George Clooney recalls driving Rosemary Clooney and lessons from Hollywood’s early days

George Clooney worked as his aunt Rosemary Clooney’s driver when he started his Hollywood career, and he later transported performers such as Tony Bennett before becoming famous. The 64-year-old actor attended the Los Angeles premiere of Jay Kelly on the red carpet and shared memories from his early years in the entertainment industry. He said spending a year close to major talents taught him valuable lessons about managing success and setbacks at a young age.

The Oscar winner recalled that Frank Sinatra once criticized him by telephone about a press freedom boycott that failed to prevent helicopters from circling the singer’s residence. Clooney said he considers the reprimand from Sinatra a point of honor. The actor grew up in Kentucky and barely knew his aunt before moving west to pursue acting work and to become her chauffeur on concert tours.