By 
Not even a mullet could dampen George Clooney's appeal. The actor got his start on the small screen, playing handyman George Burnett on The Facts of Life and, more famously, as Dr. Doug Ross on ER, but quickly rose to Tinseltown royalty. Now, he bounces between acting and directing critical darlings (The Descendants, Syriana) and commercial blockbusters (the Oceans franchise) as easily as he does between the good life in Lake Como, where he spends much of his time with wife Amal, and Darfur, Sudan, where he has worked tirelessly to stop human rights atrocities. He's loved by seemingly all, including—or especially—Esquire, where he has graced our cover nearly 10 times. Here are 40 photos that chronicle his rise.
Clooney poses for a portrait session in May 1985 in Los Angeles, California.
Clooney and Kelly Preston, whom he dated and lived with, photographed together in 1985.
The Facts of Life cast at its 150th Show Party in 1986. Pictured: (L-R) Charlotte Rae as Edna Garrett, Lisa Whelchel as Blair Warner, Nancy McKeon as Joanne 'Jo' Polniaczek, Kim Fields as Dorothy 'Tootie' Ramsey, Mindy Cohn as Natalie Green, Mackenzie Astin as Andy Moffet, Clooney as George Burnett.
Clooney at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills in 1986.
Clooney as Major Biff Woods in NBC's Sunday Night At The Movies, Combat High, in 1986.
Clooney's portrait for The Facts of Life in 1986.
Clooney on the set of Roseanne in 1989. He played Booker Brooks, a foreman at the company Roseanne and Jackie worked at, in 11 episodes.
Clooney and actress Laurie Metcalf on an episode of Roseanne in December 1988.
Clooney attending a celebrity basketball game on June 24, 1989 in Malibu, California.
Clooney in Los Angeles in 1990 promoting his film Red Surf.
Clooney as Dr. Doug Ross on ER in 1990.
Clooney poses for a portrait session on March 2, 1992 in Los Angeles, California.
Clooney poses for a portrait in 1992 in Los Angeles, California.
Clooney poses for a portrait in 1992 in Los Angeles, California.
Clooney during an interview with host Jay Leno on November 24, 1994.
Clooney standing with Atlanta Brave baseball player David Justice at MTV's Rock 'N' Jock softball game in 1995.
Clooney poses with a pool stick during the filming of From Dusk till Dawn in 1995 in Los Angeles.
Clooney visits with fans at Planet Hollywood in 1995 in Atlanta, Georgia.
Clooney hosts Saturday Night Live in 1995.
Juliette Lewis, Clooney, and Quentin Tarantino in Burbank, California in 1995.
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