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George Clooney

Sue Lawley's castaway is actor George Clooney.

Sue Lawley's castaway this week is the actor, George Clooney. George was born in Lexington, Kentucky in 1961, the son of Nick Clooney, a TV newscaster. From the age of five, George spent time pottering round his father's sets, joining in where possible, shouting out the temperature during the weather report. After an initial plan to follow his father into broadcasting, then studying for a short while at Northern Kentucky University, George failed to join the Cincinnati Reds baseball team. But then he got a part in a small film through his uncle, the actor Jose Ferrer. The film was never released, but it had persuaded George of his vocation.

Now decided on a career in acting, George moved to L.A. in 1982 and for a year tried to get a role while he slept in a friend's closet. His first film, in which he starred with Charlie Sheen, stayed unreleased, but got him the producers' attention for later contracts. He got parts in sit-coms such as The Facts Of Life, and Roseanne, and earned decent money, although fame eluded him. Then came a part as Doug Ross in the US TV drama ER. It was to be a huge success and made George's name around the world. Film parts soon flooded in and today he is one of Hollywood's biggest stars, featuring in many Hollywood blockbusters such as From Dusk Til Dawn, One Fine Day, The Peacemaker, Out of Sight, O Brother, Where Art Thou? and Ocean's Eleven. After numerous Golden Globe and Emmy nominations, in 2001 George was awarded a Golden Globe for best leading actor in a comedy for O Brother, Where Art Thou?

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Destination Moon by Dinah Washington
Book: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Luxury: An anchored yacht

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 28 Feb 2003 09:00

Music Played

  • Hank Williams

    I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry

    • Q Country: 30 Lengendary Tracks.
    • Hit Label.
  • Pink Floyd

    Another Brick In The Wall, Part 2

    • The Wall.
    • EMI.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Dinah Washington

      Destination Moon

      • Dinah '62.
      • Columbia.
  • Frank Sinatra

    Nice and Easy

    • Classic Sinatra.
    • Capitol.
  • Bobby Darin

    Artificial Flowers

    • The Ultimate Bobby Darin.
    • Warner Bros.
  • Bill Withers

    Who Is He (And What Is He To You?)

    • Still Bill.
    • Columbia.
  • Van Morrison

    Moondance

    • Moondance.
    • WB Records.
  • William Shatner

    Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds

    • Spaced Out.
    • Universal.
  • Book Choice

    • War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy

  • Luxury Choice

    • An anchored yacht

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Sue Lawley
Interviewed Guest George Clooney

Broadcasts

  • Sun 23 Feb 2003 11:15
  • Fri 28 Feb 2003 09:00

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