George Clooney No Longer Stars in Romantic Films — What He Said

The “Oceans Eleven” star is closing the curtain on a familiar role, revealing why he’s done with a beloved genre for good.

Hollywood icon George Clooney has officially stepped away from romantic films. At 63, the Oscar-winning actor shared his perspective on aging in the industry and his career shift during an interview with CBS News’ Jon Wertheim.

George, who has been a household name for over three decades, is set to make his Broadway debut in April. He will star in an adaptation of “Good Night, and Good Luck.”

While discussing his evolving career, George made it clear that his days as a romantic lead are behind him. “Look, I’m 63 years old. I’m not trying to compete with 25-year-old leading men. That’s not my job. I’m not doing romantic films anymore,” he stated.

The “Gravity” alum’s life has changed significantly from his early days in Hollywood. Once known as a bachelor living with a pet pig, he is now married with two children. His wife and kids have temporarily moved from their home in Europe to join him in New York for his Broadway debut.

Although he is embracing this new chapter, George reflected on how different his career might have been if he had pursued theater earlier. When asked if he wished he had done Broadway sooner, he responded, “I don’t know that I could’ve. I wasn’t– I didn’t do the work required to get there.”

With the opening night of “Good Night, and Good Luck” set for April 3, he is preparing for an intimate experience with audiences.

The proximity to the crowd is something new for him. “They can see you, you– you can see them too,” Jon pointed out. George humorously replied, “I’m not looking at them. I’m putting my wife in the very, very, very back.”

Despite the challenges of performing live, the “Ticket to Paradise” actor is excited about this opportunity. When stepping onto the Broadway stage, he admitted, “Anybody who would deny that would just be a liar. I mean, there isn’t a single actor alive that wouldn’t have loved to have, you know, been on Broadway.”

As George embraces new artistic challenges, his evolving appearance has also made headlines. Last month (February), the actor addressed reactions to his unexpected hair color change after stepping out in New York City with a noticeably different look.

While George is widely recognized for his signature salt-and-pepper locks, his unexpected transformation was a striking departure from his usual look.

The “Batman & Robin” star sported a noticeably warmer, chestnut-brown shade, bringing a richer and more uniform tone to his hair. His deep brown hue, which appeared to have subtle golden undertones, gave off a refined yet unexpected vibrancy.

According to reports, the “Fail Safe” actor debuted this new look while out to lunch with his beloved wife, Amal Clooney, 47, on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

The duo dined at the French restaurant Raul’s, where, as reported by Daily Mail, they were joined by their attorney friend Kevin Johnson.

As soon as photos of the “Wolfs” actor’s new hair color surfaced online, netizens wasted no time sharing their opinions — and the reactions were anything but unanimous. Many were quick to express their preference for his natural silver strands.

“Surprisingly, He looks younger with the grey hair [sic],” one person remarked, while another bluntly stated, “He looks better with grey hair!”

Others echoed the sentiment, with another observer emphasizing their preference for George’s gray locks. Some naysayers didn’t mince words about their disapproval, with one person criticizing, “He looks ridiculous.”

Another opined, “Wow, money can’t reverse aging, 😐😐😐” implying that even Hollywood’s most dashing stars aren’t immune to the passage of time.

However, not everyone was against the change. A few fans appreciated George’s new hair, offering words of encouragement. “He looks great,” one person praised, while another admirer noted how the star looks “handsome” with both grey and his new color.

A fellow fan enthusiastically cheered, “Cool! He is awesome!!!” showing that despite the online debate, George’s undeniable charm remains intact.

While opinions on George’s transformation flooded social media, the actor himself recently set the record straight on why he opted for the dramatic change.

In a February 26, 2025, interview with The Irish Times, it was revealed that his decision to swap his signature salt-and-pepper locks for a darker hue wasn’t a personal style choice — it was a professional necessity.

The four-time Golden Globe winner used black dye on his hair for his role in the upcoming Broadway adaptation of “Good Night, and Good Luck,” the 2005 film he wrote, directed, and starred in. The stage production sees him stepping into the shoes of legendary journalist Edward R. Murrow, who seeks to take down Senator Joseph McCarthy.

In the movie, George starred as the producer of the CBS newsman (Murrow). Interestingly, playing Murrow was a role the movie star had previously felt he was too young to fully embody.

“I always felt like there was a sadness to Murrow, and that was not something that you could associate with me at 40 years old,” he shared, explaining why he now feels ready to take on the part on stage.

However, while the transformation serves a purpose, George is well aware of the mixed reactions it might spark within his own household.

“My wife is going to hate it because nothing makes you look older than when an older guy dyes his hair,” he admitted, adding with humor, “My kids are going to just laugh at me nonstop.”

His recent hair transformation may be temporary, but his outlook on aging has remained consistent over the years. In a 2015 interview on BBC’s “Radio 4 on Four” with Jenni Murray, George openly discussed the realities of growing older in Hollywood and why he has never been one to chase youth.

When Jenni asked him whether he worries about aging as much as women in the industry do, George acknowledged the pressures that come with being a public figure. However, he maintained that fighting the natural process is a losing battle.

“You have to come to terms with getting older and not trying to fight it. You have a couple of options, which is [sic] get older or die, and so you have to get used to the idea that your roles in films and who you are and how you’re perceived is gonna change,” he explained.

Despite his latest decision to darken his hair for a role, George has long stood by the belief that men attempting to reverse time often end up aging themselves even further.

“I’m a big believer in the idea that you can’t try to look younger, you just have to try to look the best you can at the age you are and not worry about it,” he said, laughing off Jenni’s questions about whether he has ever been tempted to dye his hair or go under the knife.

Beyond his career and public image, George has also spoken about his perspective on how his life shifted after marrying his wife, whom he has often praised for her intelligence and commitment to humanitarian work.

“She’s someone that I enjoy spending every minute of the day with and I’m very proud to be around,” he shared during the same interview. At that time, the couple had not yet welcomed their children, but George’s remarks hinted at the deep adoration he has for his wife — an admiration that has only grown stronger in the years since.

While his latest hair transformation has sparked online debate, George Clooney remains unbothered by the noise. Whether embracing his natural gray or temporarily adopting a darker shade for his craft, the seasoned actor has proven time and again that confidence — not hair color — is the key to timeless appeal.