George Clooney is a Hollywood icon. He’s a man that just oozes charm, sophistication, and elegance. On-screen, he’s played some iconic roles, from his TV days in ER to his famous heists as Danny Ocean in the Ocean franchise.
He’s been on our screens for decades, and even in his 60th year, he’s still turning heads. But while there’s plenty we do know about Clooney, there’s also a number of things you may never have known about the Kentucky-born star…
He started out as a journalist
George Clooney’s father was a relatively well-known figure, having had a long career in TV journalism, and it seemed Clooney would follow in his footsteps before the acting bug bit him.
At University, he first chanced his arm at journalism, majoring in broadcast journalism at the Northern Kentucky University between 1979 and 1981. He also had a brief stint at the University of Cincinnati but failed to graduate from either. Around this time, he was also starting to pick up small TV parts in shows, and the rest, they say, is history.
He almost had his own Las Vegas casino
With the casino industry booming and games like online 777 roulette beginning to grow in popularity worldwide, to the point where today it’s worth billions, George Clooney might regret that plans for his Las Ramblas resort in Las Vegas never came to fruition.
Yes, we could be there now enjoying video slots and table games, but the 2005 plans, in which both Clooney and Brad Pitt invested heavily, ultimately failed, and the 4,400-room resort was given up on.
He’s a close friend of the British royal family
While George Clooney isn’t exactly popping around to Buckingham Palace to have a pot of tea with the Queen, he is a royal family friend. Well, at least Harry and Meghan. So much so that Clooney and his wife Amal were invited to their wedding in 2018.
Before the royals moved to live in the USA, the couples lived close to one another and often had dinners together. Clooney said, “We live not too far from one another, and we have dinners and stuff, and we’re friends with them for all the reasons that you’re friends with anybody.”
Interestingly, it’s believed that at the time of the wedding, Clooney didn’t know Harry and Meghan very well, but that didn’t stop Meghan and Kate Middleton from getting a dance with him. But, let’s face it, you wouldn’t you?!
He’s been arrested for his activism
George Clooney is well-known for his charitable work and will undoubtedly fight his cause for what he believes in. And it has got him into trouble from time to time.
Over the years, he’s raised funds for victims of the 9/11 attacks, teamed up with Barack Obama to denounce the Sudanese military actions, and has even been given the honor of Messenger of Peace by the United Nations.
In 2012, alongside his father, he was arrested while protesting outside the Sudanese embassy in Washington, where he was protesting against the government of Khartoum. Of course, he posted bail and walked free later that day. He said after his release, “You never know if you are accomplishing anything … We hope it helps,” before claiming it was the first time he was arrested and “let’s hope it’s my last.”
He’s continued to be active in his commitment to good causes. He has been outspoken on several things over the last few years, recently accepting an award alongside Amal for their humanitarian work.
