George Clooney has recently shared his support for fellow actors Paul Dano, Owen Wilson, and Matthew Lillard during his acceptance speech for the Best Actor award for “Jay Kelly” at the AARP’s Movies for Grownups Awards. His remarks come in stark contrast to Quentin Tarantino’s earlier criticisms of the trio. Clooney expressed his admiration, stating, “I would be honoured to work with those actors,” emphasizing the importance of kindness in the acting community. He characterized the current climate as one of “cruelty,” underlining the necessity to refrain from adding to it.
In December 2025, Tarantino made waves with disparaging comments directed at Dano, Wilson, and Lillard, calling Dano “the weakest f—ing actor in SAG,” sharing that he couldn’t stand Wilson and stated indifference towards Lillard. Previously, he also expressed his belief that Clooney wasn’t a movie star, a comment Clooney reacted to with irritation, reflecting on his own status as an accomplished actor.
During Clooney’s acceptance speech, he also reflected on his collaboration with director Noah Baumbach, praising the “beautiful” script of “Jay Kelly” and expressing gratitude for reuniting with Laura Dern, his co-star from his first film, “Grizzly II: Revenge.” With a sense of optimism about the future, Clooney stated, “It’s going to be a long, tough couple of years, but we’ll all get through it together.”
The event featured Clooney’s former “ER” co-star Noah Wyle presenting him with the award, highlighting the camaraderie among actors. Clooney also honored Wyle with playful remarks when Wyle received his Best Actor award for “The Pitt,” suggesting AARP should launch a “sexiest man still alive” issue, humorously nominating Wyle for the title.
The AARP Movies for Grownups Awards, which celebrates entertainment for audiences aged 50 and older, will be broadcast on “Great Performances” on PBS on February 22. The acknowledgment of seasoned talent serves as a testament to the specialized contribution older actors make to the film industry.