George Clooney through the years

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Happy Birthday Mr. Clooney: The silver fox's life in photos

George Clooney through the years

It's hard to believe, but George Clooney is 54! It seems like only yesterday we were admiring his mullet-y hotness on "The Facts of Life" and "Roseanne." The Silver Fox has come a long way since then -- let's take a look at some of his career highlights.

Clooney played Dr. Doug Ross on the medical drama "ER." We cried through his relationship ups and downs with nurse Carol Hathaway and didn't think the show would survive without him -- but it continued on for several more seasons.

We bet he's kicking himself for this one now -- 1997's "Batman & Robin" is considered one of the worst entries into the franchise. Lucky for Clooney, he's had several other hits under his belt since then.

The chemistry between Clooney and Jennifer Lopez in 1998's "Out of Sight" nearly burned a hole in the screen and showed Clooney had real leading man chops.

"O Brother, Where Art Though?" saw Clooney playing an escaped convict in the Coen Brothers' 2000 ode to Homer's "The Odyssey." The movie's soundtrack was epic, but all eyes were on Clooney.

Clooney's directorial debut, 2002's "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind," was an adaptation of the biography of game show host Chuck Barris. Clooney also appeared in the film, sporting one of many sweet 'staches he carried over to several other roles (See: "Men Who Stare At Goats," "O Brother Where Art Thou," etc.)

Based on the true story of broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow and his battle with Sen. Joseph McCarthy, 2005's well-received "Good Night and Good Luck" marked Clooney's second directorial/acting outing.

Clooney won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role in 1997's "Syriana," a film about the oil industry. He put on weight and grew a bushy beard for the film. We love us some good method acting.

Clooney played a fixer in the 2007 film "Michael Clayton," a thriller about shady bargaining in the pharmaceutical industry. The movie garnered him one of his three Oscar nominations for acting (he was also nominated for directing and screenplay Oscars for "Good Night and Good Luck.")

Clooney played a cad in 2008's madcap "Burn After Reading," but one of those cads who oozes so much charm we almost forgive him for breaking poor Frances McDormand's heart. The film also marked his third with the Coen Brothers directing, and another with his pal (and "Ocean's" franchise co-star) Brad Pitt.

2008's "Leatherheads," Clooney's third directorial effort, was the story of football players in the 1920s. Somehow, Clooney and costar John Krasinski were able to pull off those silly helmets.

2009's "The Men Who Stare At Goats" saw Clooney starring as a guy who claims to be a former member of the U.S. Army's New Earth Army, a unit that employs paranormal powers in their missions. He stared at goats, we stared at him.

Clooney played an assassin in the 2010 movie "The American." Even when he plays a bad guy, we can't stay mad at him.

George Clooney and Stacy Keibler attend "The Descendants" premiere during the 55th BFI London Film Festival at Odeon Leicester Square on October 20, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Getty Images)

Singer Neil Diamond (L) and George Clooney perform during the 26th Anniversary Carousel Of Hope Ball presented by Mercedes-Benz at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on October 20, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Producers George Clooney (L) and Grant Heslov, winners of the Best Picture award for 'Argo,' attend the Oscars Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center on February 24, 2013 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

George Clooney attends 'The Monuments Men' Milan Premiere on February 10, 2014 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)

George Clooney, Winner of the Cecile B. Demille Award, speaks onstage during the 72nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 11, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)

George Clooney, left, and Amal Alamuddin arrive in Venice, Italy, Friday, Sept. 26, 2014. Clooney, 53, and Alamuddin, 36, are expected to get married this weekend in Venice, one of the world�s most romantic settings. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

George Clooney and Amal Clooney arrive at The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute benefit gala celebrating "China: Through the Looking Glass" on Monday, May 4, 2015, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)

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It's hard to believe, but George Clooney is 54! It seems like only yesterday we were admiring his mullet-y hotness on "The Facts of Life" and "Roseanne." The Silver Fox has come a long way since then -- let's take a look at some of his career highlights.

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