George Clooney Turns 51!

Actor/director George Clooney is 51!

Best known for his breakout role on the long-running TV drama, ER, Clooney has gone on to star in dozens of roles, balancing more commercial fare like "Ocean's Eleven" with personal, independent features including "Good Night, And Good Luck," on which he served as director, producer and screenwriter, and "Syrianna," which he executive produced and for which he won a best supporting actor Oscar. In 2011, Clooney starred in the Oscar-winning film "The Descendants" playing a man trying to reconnect with his two daughters after his wife is seriously injured in an accident. Clooney won a Golden Globe for his work in the film.

No stranger to politics and controversy, Clooney made headlines in March following his arrest in Washington D.C. after a protest raising awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Sudan outside of the Sudanese Embassy. Nick Clooney, the actor's father, was also arrested. George Clooney has been focused on bringing attention to the genocide in Darfur for years, producing several films about the issue and meeting with leaders in China and Egypt to ask them to use their influence to end the violence.

On May 10, Clooney will be holding a fundraiser at his home for 150 guests on behalf of President Obama's reelection campaign. Estimates suggest the event could raise as much as $12 million.

Though Clooney has claimed the title of People's "Sexiest Man Alive," twice, he's not desperately clinging to youth. The actor told Playboy:

"You don't want to try to look younger because you'll look wrong. You dye your hair, you look wrong. You wear a bad toupee, you look wrong. You wear makeup to hide things, you get your eyes done, you look wrong."

The 51-year-old also suggests that experience trumps youth. In 2011, the actor told Esquire:

"I could be tempted by youth if I was allowed to hold on to all the wisdom that I've gotten. In everything, not just sports. In life. In acting. I'd be tempted by youth only so I could continue doing it a little longer."

For more on the actor, check out our slideshow below. Happy birthday, George Clooney!

Loading Slideshow

• George Clooney

  Clooney arrives on the red carpet for the 84th Annual Academy Awards in 2012.

• George Clooney And Stacy Keibler

  George Clooney with girlfriend Stacy Keibler at the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards in 2012.

• 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

  Clooney arrives at the 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2012.

• Actor And Activist

  George Clooney is handcuffed by a member of the US Secret Service for trespassing upon the Sudanese Embassy in Washington, DC, in 2012. Clooney was protesting against human rights abuses by the Sudanese government.

• 2012

  George Clooney accompanied by his father Nick Clooney, speaks to the press upon their release in March. The two were arrested earlier in the day while protesting at the Sudanese embassy.

• '8'

  George Clooney speaks onstage during the one-night reading of '8' presented by The American Foundation For Equal Rights & Broadway Impact in 2012.

• 'The Descendants'

  In "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1033575/" target="_hplink">The Descendants</a>" Clooney plays a father and husband coping with his wife's injuries as the result of a boating accident.

• Golden Globe

  George Clooney wins a Golden Globe for Best Actor in "The Descendants" in 2012.

• David Letterman

  Clooney talks to Letterman about a particular time when Walter Cronkite jumped in the lake by his home.

• 'The Ides Of March'

  Clooney wrote, directed, and starred in the 2011 film '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1124035/" target="_hplink">The Ides Of March</a>.'

• Humanitarian Award

  Clooney is presented with the Humanitarian Award at the 2010 Emmy Awards.

• 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?'

  Clooney sings in the 2000 film "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190590/" target="_hplink">O Brother, Where Art Thou?</a>"

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Comments

[TarzanaGirl]

02:57 AM on 06/24/2012

Belated Birthday Wishes George! Now get yourself over here so I can give you a very special present!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Busterbrowndown]

12:07 PM on 05/07/2012

This guy has never been good looking. I am shocked to think that people rate on a level of good looking. Look at his large smile it"s out of place and shaped badly. Yes he looks old for his age. He is not to smart of man he believes in global warming and runs around screaming "help Africa people" when Africans won't help their own people. He is the poster child for what "leaving in a glass house" means. He looks leathery also. His range as an actor is really bad, he play's the same acting roll in each movie. Even though I like some of his movies (not because of him) his rolls are always the same. Yes you could tell he was batman by the way he acted. He always tilts his head to the right or left when people talk to him, he does this on the screen as well, he did it in batman when he had to say his lines. He loves Obama that should tell you even more about how ridiculous he is.

[TarzanaGirl]

02:58 AM on 06/24/2012

Jealous much????? You WISH you were him!!!!!!!!!

[steviec]

03:33 AM on 05/07/2012

Well, since he's always standing with girls half his age, he looks like a caricature of the aging sugar daddy...

