George Clooney is one of the most successful and popular actors in Hollywood. He has won multiple awards for his work as an actor, producer, director, and activist. But did you know that he comes from a family of famous entertainers? In this article, we will explore the relationship between George Clooney and Rosemary Clooney, his aunt who was a singer and actress in the 1950s and 1960s.
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Who Was Rosemary Clooney?
Rosemary Clooney was born on May 23, 1928, in Maysville, Kentucky. She was one of five children of Andrew Joseph Clooney and Marie Frances Guilfoyle. Her father was of Irish and German descent, and her mother was of English and Irish ancestry. She was raised Catholic.
Rosemary started singing at a young age with her sister Betty. They won a spot on a local radio station in Cincinnati as singers in 1945. Rosemary then signed with Columbia Records and made her first record with Tony Pastor’s big band in 1947. She became a solo artist in 1949 and had her first big hit with “Come On-a My House” in 1951. The song was produced by Mitch Miller, who gave her a distinctive style of pop music with exotic influences.
Rosemary went on to have more hits such as “Botch-a-Me”, “Mambo Italiano”, “Tenderly”, “Half as Much”, “Hey There”, and “This Ole House”. She also had success as a jazz vocalist, working with musicians like Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Count Basie. She appeared in several movies, most notably White Christmas (1954) with Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye.
Rosemary’s career suffered in the 1960s due to personal problems such as depression, drug addiction, and marital troubles. She married actor José Ferrer twice and had five children with him: Miguel, Maria, Gabriel, Monsita, and Rafael. She divorced Ferrer for the second time in 1967 and married Dante DiPaolo, a dancer, in 1997.
Rosemary made a comeback in the late 1970s after Bing Crosby invited her to perform with him at his 50th anniversary show. She resumed recording and touring until her death in 2002. She was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2001 and died on June 29, 2002, at her home in Beverly Hills, California. She was buried at Saint Patrick’s Cemetery in Maysville.
How Are George Clooney and Rosemary Clooney Related?
George Clooney is the nephew of Rosemary Clooney. He is the son of Rosemary’s younger brother, Nick Clooney, who was a TV anchorman and host. George was born in Lexington, Kentucky, on May 6, 1961. He has an older sister named Adelia.
George Clooney grew up surrounded by fame and show business. He said that his father and aunt taught him a lot about what it means to be famous and how to deal with the challenges of fame. He also said that he was inspired by his aunt to pursue acting as a career.
George Clooney started acting in the late 1970s and had his breakthrough role as Dr. Doug Ross on the TV series ER in the 1990s. He then moved on to star in movies such as Out of Sight (1998), Ocean’s Eleven (2001), Syriana (2005), Up in the Air (2009), The Descendants (2011), Gravity (2013), and The Monuments Men (2014). He also directed and produced movies such as Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), Good Night, and Good Luck (2005), The Ides of March (2011), Argo (2012), and The Midnight Sky (2020).
George Clooney has won several awards for his work, including two Academy Awards, four Golden Globes, two BAFTAs, and one Emmy. He is also known for his humanitarian work, especially for his involvement in raising awareness and funds for the conflicts in Darfur and South Sudan.
George Clooney married human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in 2014. They have twins named Ella and Alexander, who were born in 2017.
Other Famous Clooneys
Besides George and Rosemary Clooney, there are other famous members of the Clooney family. Here are some of them:
– Betty Clooney: Rosemary’s sister, who was also a singer and actress. She and Rosemary performed as a duo before going solo. She died in 1976 from a brain aneurysm.
– Miguel Ferrer: Rosemary’s son, who was an actor and voice actor. He appeared in movies and TV shows such as RoboCop (1987), Twin Peaks (1990-1991), Mulan (1998), Crossing Jordan (2001-2007), and NCIS: Los Angeles (2012-2017). He died in 2017 from throat cancer.
– Rafael Ferrer: Rosemary’s son, who is also an actor and voice actor. He has appeared in movies and TV shows such as Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2020), The Blacklist (2013-2019), and The Mandalorian (2019-2020).
– Tessa Ferrer: Rosemary’s granddaughter, who is an actress. She is best known for her role as Dr. Leah Murphy on the TV series Grey’s Anatomy (2012-2014, 2017).
– Debby Boone: Rosemary’s daughter-in-law, who is a singer and actress. She is the wife of Gabriel Ferrer and the daughter of singer Pat Boone. She had a hit song with “You Light Up My Life” in 1977.
Conclusion
George Clooney and Rosemary Clooney are related by blood. They are nephew and aunt, respectively. They both come from a family of famous entertainers, who have made their mark in various fields of show business. They also share a passion for acting and humanitarian causes..
