George Clooney recently revealed that he orchestrated an elaborate series of pranks targeting at least 30 fellow actors by sending forged letters while impersonating both former President Bill Clinton and actor Brad Pitt. Discussing these antics on the “New Heights” podcast hosted by Jason and Travis Kelce, Clooney described how he masterminded these jokes, which have become a memorable part of his off-screen antics. The Brad Pitt prank letters were part of this elaborate gag, poking fun at Hollywood’s celebrity culture and his own friendships within it.
The Origin of Clooney’s Presidential and Pitt-Themed Hoaxes
During the podcast episode, Clooney recounted how his fellow entertainer Jimmy Kimmel supplied him with a stack of official-looking Bill Clinton stationery. He used this as a prop for some of his earliest pranks, targeting actors with insincere praise for their less celebrated roles.
“Jimmy Kimmel gave me a stack of stationery with a presidential seal and Bill Clinton’s name on it,”
Clooney explained.
“And I would send notes to all these actors from Bill Clinton, I’d sign it — and I’d find a movie that wasn’t a great film and I’d write, ‘I loved you in this film.’”
— George Clooney, Actor
These notes were sent out over many years and left a lasting impression—some recipients even proudly displayed the fake Clinton missives in their homes.
“I’d write these notes, and I’d send them. I sent [them] to, like, 30 different actors,”
Clooney said.
“I guarantee you some of them are framed in some of their homes. Guaranteed.”
— George Clooney, Actor
Extending the Prank with Brad Pitt Letters and Unexpected Targets
The joke expanded when Clooney acquired Brad Pitt’s letterhead, also courtesy of Kimmel. He crafted additional pranks by pretending to write as Pitt and targeting none other than Meryl Streep. In one incident, he concocted an elaborate scenario involving a book of accent tips.
“Somebody sent me this book of dialects on CDs, where you could do an Irish accent or you could do a French accent,”
Clooney said.
“There’s a guy who teaches [accents]. And I had this big book. I don’t know why I had it, somebody sent it to me.”
— George Clooney, Actor
The prank took a personal twist when he sent the book to Streep along with a forged note.
“And so I take a note with Brad Pitt’s [signature] and I send it to Meryl Streep. And I go, ‘Dear Meryl, from Brad — this guy helped me in my accent in the movie ‘Troy,’ and I thought maybe you could use it,’”
he continued.
“And I sent her this book of accents from Brad Pitt.”
— George Clooney, Actor
Clooney’s Confession and Hollywood Reactions
The impact of the prank lingered for years. Eventually, Clooney confessed the truth to Streep, who had been bewildered by the unusual gift.
“Like, four years later, I see her and I tell this story, and she’s like ‘Oh my God, I was wondering why the f—k he’s sending me [this book],”
he shared.
“It’s so awful. We’ve done a lot of terrible things to each other. He’s done terrible things to me, man, so it all comes out.”
— George Clooney, Actor
This episode highlights George Clooney’s mischievous side and his complex friendships across Hollywood. With Brad Pitt, Jimmy Kimmel, and Meryl Streep all woven into the pranks, the stories offer a glimpse into the practical joking that occurs behind the scenes among star actors.
The Lasting Impact of the Pranks
These pranks underscore both the humor and the tension within Hollywood’s tight-knit community. Many actors apparently still keep these Brad Pitt prank letters as keepsakes, reflecting on the blend of camaraderie and rivalry that defines their relationships. As George Clooney continues to share stories like these, fans and industry insiders alike are given unique insight into how some of Hollywood’s brightest personalities interact off camera.
