George Clooney: Hooked and Booked at 53

Often referred to as one of the sexiest men alive, Oscar-winning actor George Clooney turns 53 today. This birthday is all the more special for the silver fox who has just taken himself off the market, to the sound of the shattering of many a female heart.

Ahead, a look at George Clooney's life and career.

Hollywood's master of many trades, actor-producer-director-writer George Clooney was born on May 6, 1961 in Lexington, Kentucky. His parents were former beauty queen Nina Bruce and TV personality Nick Clooney. The Clooney family includes George's aunt, singer Rosemary Clooney, her husband, actor Jose Ferrer, and their sons, actors Miguel and Rafael Ferrer.

In school, the young George suffered from and survived Bell's palsy, which paralyzes the face.

Before hitting big time in Hollywood, George Clooney had a long run on TV. After a part as an extra on mini-series Centennial, he landed bigger roles in well-known shows like The Facts of Life, The Golden Girls and Roseanne. His breakthrough role was as heartthrob Dr Ross on hospital drama ER. He played Dr Ross from 1994 to 1999 and was nominated for two Emmys and three Golden Globes.

Hollywood came calling rather late in George Clooney's career. He was 35 when he was cast in action-horror cult film From Dusk till Dawn, written by Quentin Tarantino, in 1996.

George's next successful film was romantic comedy One Fine Day (1996) opposite Michelle Pfeiffer.

He was then cast as Batman in 1997 film Batman and Robin directed by Joel Schumacher. He starred opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chris O'Donnell, Uma Thurman and Alicia Silverstone. The film was a moderate box office success but a critical failure.

In 2000, he began his long association with the Coen Brothers. His first movie with Ethan and Joel Coen was O Brother, Where Art Thou, a depression-era adventure film, loosely based on Homer's The Odyssey.

In 2001, George Clooney teamed up with good friend Brad Pitt for the heist film Ocean's Eleven, the first of a hugely successful trilogy. The film was so popular it saw two sequels - Ocean's Twelve (2004) and Ocean's Thirteen (2007). The series, a remake of the 1960 film, also starred Julia Roberts, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Al Pacino, Andy Garcia and Don Cheadle

In 2002, George made his directorial debut with the surrealist biopic Confessions Of A Dangerous Mind, an adaptation of the autobiography of Chuck Barris, producer of TV shows like The Dating Game. The film earned him a Golden Bear nomination at the Berlin Film Festival but didn't do well at the box office.

George Clooney's second film as director, Good Night and Good Luck, came in 2005. He was nominated at the next year's Oscars for Best Director and the Best Screenplay. The film was also nominated for Best Motion Picture but lost to Crash.

Despite losing Best Director in 2006, George did score the Best Supporting Actor award for ensemble film Syriana, his first Oscar win.

In 2007, George Clooney delivered another Oscar-nominated performance in Michael Clayton. While Clooney didn't win an Oscar, his co-star in the film, Tilda Swinton did.

In 2008, George reunited with the Coen brothers for the dark comedy Burn After Reading. The film also starred Brad Pitt, Tilda Swinton and John Malkovich.

In 2009, George Clooney starred in Up in the Air, and was nominated for a Golden Globe, a Screen Actors Guild Award, BAFTA, and an Academy Award for his performance.

In the year 2011, he starred in Alexander Payne's The Descendants. His performance as the husband of a woman who was left in a coma after an accident earned him a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Drama as well as an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

In 2012, he won the Golden Globe Award, BAFTA and Academy Awards for producing the film Argo.

George's last release was 2013's Gravity where he was seen playing an astronaut stranded in space opposite Sandra Bullock.

Along the way to superstardom, George Clooney acquired the reputation of being a serial heartbreaker. He married and divorced actress Talia Balsam in the 1990s and then dated a string of high-profile women – including model Lisa Snowdon, Italian TV personality Elisabetta Canalis and WWE alumnus Stacy Keibler – but publicly swore off marriage.

Just last month, that changed. Hollywood's most eligible bachelor confirmed in April that he was engaged to British lawyer Amal Alamuddin, advisor to Kofi Annan and Julian Assange.

George Clooney is currently filming sci-fi thriller Tomorrowland, releasing next year.

Here's wishing George Clooney a very happy birthday.