Nick Clooney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nick Clooney
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Clooney in 2006
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| Born |
Nicholas Joseph Clooney
January 13, 1934 Maysville, Kentucky, U.S.
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| Occupation | Journalist, anchorman, game show host, television host |
| Years active | 1958–present |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse(s) |
Nina Warren
(m. 1959) |
| Children | 2, including George Clooney |
| Relatives | Rosemary Clooney (sister) Betty Clooney (sister) Miguel Ferrer (nephew) |
Nicholas Joseph Clooney, born on January 13, 1934, is an American journalist and TV host. He is known for his work as an anchorman. Nick is the brother of famous singers Rosemary Clooney and Betty Clooney. He is also the father of well-known actor George Clooney.
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Early Life and Family
Nick Clooney was born in Maysville, Kentucky. His parents were Marie Frances and Andrew Joseph Clooney. He was one of five children in his family.
During his time in the U.S. Army, Nick worked as a disc jockey. He hosted radio shows like Music in the Air in Germany. After the army, he tried acting in California. When that didn't work out, he moved to Ohio. There, he met Nina Warren, who was in a beauty pageant he was judging. They got married in August 1959. Nick and Nina have two children: a daughter named Adelia (also called Ada) and their famous son, George Clooney.
Broadcasting and Journalism Career
Nick Clooney had a long and successful career in television. He worked for eight years at WKYT-TV in Lexington, Kentucky, starting in 1958.
Hosting TV Shows
After Lexington, he moved to Ohio to host his own TV show, The Nick Clooney Show. This show was a popular morning program. It featured a mix of variety acts and talk-show interviews. He hosted it in Columbus, Ohio, and later in Cincinnati.
In 1974, Nick became known across the country. He hosted a daytime game show for ABC called The Money Maze.
News Anchor and Director
After The Money Maze ended in 1975, Nick returned to Cincinnati. He became the news director and lead anchor for WKRC-TV. As a journalist, he is famous for his reporting on the 1977 Beverly Hills Supper Club fire. Many people first learned about this tragic fire from his news reports.
Nick focused on serious news, not just exciting stories. Under his leadership, WKRC-TV became the top local news station. He helped them beat their long-time rival, WCPO-TV.
Later Career Moves
In 1984, Nick moved to Los Angeles, California. He worked as a co-anchor for KNBC news. He later returned to WKRC-TV in Cincinnati. After that, he helped start a news program for the Fox station KSTU in Salt Lake City, Utah. He also worked briefly at WGRZ-TV in Buffalo, New York.
Later, Nick became a host and researcher for the cable channel American Movie Classics. He would introduce classic movies and share interesting facts about them. In 1999, he returned to radio in Cincinnati.
Nick has also spoken out about his concerns regarding some TV station owners. He disagreed with their political views and how they made local news stations show certain stories. He said he would have quit if he had been forced to read those stories on air.
2004 Congressional Campaign
In 2004, Nick Clooney decided to run for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. He ran as a Democrat for Kentucky's 4th congressional district.
The Election Race
Nick was a strong candidate because he was well-known. He was also supported by the outgoing Democratic congressman. However, his opponent, Republican Geoff Davis, used the phrase "Hollywood vs. the Heartland" to describe the race. This was because of Nick's famous son, George Clooney.
Nick's lead in the polls started to shrink. He eventually lost the election. After his loss, he said his short time in politics was over. He then went back to writing a newspaper column for The Cincinnati Post.
Life After Politics
After his political campaign, Nick Clooney continued to be active in many ways.
Documentary and Activism
In 2006, Nick and his son George traveled to Darfur, Sudan. They filmed a documentary called A Journey to Darfur. This film was shown on TV in the U.S., the United Kingdom, and France. In 2008, it was released on DVD. The money from DVD sales went to the International Rescue Committee to help people in Darfur.
Nick became a strong supporter for Darfur. He gave speeches at high schools and participated in rallies. He received an honorary diploma from St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati. He also received an honorary degree from the University of Kentucky.
Teaching and Writing
In 2008, Nick Clooney joined the faculty at American University in Washington, D.C.. He became a distinguished journalist in residence. He taught a course on opinion writing. He also taught a course called "Films that Changed Us." This course was based on his book, The Movies That Changed Us: Reflections on the Screen. The book looks at important American films like Star Wars and Saving Private Ryan.
In 2012, Nick was the main speaker at the University of Cincinnati graduation. He also received an honorary degree from the university.
Acting Role
In 2014, Nick Clooney appeared in the movie The Monuments Men. His son, George Clooney, directed the film and played a main character. Nick played an older version of George's character, visiting a famous statue years later.
In 2021, Nick Clooney joined the Sons of the American Revolution.
See also
In Spanish: Nick Clooney para niños
