George Clooney's First Role in 'Centennial' Marks Early Career Milestone In 1978, at the age of 17, George Clooney made his debut on screen in the NBC miniseries "Centennial," a production that would later become a defining moment in his career. The series, based on James Michener’s 1974 bestseller of the same name, was filmed across Colorado, Wyoming, Ohio, and Kentucky, chronicling over two centuries of American expansion through the fictional town of Centennial, Colorado. Clooney’s role, though brief—a young man carrying a barrel—was part of a cast that included iconic actors such as Robert Conrad, Richard Chamberlain, Raymond Burr, Timothy Dalton, Barbara Carrera, Andy Griffith, Brian Keith, and Lynn Redgrave. The production also featured rising stars like Stephanie Zimbalist and Mark Harmon. The miniseries, which aired in 1978, was a landmark in television history. With an estimated budget of $25 million, it was the most expensive television production ever attempted at the time, surpassing the costs of other notable miniseries like "Roots," "The Thorn Birds," "Shogun," and "Rich Man, Poor Man." Filmed during the golden age of the American miniseries, "Centennial" was praised for its ambitious scope and historical detail. Perry Hibner, author of "Centennial Revisited," noted that Michener, who wrote over 40 books, considered the NBC adaptation the best representation of his work. Kentucky played a significant role in the production, with Clooney’s hometown, Augusta, serving as a stand-in for St. Louis, Missouri. The town’s 19th-century streetscapes and riverfront provided a convincing backdrop for the series. Filming in Augusta, Lexington, and Richmond, the production employed hundreds of local residents as background performers.#kentucky #james_michener #perry_hibner #george_clooney #centennial
George Clooney's First Role in a Miniseries Marked the Start of a Hollywood Career In 1978, at the age of 17, George Clooney made his debut on screen in the NBC miniseries "Centennial," a production that would become a defining moment in his early career. The series, based on James Michener’s 1974 bestseller of the same name, was filmed across Colorado, Wyoming, Ohio, and Kentucky, chronicling over two centuries of American expansion through the fictional town of Centennial, Colorado. Clooney’s role was brief—a young man carrying a barrel—but the production’s scale and historical significance left a lasting impact on both the actor and the communities involved. The miniseries, which aired in 1978, was a landmark project for television, with an estimated budget of $25 million, making it the most expensive television production at the time. It was part of the golden age of American miniseries, joining the ranks of iconic series like "Roots," "The Thorn Birds," "Shogun," and "Rich Man, Poor Man." The show’s adaptation of Michener’s novel was praised for its sweeping narrative and attention to historical detail, with the author himself acknowledging that the NBC version was the best representation of his work. Clooney’s hometown, Augusta, Kentucky, played a notable role in the production, doubling as St. Louis, Missouri. The town’s 19th-century streetscapes and riverfront provided an authentic backdrop for the series. During filming, the production hired hundreds of Kentucky residents as background performers, offering $25 per day and a meal. This modest pay drew long lines of locals eager to participate, as the opportunity to be part of a major television production was rare.#george_clooney #centennial_miniseries #james_michener #augusta_kentucky #perry_hibner
