlighting Clooney's deep commitment
to humanitarian causes.
I don't need, you know,
to get people who are already agreeing with me.
We need to rally people who don't.
So I hope that it's a, it's a march about peace.
You know, that's what I want.
- [Narrator] In 2008, Clooney's political engagement
took another significant step forward
as he supported Barack Obama's presidential campaign.
Clooney was vocal about urging the new administration
to intensify efforts
and resolve the humanitarian crisis in Darfur,
demonstrating his willingness to leverage his celebrity
for meaningful advocacy.
- That you, an actor with a pretty good day job-
- I do. - is so troubled by
what is going on in South Sudan.
Because it's a,
there's massive atrocities are going on there.
People, it's not just that people are being displaced.
Five million people have been displaced in South Sudan.
There's hundreds of thousands of people being killed
and there's policies towards rape.
It's very hard to let that go.
And it's very, and and you feel as if they have nothing.
There isn't the kind of resources in the United States
or here to follow up and find these,
the people who are helping to support these criminals
who are living 15 kilometers from here in a nice house.
- [Reporter] So is it about shaming these individuals?
You know, they're going to fancy London restaurants
and... That's right.
- [Reporter] you want their names out there.
Absolutely, and if you read the reports,
some of their names are out there,
and there will be more, this is just the beginning.
[Narrator] During this time,
George Clooney increasingly stepped behind the camera,
directing a growing number of projects
that clearly reflected his political convictions
and personal values.
By taking on meaningful films,
Clooney showcased his dedication to causes he believed in,
using his platform to advocate for significant
social and political issues.
In the 2000s, Clooney showed that he was
increasingly interested in directing films.
So he directed a number of films, "The Monuments Men",
"Confessions of a Dangerous Mind",
"Good Night, and Good Luck."
I think the best that can be said for his films as director
is that they're worthy.
They're all quite serious projects in which he,
you know, he clearly has something to say,
but like a lot of worthy dramas,
they're just a little slow.
They lack a bit of pace
and he hasn't found a lot of box office success
as a director.
- I think that Clooney's passion for storytelling
maybe doesn't always transfer across as a director
in the way it does as an actor.
But I think that there's so much heart in his films,
even when I don't necessarily think it's a good film.
I really just appreciate
that he is out there doing his own thing.
And I think that something like "Good Night, and Good Luck"
is an incredibly hard proposition as a film fan,
and he manages to make it engaging.
So I think it's great that he is still so committed
to telling stories as well as to starring in films,
but for me, nothing will ever beat seeing him on screen.
And I wish that he would do more of that if it means
we have to sacrifice a few quite mediocre
George Clooney directing gigs.
- [Narrator] Clooney's diverse talent shone brightly again
when he lent his voice to the title character
in Wes Anderson's animated feature "Fantastic Mr. Fox",
a story based on the novel of the same name by Roald Dahl.
- So "Fantastic Mr. Fox" was a stop motion film
directed by Wes Anderson, who is known for making films
including "The Royal Tenenbaums"
and "The Grand Budapest Hotel".
And he has a very distinctive visual style,
which is very elaborate and very detailed,
and often features these really big,
quite complicated casts.
And "Fantastic Mr. Fox" was his first
full scale animated film,
and it took them about three or four years to make it.
And I think that George Clooney's casting as Mr. Fox
was such a playful choice on Wes Anderson's part.
I think it must have been inspired
by him appearing in "Ocean's 11"
because it's so hard to separate this character
who is stealing in order to feed his family
from this character who is stealing
in order to kind of get revenge on an old enemy.
And there's a lot of kind of similarities, I guess,
in between the plots, which you wouldn't maybe expect.
- Boggis, Bunce and Bean, three of the meanest,
nastiest, ugliest farmers in this valley.
(loud thud) What was that?
(ground crunching) They're digging us up.
- [Announcer] What they're about to discover-
Oh, Foxy.
Is help on the way?
- [Announcer] He's one fox-
- I've got an idea. - Woo-hoo!
- [Announcer] You can't out-fox.
Mole, what do you got?
- I can see in the dark. - We can use that.
Rabbit? - I'm fast.
- Badger? - Demolitions expert.
What? Since when?
(explosions blasting)
Here, put these bandit hats on.
- I don't have a bandit hat, but I modified this tube sock.
- We look good. - Yeah.
- I think that his casting was a stroke of genius,
because Clooney does have a very distinctive voice
and is very able to deliver all this kind of very quick,
very complex dialogue with such ease
and playing against someone like Meryl Streep,
I think it was just such an incredibly well-cast film
and really managed to appeal not only to kids
as an animated film about cute animals, but to adults
because they had the kind of meta layer of,
"Oh, it's George Clooney doing 'Ocean's 11' with animals,"
which I think really appealed to a lot of people,
but it also managed to maintain its own kind of identity
and be kind of something completely different.
