Look Back at Young George Clooney’s Best Moments

On the silver fox’s birthday, revisit young George Clooney's most iconic moments.

Since his career began in the late 80s, Kentucky-born heartthrob George Clooney has cemented himself as one of the biggest names in Hollywood. Before there was Grey's Anatomy, ER dominated the TV scene. Clooney rose to fame as Dr. Doug Ross on the NBC medical drama in the 90s and gained two Emmy nominations. The star then joined the likes of Michael Keaton and Val Kilmer when he bagged the role of Batman in 1997. It was during his time on ER that Clooney caught the attention of acclaimed director Steven Soderbergh who later cast him as Danny Ocean in one of the biggest franchises in film history: Ocean's Eleven (2001).

Clooney moved into directing in the early 2000s and was behind films like Confessions of a Dangerous Mind and Leatherheads. The actor teamed up with Ryan Gosling in 2011 for The Ides of March and earned an Academy Award in 2013 for the political thriller Argo. In 2022, Clooney became one of three people to be nominated for an Academy Award in six different categories. He has also won four Golden Globes and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the prestigious American Film Institute.

In 2014, Clooney married British-Lebanese human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin, and three years later, they welcomed twins Ella and Alexander. Besides his film work, Clooney is dedicated to several different causes, including GLSEN, an LGBTQ+ rights organization, and the 100 Lives Initiative, which aims to remember all those lost during the Armenian Genocide of 1915. Along with the Clooney Foundation for Justice, in 2020, the Clooneys also donated $100,000 to three different Lebanese charities to support Alamuddin's city of birth, Beirut, after the deadly explosion. To celebrate the decorated actor and activist on his 62nd birthday, L'OFFICIEL looks at Clooney's younger years.

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In 1985 Clooney joined the cast of the popular sitcom 'The Facts of Life' as George Burnett, a handsome handyman.

George Clooney as Maj. Biff Woods in 'Combat High' (1986)

All suited up, Clooney took on the role of Maj. Biff Woods in the 1986 comedy 'Combat High'

George Clooney in a blue plaid suit in 1987.

In true 80s fashion, Clooney was decked out in plaid suits and big hair.

Kelly Preston and George Clooney during ABC TV Affiliates Fall Launch at Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles in 1988.

In the late 80s, Clooney had a short-lived romance with actress and model Kelly Preston. The pair adopted a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig named Max. Clooney later stated that Max was his "longest relationship to date."

George Clooney as Booker in the season one episode of 'Roseanne': "Let's Call it Quits."

'Roseanne' was one of the biggest shows of the 90s and Clooney managed to snag a guest role in season one as Booker.

Actor George Clooney attends the "Stars Shoot the Hoop" Celebrity Basketball Game to Benefit the Special Olympics on June 24, 1989.

Clooney sported neon yellow shorts at the "Stars Shoot the Hoop" Celebrity Basketball Game in support of the 1989 Special Olympics.

Actor Gerorge Clooney poses for a portrait in 1992 in Los Angeles, California.

Clooney has always known how to capture attention, and this 1992 photoshoot is no exception.

George Clooney as Doctor Doug Ross for 'ER' Season 4

Clooney poses as Doctor Doug Ross for 'ER': the show that catapulted him to fame.

Actor George Clooney during an interview with host Jay Leno on September 16, 1994.

In 1994, Clooney made his late night debut on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Actor George Clooney Departing For New York from LAX - May 25, 1995

Looking effortlessly cool, Clooney catches up with paparazzi outside LAX before a flight to New York in 1995.

American actor and filmmaker George Clooney poses with a pool stick during the filming of "From Dusk till Dawn" circa 1995.

While Clooney doesn't have any tattoos in real life, the Chicano and prison style tattoos from his role as Seth Gecko in 'From Dusk Till Dawn' are iconic.

George Clooney as Doctor Doug Ross from 'ER' in 1996

While he was developing his filmography, Clooney was still starring as Dr. Doug Ross on 'ER' and had to film in a rainstorm for the episode 'Hell and High Water'