George Clooney Offered His Ex-Wife Whatever She Thought Was ‘Fair’ in Their Divorce
George Clooney‘s ex-wife is a forgotten part of his biography thanks to the actor’s old reputation as a bachelor and current marriage to wife Amal. After all, the swoon-worthy actor said multiple times that he wasn’t ever going to get married and settle down, and he surprised everyone when he did just that.
Most fans have forgotten that the ER actor was briefly married to actor Talia Balsam from 1989-1993 before being famously single for years. As it turns out, Clooney offered his ex-wife whatever she thought was “fair” in their divorce.
Who was George Clooney’s first wife?
George Clooney met his ex-wife, Talia Balsam, in 1984 after hitting it off while co-starring in a local play. During their months-long courtship, they actually broke up once and got back together before Clooney proposed, and they then tied the knot in Las Vegas in 1989.
The actor admits that he truly loved Balsam. However, the marriage just sadly wasn’t meant to be. He filed for divorce in 1992, and it was finalized a year later in 1993.
Clooney offered ex-wife Talia Balsam whatever she thought was ‘fair’ in their divorce
Often, divorces can get messy, especially in Hollywood, but George Clooney and Talia Balsam’s separation was just the opposite. Apparently, the actor feels responsible for the failure of the marriage, saying in an interview that “I probably — definitely — wasn’t someone who should have been married at that point.” He went on to add that “I just don’t feel like I gave Talia a fair shot.” So, what happened, exactly?
Both have admitted that they weren’t ready to be married at that point in their lives. Looking back, Clooney was more focused on his career than his wife, and the marriage suffered as a result. Balsam came from a well-established family, while Clooney was still a struggling actor trying to make a name for himself. Despite their differences, they never said anything bad about each other.
“She didn’t do anything to me,” Clooney once told the LA Times. “We had a relationship that didn’t work out, most of it is my own fault. That’s not me trying to nail me first. I can look at it like it was a TV show. I was the one in the relationship who wasn’t willing to fix things.” As for Balsam, she has remained complimentary of her ex-husband. Balsam also starred in K Street, a 2003 drama executive produced by Clooney.
When it came to the divorce, Clooney even offered whatever Balsam thought was “fair,” saying, “I would say to Talia, ‘You tell me how much — what you think is fair. I’ll write the check. I won’t negotiate.'”
George Clooney’s net worth in 1993 wasn’t anywhere near the estimated $500 million it is today. However, he was still willing to off his ex-wife any amount she deemed fair following their divorce.
George Clooney and Talia Balsam each remarried
Fortunately for George Clooney and Talia Balsam, both have moved on. She has been happily married to Mad Men star John Slattery since 1998, and the two share a son named Harry.
George Clooney married human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in 2014. In 2017, the couple became parents to twins Alexander and Emma.