By the end of the 2000s,
Clooney had already established himself as
one of the biggest actors in the world,
and he started and finished the decade
with a heist film in "Ocean's 11" and "Fantastic Mr. Fox",
which I think proves his kind of versatility
and how widely associated with the Ocean's franchise
he had become by this point.
But I think that the decade was
a real period of success for Clooney
and really meant that by the time it finished,
he was seen as one of the biggest stars in the world.
- [Narrator] After his captivating performance
in the critically acclaimed film "Gravity",
George Clooney began to shift his focus away from acting.
He started to prioritize his passion for directing
and producing, seeking to tell stories
from behind the camera rather than in front of it.
This change marked a significant turning point
in Clooney's illustrious career
as he explored new creative avenues
and took on a variety of impactful projects
- Throughout the 2010s, I think that Clooney's career
does sort of take a downward turn,
and the films that he's making both behind the camera
and in front of the camera are a little less successful.
But I think that he's still trying new things.
Something like "Tomorrowland", which he directed,
based on the Disney ride of the same name
was a really big swing for him.
And I just think it wasn't maybe the right fit,
but it proves that he still was very committed
to trying out new things.
And something like "Suburbicon",
again, a film that had a lot of kudos behind it,
in that it was written by the Coen brothers
who Clooney was friends with.
On paper, it sounded like
it would've been the perfect project
'cause he had Matt Damon, he had Oscar Isaac,
he had this incredible, complex, and fun, zany plot,
but it all just kind of didn't come together in the end.
And I think that it was definitely
a bit of a downturn period for him.
But at the same time, it was around then
that he met his wife and started a family.
So I don't think that Clooney probably felt
the effects of it too badly.
I think that he was quite glad to have
something else in his life to focus on.
(gentle jazz music)
- [Narrator] In 2014, Clooney's personal life
took a transformative turn when he became engaged
to British Lebanese human rights lawyer, Amal Alamuddin.
The couple's shared passion for campaigning
and supporting similar causes,
forged a strong bond between them.
Clooney often expressed how their mutual dedication
to humanitarian work strengthened their relationship,
making it a central aspect of their life together.
Throughout most of his career,
George Clooney was known as a confirmed bachelor.
He dated many people, some famous, some not,
but he didn't seem to be very interested in settling down
and getting married until he met his wife, Amal,
who is a human rights lawyer,
and who shared some of his interest in social causes.
- It seemed like a really interesting partnership
because they'd met because of his humanitarian work
and predominantly because of "The Monuments Men",
which is a bit of a strange way to meet someone.
But it turned out that they were both very interested in
the restitution of the Elgin Marbles to Greece,
which is something that Clooney had spoken out about
at the time of the film's release
and angered quite a lot of high up British people,
including Boris Johnson.
- They married in 2017, and by all accounts,
it is one of the happiest of Hollywood marriages.
And they now have two children together
and keep their lives very, very private.
Whereas I think previously, his life was,
his private life was very public.
It was often in magazines and often discussed.
They are now quite a private family.
(gentle jazz music continues)
- [Narrator] Following the birth of his twins,
Ella and Alexander,
George Clooney chose to step back from the limelight,
taking a three year hiatus from major film roles.
During this period, he dedicated his creative energy
to the television series, "Catch-22", serving as a director
and taking on a minor acting role.
This project allowed Clooney to stay connected
to the industry without the demands of headline movie roles,
giving him the space to focus on his growing family.
- So "Catch-22" is a miniseries
based on Joseph Heller's book,
which is kind of regarded as
one of the great anti-war novels.
And it's been unsuccessfully realized a few times.
But this miniseries that Clooney was involved in
was pretty highly regarded and pretty successful.
And I think that it demonstrates
kind of Clooney's commitment to, again,
like incredibly ambitious storytelling
and this sort of personal interest
he has in World War II history,
which is a very dad interest to have.
But we see it again with "The Monuments Men".
It's something that clearly interests him
and that he sees a lot of value in.
First of all, don't you think it's,
there's never really a bad time
to talk about the absurdity of war
and there's never a bad time to talk about
trying to beat the system.
'Cause the system pretty much always wins.
And I think most people feel that way.
I also feel like we're,
we're facing a pretty absurd time in our lives.
You know, all of us, you know,
in every country around the world right now.
I've seen it in the Philippines,
you've seen Orban in Hungary,
and you've seen it pretty much everywhere,
United States, obviously.
So I think anytime we're able to laugh about
and remind ourselves that these things are temporary,
it's probably a good thing to do.
- [Reporter] Do you feel a sort of a personal responsibility
as an artist, as a filmmaker to spread that kind of message?
Or, you know, poke holes in these bubbles a bit?
Well, my job as a storyteller has always,
I've always felt that way.
And, you know, sometimes you're successful with,
and sometimes you're not.
But that's been my choice as a,
in how I like to be creative.
And it's also been my choice in how
I like to live my life and other things.
So, you know, it's worked out okay.
- Well, "Catch-22" was really regarded for its performances
and for its ambition.
And I think that Clooney very smartly decided
to take quite a small role, quite a pivotal
but small role as Lieutenant Scheisskopf.
