George Clooney Literally Came Out Of The Closet

Fact: George Clooney lived in the closet of a friends and rode a bicycle to auditions. He recalls sitting on the closet floor, totally broke; couldn’t afford to grab a burger with his buddies. When they offered to treat, Clooney’s pride wouldn’t allow him to accept charity.

Before George Clooney became the suave and acclaimed Hollywood A-lister we know today, he experienced a challenging and humble journey to stardom. In the early days of his career, Clooney faced the ups and downs of the entertainment industry, including living out of his friend’s closet while tirelessly pursuing auditions. 

Long before he became a household name, George Clooney’s road to success was marked by resilience and tenacity. In his early 20s, he moved to Los Angeles with a dream of becoming an actor, leaving behind a stable job and financial security to chase his passion. However, the harsh reality of the entertainment industry soon became apparent.

Clooney faced countless auditions, most of which ended in rejection. As an aspiring actor, he struggled to make ends meet, living paycheck to paycheck and facing the constant threat of eviction. At one point, he found himself without a place to stay, and in a desperate attempt to keep his dream alive, he turned to his close friend, Geoffrey Lewis, for help.

When George Clooney was broke in his mid-twenties, he spent a few months on the floor of Matt Adler and Thom Mathews apartment closet floor. He stated that he had almost been there for approximately two years. It was as if George Clooney was stuck in the closet. He says in a full interview,

“I was in my mid twenties,” he says. “I was making $7,000 a week. I’d been living in my buddy’s walk-in closet for almost two years and all of a sudden I could put together enough money for a year’s rent to get into this one-bed apartment. It was $400 a month. I was there for seven or eight years.” – Esquire

During the tough times Clooney found himself in, his friend Brad was there to help. Brad loaned him $100 and today Brad runs their production company. Even now, according to Clooney, he’s still repaying the debt. Even though his friends still poke fun for ‘George Clooney came out of the closet’, it was a very important time in his life. His modesty doesn’t end there. He says he is often given far too much credit for his years of supposed struggle.

Living in a closet was not the only obstacle George Clooney faced. Audition after audition, he battled against hundreds of other talented actors, trying to stand out in a sea of faces. It seemed that luck was not on his side, as rejection followed rejection. But George refused to give up.

His breakthrough finally came with the medical drama television series, “ER.” The show’s creators recognized Clooney’s talent and charm, casting him as Dr. Doug Ross, a role that would propel him to stardom. Overnight, George Clooney became a household name, and “ER” became a massive hit.

“The truth is I was doing great, I was happy.”

He said he wasn’t even disheartened seeing actors of his age or younger become movie stars.

George Clooney’s journey from living in a friend’s closet while auditioning to becoming one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors is an inspiring tale of resilience and perseverance. His story reminds us that success often comes after numerous rejections and setbacks. Clooney’s determination to pursue his passion despite the odds serves as a powerful example for aspiring artists and dreamers everywhere.

References:

Mirror.co.uk. (2020, December 5). Hugh Grant shares bizarre theory why George Clooney “sleeps in the closet.” Mirror. https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/hugh-grant-shares-bizarre-theory-23118917

News, A. B. C. (n.d.). George Clooney: Before He Was Famous. ABC News. Retrieved July 19, 2023, from https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Oscars/george-clooney-oscar-2010-nominee-sex-symbol-famous/story?id=9940439

George Clooney – Trivia. (n.d.). IMDb. Retrieved July 19, 2023, from https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000123/trivia/

Kennedy, D. (2000, June 25). FILM; George Clooney And His Stormy Career. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2000/06/25/movies/film-george-clooney-and-his-stormy-career.html

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