George Clooney: The Last Great Movie Star, an incredibly entertaining biography by Kimberly Potts, reveals intriguing information about one of Hollywood’s most colorful leading men. It’s definitely a must-read for Clooney fans – and for anyone interested in going behind the scenes to learn more about his movies.  

The most telling quote in this well-written bio comes from Nick Clooney, George’s father. “I remember asking him, when he was only five or six, what he wanted to be when he grew up,” Nick recalls. “And his response was ‘I want to be famous.’ We had no idea how serious he was.”

After taking us back to Clooney’s early years, Potts then explains how this small-town boy used his good looks, charm and personal ethics on his journey to becoming a serious actor, writer, producer, director and humanitarian.

Because of the author’s witty writing style, it’s great fun learning the answers to such questions as:

How did Rosemary Clooney, George’s famous aunt, help or hinder his acting career?

Did director David Russell and Clooney really come to blows on the set of Three Kings?

Why did Clooney remain on ER so long?

How does he select his roles and projects?

What movies are Clooney’s favorites?

Why would Clooney choose his career over marriage?

What unpaid bet about Clooney’s personal life involves Michelle Pfeiffer and Nicole Kidman?

How does Clooney behave on movie sets?

On the serious side, Potts explores Clooney’s out-spoken nature, his concern for others, and his involvement in important causes, including obtaining aid for Darfur refugees. The book also contains a complete filmography as well as a group of wonderful photos.    

As someone who’s also written a book about a celebrity (Susan Sarandon: A True Maverick), I tip my hat to Kimberly Potts. It’s not easy to put so much research together in a coherent and compelling manner, but Potts has accomplished this goal with George Clooney: The Last Great Movie Star. In fact, her book is so well-done I plan to read it again!

(George Clooney: The Last Great Movie Star is published by Applause Theatre & Cinema Books. For more information or to order this book, click here.)