George Clooney is one of the most successful and popular actors in Hollywood, known for his roles in films like Ocean’s Eleven, The Descendants, and Gravity. He is also a producer, director, and activist, who has won several awards and accolades for his work. But did you know that he is not the only famous Clooney in the entertainment industry? In fact, he comes from a family of talented performers, including his aunt, Rosemary Clooney, who was a singer and actress in the 1950s and 1960s.
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Who was Rosemary Clooney?
Rosemary Clooney was born in Maysville, Kentucky, in 1928. She was one of five children of Andrew Joseph Clooney and Marie Frances Guilfoyle. She had a difficult childhood, as her father was an alcoholic and her mother left the family when she was 15. She and her sister Betty stayed with their father, while their brother Nick and their mother moved to California.
Rosemary and Betty started singing together as a duo, and won a spot on a local radio station in Cincinnati. They later moved to New York, where they sang with various bands and orchestras. Rosemary made her solo recording debut in 1949, and soon became a star with her hit song “Come On-a My House”, produced by Mitch Miller. She followed it with other popular songs like “Botch-a-Me”, “Mambo Italiano”, “Tenderly”, “Half as Much”, “Hey There”, and “This Ole House”.
She also ventured into acting, appearing in films like The Stars are Singing, White Christmas, Red Garters, and Deep in My Heart. She also had her own TV show, The Rosemary Clooney Show, which ran from 1956 to 1957. She married actor José Ferrer in 1953, and they had five children together. However, their marriage was turbulent and they divorced twice, in 1961 and 1967.
Rosemary suffered from depression and drug addiction, which affected her career and health. She had a nervous breakdown in 1968, after witnessing the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. She spent some time in a psychiatric hospital, where she was treated with electroshock therapy. She later said that this therapy damaged her memory and made her forget some of her songs.
She made a comeback in the late 1970s, when her old friend Bing Crosby invited her to perform with him at his 50th anniversary show. She resumed recording and touring, focusing on jazz standards and American classics. She also appeared on TV shows like The Muppet Show, ER, and Frasier. She married dancer Dante DiPaolo in 1997, after living with him for many years.
She was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2001, and died in 2002 at the age of 74. She was buried in her hometown of Maysville, next to her parents and sister Betty.
George Clooney is the nephew of Rosemary Clooney. He is the son of Nick Clooney, who is Rosemary’s younger brother. Nick Clooney was also a TV host and journalist, who worked for various stations across the country. He married Nina Bruce Warren, a former beauty queen and city councilwoman, in 1959. They had two children together: George Timothy Clooney (born in 1961) and Adelia Zeidler (born in 1958).
George grew up around fame and show business, as he often visited his aunt Rosemary and his cousins Miguel Ferrer (Rosemary’s son) and Rafael Ferrer (Rosemary’s son) on their sets and studios. He also admired his father’s career as a broadcaster and entertainer. He said that he wanted to be famous when he was a kid, because he thought that was a job.
He started acting in high school plays and later moved to Los Angeles to pursue his dream. He struggled for several years before landing his breakthrough role as Dr. Doug Ross on the medical drama ER in 1994. He then moved on to star in films like From Dusk Till Dawn, Out of Sight, Three Kings, O Brother Where Art Thou?, Syriana, Good Night and Good Luck., Up in the Air,
The Ides of March,and The Monuments Men.He also became a successful producer and director,winning Oscars for Argo and Syriana.He is also known for his humanitarian work,especially for his involvement in raising awarenessand funds for the Darfur crisis,the Haiti earthquake,and the Armenian Genocide.He married human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in 2014,and they have twins,Ella and Alexander,born in 2017.George Clooney was very close to his aunt Rosemary,and learned a lot from her career and life.He said that she taught him how to deal with fame,the media,and the ups and downs of the industry.He also said that she was a great singer and actress,who had a unique style and personality.He often visited her at her home in Beverly Hills,and sang with her at her concerts.He was by her side when she died in 2002.
The Famous Clooney Family
George Clooney and Rosemary Clooney are not the only famous members of the Clooney family. They have many other relatives who have made their mark in various fields of entertainment. Here are some of them:
– Betty Clooney: Rosemary’s sister, who was also a singer and actress. She and Rosemary performed as a duo in the 1940s, before pursuing their solo careers. She died in 1976 from a brain aneurysm.
– Miguel Ferrer: Rosemary’s son, who was an actor and voice artist. He appeared in films and TV shows like RoboCop, Twin Peaks, Crossing Jordan, NCIS: Los Angeles, and Mulan. He died in 2017 from throat cancer.
– Rafael Ferrer: Rosemary’s son, who is also an actor and voice artist. He has appeared in films and TV shows like The Manchurian Candidate, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Blacklist, and Young Sheldon.
– Tessa Ferrer: Rosemary’s granddaughter, who is an actress. She is best known for her role as Dr. Leah Murphy on Grey’s Anatomy.
– Debby Boone: Rosemary’s daughter-in-law, who is a singer and actress. She is the wife of Gabriel Ferrer, Rosemary’s son. She is best known for her hit song “You Light Up My Life”.
– George Clooney: Rosemary’s nephew, who is an actor, producer, director, and activist. He is one of the most successful and popular stars in Hollywood, with several awards and accolades to his name.
– Adelia Zeidler: George’s sister, who is a bookkeeper and accountant. She lives a low-profile life in Kentucky, away from the spotlight.
– Allison Zeidler: George’s niece, who is an aspiring singer and songwriter. She has released some songs on YouTube and SoundCloud.
– Nick Zeidler: George’s nephew, who is a software engineer. He works for a company that develops video games.
The Clooney family is a talented and diverse group of people, who have achieved fame and success in their own ways. They share a bond of love and respect for each other, as well as a passion for their craft. They are also proud of their heritage and roots, which they trace back to Ireland and Germany. They are truly an example of a famous family that has made an impact on the world..
