Hollywood legend George Clooney found himself the target of some good-natured ribbing from his longtime friend and co-star Don Cheadle during the recent Golden Globe Awards ceremony. The playful jabs centred on the startling length of time since Clooney last took home one of the prestigious awards.
A Playful On-Stage Roast
The moment unfolded as the two Ocean's Eleven alumni, Clooney, 64, and Cheadle, 61, took to the stage to present the award for Best Motion Picture – Drama. Before announcing the nominees, Cheadle turned his attention to nominee Timothée Chalamet, who was in the audience. 'Timmy what are you now, 29? 30?' Cheadle asked. After Chalamet confirmed he was 30, Cheadle delivered the punchline aimed squarely at his presenting partner: 'He [Timothée] was three last time you [George] won!'
A slightly flustered Clooney attempted to deflect, replying, 'It wasn't that long ago Timothée! I'm just going to do the nominations now.' Not one to let up, Cheadle followed with another zinger, referencing one of Clooney's less celebrated roles: 'Knock 'em dead Batman!' This was a clear nod to the 1997 film Batman and Robin, a project Clooney has often mocked himself for its critical panning and Razzie Award nominations.
Context and a History of Globe Success
The on-stage banter came shortly after Clooney himself had made a joke about age at the AARP Movies for Grownups Awards. There, he quipped that the ceremony was for 'old people' and said, 'The only way I can win anything is because Timothée Chalamet is too god damn young!'
Despite the jokes about a lengthy dry spell for competitive wins, Clooney's history with the Golden Globes is illustrious. His most recent Globe was the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement in 2015. Prior to that, he won Best Motion Picture – Drama as a producer for Argo in 2013, and Best Actor – Drama for The Descendants in 2012.
A Heartwarming ER Reunion
Elsewhere during the AARP awards evening, a more sentimental Hollywood reunion took place. George Clooney enjoyed a catch-up with his former ER co-star Noah Wyle, 16 years after the iconic medical drama concluded. The pair have been close friends since meeting on set over 30 years ago.
Speaking to People magazine, Wyle described their enduring bond. 'Those bonds that were forged during that show are so lovely and intimate that I feel like we don't have to be totally present in each other's lives to be able to have a context for each other's lives,' he said. He added that Clooney has been a 'real touchstone figure' in his life who appears at the right moments.
The actors presented awards to each other at the ceremony. Clooney, presenting Wyle with a Best Actor award, paid a touching tribute: 'He was wise beyond his years from the very beginning... We became very dear friends very early. We have remained that way for well over 30 years now.' In a heartfelt finish, Clooney added, 'And when I grow up, I want to be Noah Wyle.'
The evening perfectly encapsulated two sides of Hollywood camaraderie: the sharp, public wit shared between seasoned stars like Clooney and Cheadle, and the deep, lasting friendship forged in the early days of a career, as seen with Clooney and Wyle.