[simmersck]

02:48 AM on 05/07/2012

Brad Pit is 48....Clooney looks old enough to play his father.

[TCBmyway55]

02:38 AM on 05/07/2012

Gray hair don't mean you are old. I had a friend that was completely gray by age 30. Still looking good George and Happy, Happy Birthday.

[kareennBee]

02:34 AM on 05/07/2012

Seriously? A lot of you find him to look older? How so damn, to me he looks like hes around his early 40s. I've seen actors/actresses that look 3 times older than there age! and George Clooney isn't one of them. Happy Late Birthday Georgie hope you enjoyed it!:D

[Mountain Mover]

01:41 AM on 05/07/2012

To all who have posted negative comments about George Clooney's political leanings as being hatred I ask you; have you ever done anything to help your fellow man the way he has?
Think of the words you have posted, if they don't spew hatred, then you have contradicted yourselves.

[norbekauss]

11:34 PM on 05/06/2012

6 maybe! Judging by his actions.

[biidagress]

11:30 PM on 05/06/2012

why does he look so much older than he is

[Bob Moody]

11:13 PM on 05/06/2012

REally, only 51. All that gray hair and the wrinkles. WOW. George, I know there is that distiguished look but you asre about 10 years early.

[jf12]

08:16 AM on 05/07/2012

The wrinkles are because of sun exposure, and genes.

[kitkatmom1]

10:57 PM on 05/06/2012

Happy "51" Birthday George Clooney !!!

[jeanbaker0]

10:35 PM on 05/06/2012

Guess his age? Past the expiration date. Go way clooney. Head on over to the Sudan or So. Sudan whichever you're so worried about.

[ondbuyu]

09:59 PM on 05/06/2012

When George aggressively jumped into Politics with a "Blind" hatred
for all republicans I stopped watching his movies or could care just
as less for him as he openly cares for me as a conservative.

Robert DeNiro's interview spewed just as much hatred for
all conservatives as well so he gets what he asked for
also....

These two have nothing but hatred in their hearts for
millions of people who do not share their same political
view point. The very people who made their careers
are the ones they hate today.. Farewell to you BOTH.

[avilez64]

10:06 PM on 05/06/2012

I couldn't have said it better !

[ondbuyu]

10:19 PM on 05/06/2012

avilez64........ I have been for YEARS a great follower of them both
and it made me very sad to hear their words of hatred. In their defense
today there is actually families and friends being divided by the war-fare
which is being aggressively manufactured by Mr. Obama.. I gladly
Fanned and Faved you......Good night

[Janet Day]

10:53 PM on 05/06/2012

I did the same thing. I guess he's too old to know any better than to be taken in by the most deceitful, self absorbed pres that ever was. I think old George is losing more than a few fans. I used to love him....not so anymore.

[TarzanaGirl]

03:00 AM on 06/24/2012

It's sad that instead of just wishing someone a happy birthday, you made an effort to come to this thread just to trash George for supporting Obama. Let me guess ... if he was supporting Romney instead, he'd be your favorite actor???

[Janet Day]

07:57 PM on 06/25/2012

Damn straight

[writenow22]

09:56 PM on 05/06/2012

A poem for George :)
I've been in love with you
For quite some time
So I decided to write you a poem
Because I love to rhyme.
I think you're really groovy
And I really enjoy your movies
But just when I'd start to think you do it all for fun
Then you'd come out with a serious one :)
I've always thought you had courage and class
When a real story needs telling you never say 'pass'
But alas, my sweet George
We are not the same
I've always been a damsel in distress
Ok - sometimes I'm a dame.
I've battled mental illness
All of my life
And I know I'm not alone
We all go through strife.
But now that I'm doing much better
There's something that must be done
I've just got to work up the courage
To tell you - I think you're the one.
And if there's any chance
That you feel the same
You should know - I screwed up my life
You're gonna have to rescue this dame!
Happy Birthday!!

[special38x2]

11:12 PM on 05/06/2012

LOL...nice...Are you sure you'll really want him if you catch him? He doesn't seem like the damsel in distress sort of guy - high maintenance...

[writenow22]

01:42 PM on 05/07/2012

Not a damsel anymore, now I'm just the dame :)
Besides, as far as the rescue is concerned... he already did
yay for me (lol)
But you're right, neither of us wants to be caught

[Tahoe Dan]

09:44 PM on 05/06/2012

All that grey hair, the wrinkles around the eyes, the botox injections in the forehead and that turkey-skinned neck... I would have guessed 71.....

[TarzanaGirl]

03:01 AM on 06/24/2012

Sounds like someone is either VERY JEALOUS or perhaps In Love????