A film focused on an oil merger in the Middle East, Syriana earned George Clooney an Academy Award for his performance as a CIA agent.  However, the film was also significant to him for the trauma that occurred while shooting it: Clooney cracked his skull open during the filming of, ironically, a torture scene.

Information regarding the rehabilitation he required to recover from this brain injury is unavailable.  It is known that he saw a neurologist.  While he resumed his career after a year, albeit with the use of compensating memory strategies, he admits to severe depression and suicidal thoughts.  Memory issues, depression and suicidal thoughts are common effects immediately following a brain injury.

Since that time, Clooney has earned a host of other awards, including a Best Picture Academy Award for Argo.  The public will probably never know the full story of Clooney’s trauma and recovery, but even assuming the best, his life after trauma is remarkable.

Selected links:

Accident/recovery overview: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/oct/23/film.usa

Accident/recovery overview: https://traumaticbraininjury.net/2005/10/26/clooneys-tbi-caused-excruciating-pain/

Filmography: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000123/?ref_=tt_cl_t2

Syriana: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0365737/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_37