George Clooney Backs Out of Venice Film Festival Appearances Due to Ill Health

by annemarie Thu 28 Aug 2025, 18:41

[size=36]George Clooney Backs Out of Venice Film Festival Appearances Due to Ill Health
Clooney felt under the weather at the start of the festival, where he was set to appear at promotional events for his new movie 'Jay Kelly'
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Madison E. Goldberg

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Alina Trabattoni
Alina Trabattoni
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Alina Trabattoni is a freelance writer at PEOPLE.
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Updated on August 28, 2025 12:52PM EDT
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George Clooney bowed out of several appearances at the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday, Aug. 27, amid an illness
A representative of Clooney confirmed that the star was diagnosed with a sinus infection
The actor arrived at the festival to promote his film Jay Kelly

George Clooney did not appear at several Venice Film Festival events on Wednesday, Aug. 27 amid an illness, a representative for the star confirms.
Clooney, 64, wasn't present for a press junket promoting Jay Kelly, his new film directed by Noah Baumbach, and skipped a dinner with cast mates, including Adam Sandler and Laura Dern. The Hollywood Reporter was first to report the news.
The actor was allegedly seen boarding a boat to leave the Hotel Excelsior at approximately 4 p.m. local time on his way home to rest for the day.
"Unfortunately, George has a sinus infection and, under doctor’s orders, he has had to scale back his activities today," a Clooney rep told PEOPLE.

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George Clooney is seen at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on August 27, 2025.
Victor Boyko/Getty

Clooney also missed the official press conference for the Netflix film on Thursday, Aug. 28.
“As you may know, George Clooney is not going to be here because he has a bad sinus infection," the press conference's moderator said. "We really hope, and I think he should be on the red carpet tonight. But he is very sorry he cannot be with us.”
Director Noah Baumbach jokingly chimed in, adding, “Even movie stars get sick.”
Clooney arrived in Venice opposite wife Amal Clooney on Tuesday, Aug. 26. The two commuted into the heart of the city by boat, which inspired their Italian Riviera-esque summer looks.

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George Clooney is seen at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival on August 27, 2025.

Gisela Schober/Getty

The Oscar winner wore sunglasses, a black polo short-sleeve top and beige slim-fit pants accessorized with a brown belt that coordinated with his suede loafers. He also continued to wear his signature salt-and-pepper hair, which he took a quick hiatus from after he dyed his locks brunet for his Broadway run in Good Night, and Good Luck.

Clooney appeared at Venice Film Festival in 2024 for the premiere of Jon Watts’ Wolfs, in which he starred opposite Brad Pitt.

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“Jay Kelly is about a man looking back at his life and reflecting on the choices, the sacrifices, the successes, the mistakes he’s made," Baumbach said in his director's statement on his film. "When is it too late to change the course of our lives?"
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The statement continued, "Jay Kelly is an actor and as such the movie is about identity. How we perform ourselves. Who are we as parents, children, friends, professionals? Are we good? Are we bad? What is the gap between who we’ve decided we are and who we might actually be? What makes a life? Jay Kelly is about what it means to be yourself.”
Jay Kelly will have a theatrical run in the U.S. starting on Nov. 14 before hitting Netflix on Dec. 5.