George Clooney reveals that as a teenager, he had Bell’s palsy

January 27, 2023January 27, 2023 Editor

Bell’s palsy is a temporary condition that causes sudden weakness in the muscles on one side of the face

George Clooney is discussing a health issue he experienced as a youth.

The actor, 61, sat down with presenter Jimmy Kimmel during his appearance on the 20th-anniversary broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and spoke briefly about how he was first identified as having Bell’s palsy when he was younger.

Snoop Dogg, who co-hosted the first few episodes of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at the time, joined Clooney, who was Kimmel’s first guest on the late-night talk show series when it debuted in 2003.

Following a throwback image of Dogg, 51, from high school, Kimmel, 55, also posted a series of images of Clooney from about the same time.

“George, we happen to have some pictures of you from, this was a little before high school,” Kimmel said, sharing a first photo of a preteen Clooney sporting a bowl cut and wearing glasses.

“I want to point out that my mother cut my hair,” the actor said in response before Kimmel then pulled out another picture of him a few years older, where he could be seen with a slightly slanted smile.

But, before Kimmel could poke fun at Clooney’s appearance, the Ticket to Paradise star told him, “Now wait, I want to point out something because you’re going to laugh, gonna make a joke. I have Bell’s palsy there and half of my face is paralyzed.”

“Look at this, watch this,” Clooney added, as he covered half of his face in the photograph with his hand. “If you go like this, on the other side, it’s a completely different face. So now make your joke. Come on, funny man. Come on, let me give you my sad face.”

Kimmel said, however, “You know what? I didn’t have a joke, George, and you really brought everybody down.”

He then continued, “Maybe we should have another toast to bring things back up,” before he, Clooney, and Dogg each took a shot together.

The Mayo Clinic describes Bell’s palsy as a short-term disorder that produces a sudden weakening in the muscles on one side of the face. It usually gets better over a few weeks.

According to the organization, the condition’s precise source is unknown, and a person seldom experiences it more than once in their lifetime.