And this was a good example of Clooney working
behind the scenes to get a project made
that he felt very passionately about.
- [Narrator] But George Clooney's dedication to justice
goes beyond his cinematic achievements.
While he highlights important issues
through the films he directs,
Clooney also actively participates
in numerous activist causes.
He tirelessly supports minority groups,
using his stardom to bring public awareness.
- So besides his acting, Clooney has become very well known
for his interest in promoting human rights
and philanthropy across the world.
And he's become a huge advocate for refugees
and for LGBTQ rights.
And we see him a lot of times really putting his money
where his mouth is and being one of the people
who really does step up.
And alongside Amal Clooney,
he established the Clooney Foundation for Justice,
which focuses on promoting global justice
and helping education about human rights violations,
and really trying to actively change the world
rather than just talking about it
Right now, we've had it
and we wanna get at least somebody in there
to protect these people, so that if you've been lucky enough
to survive rape and torture and murder
and your family's burned to the ground,
you should at least have the right to live.
- The Clooney Foundation provides free legal support
to victims of human rights abuses all over the world.
And our aim is always the same,
to protect the persecuted
and to try to prosecute the perpetrators.
Peace like war must be waged.
So I think it's incredible
how much he has been willing to do with his time
and with his money outside of Hollywood, just in terms of
making the world a better place for everyone,
rather than just for actors.
- [Narrator] After a few years of stepping back from acting,
George Clooney made a highly anticipated return
with "Ticket to Paradise", co-starring Julia Roberts.
The film proved to be a box office hit,
grossing $168 million worldwide
and earning generally positive reviews.
Audiences were thrilled to see
the beloved stars reunite on screen,
rekindling their onscreen magic and charm.
The following year,
George Clooney embraced the director's chair
for "The Boys in the Boat",
a captivating historical drama that vividly recounts
the University of Washington's 1936 rowing team.
Adapted from Daniel James Brown's bestselling book,
the film chronicles the extraordinary journey
of nine working class American youths
who defied tremendous odds
to compete in the Berlin Olympics.
- What I knew was when I read it was, I loved the book
and I knew in order to make it,
it had to be an old fashioned movie.
And I think that was sort of what you
and I talked about yesterday.
There's a vibe to this that says, you know,
that reminds us of old fashioned movies.
You were talking about sort of this male energy,
it's kind of a war film in that sense.
You know, the guys all have to spend time together
like they've done before.
There's less emotionality, there's less of the,
you know, talking about your feelings
and more about just doing it,
which is all just a style of film making
from really, basically before the '60s,
you know, that kind of style.
And we wanted to have to tell a film like that
and had to keep your eye on and focus on the idea
of picking yourself up by your bootstraps.
[Narrator] Clooney's masterful direction
breathes life into the socioeconomic hardships of the era
and the intense physical
and emotional demands of competitive rowing.
With meticulous historical accuracy
and dynamic cinematography,
the film not only delivers
an enthralling sports narrative,
but also highlights the indomitable spirit
of resilience and unity.
Surprisingly, this mid-budget production
has triumphed at the box office,
grossing over $50 million domestically
against a $40 million budget.
Looking ahead, Clooney re-teamed with Brad Pitt
for the 2024 thriller "Wolves".
He's just making a film with John Watts,
who directed the Spider-Man movies, with Brad Pitt,
which will be a really kind of fun reunion, I hope.
And they're both playing fixers
who get pitted against each other.
So it sounds like it's taking both Pitt
and Clooney back to their action days.
- [Narrator] This highly anticipated reunion
marking their first onscreen collaboration since 2008,
generated significant excitement,
promising another captivating performance from Clooney
as he continues to leave an indelible mark on Hollywood.
(upbeat blues rock music)
George Clooney is far more than just a handsome face.
He is a truly talented actor and director
who has cemented his place
as one of the greatest actors of the century.
Beyond his remarkable film career,
Clooney is a dedicated philanthropist.
Alongside his wife Amal,
they founded their own charity
aiming to affect global change and support minority groups.
- I think that Clooney will be remembered as this man
who was able to balance doing incredible work onscreen
with arguably more important work offscreen.
[Narrator] Clooney's passion for justice
is evident in the roles he chooses
and the films he directs.
He consistently uses his art to voice important beliefs
and advocate for causes close to his heart.
Through his carefully selected projects,
he showcases his values
and seeks to inspire change, proving that his work is driven
by more than just entertainment.
(upbeat blues music continues)
Despite having industry connections,
Clooney's journey to stardom was paved with perseverance.
Despite having relatives who were actors
and kind of a father
who was a little bit connected in the industry,
he actually had to work quite hard to get his big break.
- [Narrator] This journey highlights his determination
and resilience, qualities that have contributed
to his enduring success and influence.
George Clooney's versatile career
and unwavering commitment to philanthropy
make him an influential figure
both in Hollywood and beyond.
His ability to blend talent, passion, and advocacy
ensures that his legacy will endure for generations to come.
(upbeat blues rock music)