Few actors these days carry the bona fide leading man status, and there seems to be a slow changing of the guard taking place. Some older stars like Brad Pitt still carry this status, while some young up-and-comers are certainly earning their stripes. These next few years could usher in a lot of change, and this will be exciting to see.
One of the true leading men in Hollywood is George Clooney, who has been making hits since the 90s. Even though he is known for being a film star, a closer look at his career will reveal that Clooney's big break came on television, and he was making a fortune while crushing on the small screen.
Let's take a closer look at George Clooney's ER pay.
George Clooney Is A Major Film Star
These days, global audiences know George Clooney as one of the most successful film stars of his era. The man has done it all in Hollywood, and he has demonstrated the ability to put on a great performance in any genre. Not only is his acting great, but Clooney's work behind the camera is just as impressive.
Clooney has put together a solid list of acting credits, and he has even anchored a successful film trilogy. Some of his most notable projects include the Ocean's franchise, Syriana, Gravity, and a whole lot more, which we will touch on shortly.
Of course, coming from a family that features showbiz names like Rosemary Clooney certainly lent a helping hand, but the truth of the matter is the man has put in years of work and has given stellar performances when given the opportunity to shine while the cameras are rolling.
While Clooney is primarily known for being a film star, the truth is that he broke out on television long before making it on the big screen.
He Got A Big Break On 'ER'
Back in 1994, George Clooney was fresh off of a 19-episode stint on Sisters, and he began his time on ER as Dr. Doug Ross. The momentum that he gained from Sisters was a perfect match for the hype that ER generated, and in the blink of an eye, Clooney was a television star leading the charge on a red-hot show.
From 1994 to 2000, George Clooney was a fixture on the series, and he wound up appearing in over 100 episodes. A lot of people tend to forget that Clooney used to be a television star, and the years that he spent on ER did wonders for his appeal to mainstream audiences once he made the switch to the big screen.
While starring on ER, Clooney was taking film roles, and he was steadily building up his leading man status. During those years, he appeared in notable movies like From Dusk til Dawn, The Peacemaker, Three Kings, and a few more. In 2000, the same year he ended his time on the show, Clooney starred in The Perfect Storm and O Brother, Where Art Thou?, and these films helped officially cement him as a film star.
Clooney's time on ER was not only the perfect launching point for his career, but it was a lucrative venture, as well.
He Was Making $100,000 Per Episode
So, exactly how much was George Clooney making back when he was a television star?
According to Celebrity Net Worth, George Clooney was pulling down an impressive $100,000 per episode of the show. This is a nice chunk of change to be making, and while he could have made a whole lot more, Clooney had bigger fish to fry.
As the site notes, "George earned $100,000 per episode of ER. He intentionally never asked for a raise and instead focused on becoming a huge star to advance his budding movie career. In total George earned around $11 million for his work on ER."
It is pretty uncommon to see someone willingly not chase the biggest paycheck possible while in Hollywood, but clearly, Clooney knew that he was destined for the big screen. And yes, he did have some misfires like Batman & Robin, but a quick look at where he is now will show that this was the right decision all along.
ER was a lucrative gig for George Clooney while he was on the show, and it is amazing to see how much he wound up making as a film star as he started to stack up the credits and the accolades over time. Simply put, the man has known how to make bank for a long time now.
