Less than two decades ago, the young hunk from Kentucky seemed destined to become just another Tinseltown cautionary tale -- with nothing but a dodgy mullet, run of bad B-movies and blink-and-you'll-miss-'em TV appearances to look back on on his deathbed.
Now on his milestone birthday, the last true matinée idol has a legion of fans, beautiful girlfriend, brilliant career and millions stuffed in the mattress to toast.
Gaining 30lbs and an Oscar for his role as a CIA agent in 2005's Syriana, the salt-and-pepper sex symbol quashed any question over his acting ability.
But it's his humanitarian work -- including an all-star telethon for the victims of the Haitian earthquake and TV special A Journey to Darfur with his news-anchor dad Nick -- that has earned Clooney the greatest accolade, after Time magazine named him among the 100 Most Influential People in the World.
Meanwhile on the home front, things seem peachy with 32-year-old model Canalis too -- even though the couple were almost caught up in the sex trial of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi after being named as witnesses.
"It's an interesting thing to watch yourself grow older on screen," reflects George. "I was watching (his 2009 movie) Up in the Air and I thought, 'Who's the old grey-haired guy?'
"I never wear make-up for movies, and it's starting to show.
"(But) you don't want to try to look younger because you'll look wrong."
Only getting better with (middle) age, what can Irish men like singer Daniel O'Donnell and actor Liam Cunningham, both of whom turn 50 this year, learn from Mr Clooney?
"What man wouldn't want to be like George Clooney at 50," reckons Shane Breslin, editor of men's website Joe.ie.
"He's definitely the thinking woman -- and non-thinking woman's -- sex symbol. But he's a guy's guy too.
"When women talk about Clooney, they may be talking about 'Gorgeous George' -- but when me and my mates talk about him, it's about the intelligence of films like Michael Clayton and Syriana. In spite of his looks, he's the opposite of someone as vacuous as Josh Hartnett.
"A lot of his appeal boils down to humility," adds Shane. "You can't really imagine Clooney having a mid-life crisis. He's a 'fine wine' type of guy, ageing with grace -- and that's something all Irish men could learn from."
In his next film The Ides of March, Clooney plays a flawed presidential candidate. So with Hollywood, the world and the California Democratic Party at his feet, could life imitate art?
"I didn't live my life in the right way for politics, you know," Clooney says in typically self-effacing fashion. "I f***ed too many chicks and did too many drugs, and that's the truth."
Happy birthday, indeed, Mr Clooney.
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