Before he was the husband of esteemed international and human rights lawyer, Amal Clooney, George Clooney was no more than one of the heartthrobs of Hollywood. One of the most bankable stars, the famed actor also worked successfully as a producer and director (and continues to do so, despite his marriage).
Before becoming only one part of a very high powered couple, Clooney was well known as the different characters he played, both on television as well as on film. We are not here to rehash his nuptials or his life, but rather to examine the range of parts he's taken on in the recent past. Here are just a few of his best, analyzed for their Myers Briggs personality type.
Batman - Batman and Robin - INTJ
It may not have been his best performance, but it certainly is one of his better-known characters. Batman is certainly the introvert, he's not keen on being a team player (and that often gets him in trouble with the other members of The Justice League).
His time alone in the Batcave certainly plays to his intuitive nature, using his detective-like instincts of logic and reason to help him take down the bad guys of Gotham City. While sometimes a superhero has to be spontaneous, when crime arrives it arrives, Batman certainly prefers to be organized (which is probably why he has such an extensive utility belt).
Danny Ocean - Ocean's 11 - ENTJ
ENTJ sounds an awful like like INTJ, but that E makes quite a difference. Danny, in Ocean's 11, is the extrovert to Batman's introvert. ENTJ's are known to be leaders and like to organize change (that sounds about right for the man who organized the robbery of the Bellagio Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
While the plan isn't as long ranging as it could be, it certainly takes a particular type of person to keep all the moving pieces straight. It takes quite the personality to acquire the right team and resources.
Captain Billy Tyne - The Perfect Storm - ISTP
The man from Gloucester, Massachusetts is a great example of an ISTP. Focusing on the facts and details (that's what you need in a good boat captain) he's not particularly chatty or social, but certainly focused and ready to act in the moment, it's incredibly hard to predict the sea.
Calm and logical, there's no question, or Billy would never have been able to keep his ship afloat as long as he did. He believes in himself, and that's important during a dry spell in the fishing industry. But he, "Always finds the fish. Always!"
Mr. Fox - The Fantastic Mr. Fox - ENTP
Those with an ENTP personality type are often referred to as "visionaries," and boy is that an understatement when it comes to Mr. Fox. The life of any party, it's no wonder Mr. Fox falls under the Extrovert category. They are great at finding new and innovative solutions to problems (even if they happen to be the ones who caused those problems in the first place).
Curious and clever, Mr. Fox is quick on his feet with a solution or a one-liner, and that fits his personality just right.
Michael Clayton - Michael Clayton - ESTP
ESTP's are often referred to as "Doers" and that's almost the same as Michael Clayton's job title. Employed as a "fixer" for a high powered law firm, that he is not actually a part of, it helps to be outgoing when you have to talk to so many people as part of a day's work.
Energetic and able to assess situations very quickly, Clayton would not be very successful at his job if he were otherwise. ESTP's like Clayton are able to assess those around them on the fly with keen powers of observation to understand any interaction in the moment.
Dr. Doug Ross- ER - INFP
So he's not specifically a "movie" character, but he's still an iconic Clooney role that needs to be mentioned. Doug Ross, hot-headed pediatric doctor in the ER, was always looking to not only save his patients but the world at large. Always focused on his higher ideas, Dr. Ross often found himself in trouble because he ignored a few details. He liked to be spontaneous (as he was once jumping into a storm drain during a thunderstorm to save a little boy).
INFP's are often called idealists, and Dr. Ross certainly was. That's what got him in trouble and eventually led to his leaving the Chicago ED behind.
Bob Barnes - Syriana - ENTJ
Bob Barnes is efficient, energetic, and strong willed, all key characteristics for anyone looking to be a field agent with the Central Intelligence Agency. The ENTJ type that this fits with thinks strategically and can be charismatic when the need arises.
However, they can also be impatient and struggle to contain certain emotions. That all comes to the surface in Syriana where we see Bob work successfully for the CIA and as an independent agent, but also finds himself abducted Iranian agents.
Jack Foley - Out of Sight - ENFP
In Out of Sight Clooney plays a bank robber with a heart of gold, Jack Foley. All the charming thief really wants, in the end, is the heart of a beautiful U.S. Marshall. Friendly, energetic, and observant, it's no wonder Foley keeps getting away with the money.
Like Foley himself, ENFP's know how to have a good time and relax. However, as a bank robber, Jack, like his Myers Briggs counterparts, is not great at working with a team. Some thinking on a more practical level wouldn't have hurt him either.
Ulysses - O' Brother Where Art Thou? - ESFP
ESFP's are often thought of as "performers," and no one knows how to put on a show more than Ulysses. He makes his prison mates believe they can escape and find riches, a town believe he's a great musician, and a family believe he really was there for them the whole time, he's quite the impressive actor.
Charming? Engaging? Spontaneous? That's Ulysses alright. Unfortunately, long term planning isn't a top skill for ESFP's, and it's that sort of lack of perception that gets Ulysses in the most amount of trouble.
Matt King - The Descendants - ESFJ
This is more of a personality that Matt grows into over the course of the film, but that's not a bad thing. After his wife's accident, it takes Matt a little while to act as the more caring parent, but he makes it, and he certainly should get credit for that.
With a strong sense of duty and loyalty it's no wonder he clashes with the rest of the family when they want to sell the family's longstanding untouched beachfront inheritance. But, as he learns to connect with others, his two daughters in particular, there is some sort of a happy ending for all involved.