Clark Gregg Recalls Seeing Broadway Costar George Clooney's First Stage Role in 1986: 'He Was Wonderful' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Clark Gregg attends the Zero Day World Premiere on Feb. 18, 2025 in New York City; George Clooney attends Clooney Foundation For Justice’s The Albies at New York Public Library on Sept. 26, 2024 in New York City.Photo:Kevin Mazur/Getty; Gotham/FilmMagic

Kevin Mazur/Getty; Gotham/FilmMagic

Clark Greggis ready to share the stage withGeorge Clooney.

The actor, 62, recently told PEOPLE at the premiere of Netflix’sZero Dayin New York City that he once saw Clooney, his costar inGood Night, and Good Luckon Broadway, perform in a 1986 play.

“I saw a young actor whose name was George, in a play in Chicago in 1986, and he was wonderful,” Gregg said of Clooney. “Since we started rehearsing, he told me that was the only other play he’s ever done.”

Clark Gregg at Netflix’s “Zero Day” World Premiere held at The Plaza Hotel on Feb. 18, 2025 in New York City.Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty

Kristina Bumphrey/Variety via Getty

Clooney made his theater debut in Denis Spedaliere’s workViciousabout Sex Pistols musician Sid Vicious, which played at Chicago’s Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Speaking toThe New Yorkerin 2016 about the show, he said his character, a prostitute and drug dealer, was “the comedy relief.”

Ultimately, the Oscar winner said that his experience in the play was a “turning point” in his career. “That was the first time I really felt like, ‘Okay, I’m in the right business. I shouldn’t be ­embarrassed about everything I do,’ " he told the outlet.

The story recounts the real-life story of CBS news journalist Edward R. Murrow’s legendary exposé on Senator Joseph McCarthy. On screen, Clooney played news producer Fred Friendly, but on stage, he’ll step into the role of Murrow.

George Clooney poses with the cast of “Good Night, And Good Luck” on Broadway at the Winter Garden on Feb. 6, 2025 in New York City.Bruce Glikas/WireImage

Bruce Glikas/WireImage

The show begins performances on March 12 at the Winter Garden and will officially open on April 3.

Alongside Clooney and Gregg, the cast includes Mac Brandt, Will Dagger, Christopher Denham, Glenn Fleshler andIlana Glazer.

While the work marks Clooney’s Broadway debut, Gregg previously starred in the original production ofA Few Good Menin 1989. “It has been a minute,” he told PEOPLE of his return to the Main Stem. “I’ve done a few plays, but it’s fun to go back to Broadway.”

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With rehearsals kicking up, the actor said the experience has been positive. “We’re having a blast,” he shared. “It’s a great cast. I love Ilana Glazer. I love the other members of the cast. And I think that the brilliant director David Cromer is adapting it beautifully for Broadway. I can’t wait for people to see it.”

George Clooney during a press event for ‘Good Night, And Good Luck’ on Broadway at the Winter Garden on Feb. 6, 2025 in New York City.Bruce Glikas/WireImage

Also starring in the play are Paul Gross, Georgia Heers, Carter Hudson, Fran Kranz, Jennifer Morris, Michael Nathanson, Andrew Polk, Aaron Roman Weiner, R. Ward Duffy, Joe Forbrich, Imani Rousselle, Greg Stuhr, JD Taylor and Sophia Tzougros.

While Clooney is surely a decorated actor, his time away from the stage may bring a few hiccups. During a recent appearance onThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert,hesaid that despite co-writing the film and the play with Grant Heslov, memorizing his lineshas been “a nightmare.”

“I don’t remember my kids' names!” joked Clooney, who shares 7-year-old twinsAlexander and Ellawith wifeAmal. “I’m 63!”

“It’s weird. When I didER, we’d do 12 pages a day of medical dialogue and you could just come in and whip it out. I was 30 years [old],” Clooney added, before demonstrating his recall of the phrase “supraventricular tachycardia” which he said he’s “never gotten wrong since” doing the 1994 drama. “Now I can’t remember anything.”

source: people.com