What was Rosemary Clooney's Net Worth?
Rosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress who accrued a net worth of $20 million. Clooney's fame soared with hits like "Come On-a My House," "Mambo Italiano," "Half as Much," "This Ole House," and "Hey There." As an actress, she graced musical films such as "The Stars Are Singing," "Red Garters," and "White Christmas." Clooney's career, spanning the jazz and big band genres, continued until her passing in 2002 from lung cancer at the age of 74. She earned three Primetime Emmy nominations.
She was married twice to actor José Ferrer, and their son Miguel Ferrer became a notable actor. Rosemary's brother, Nick Clooney, is the father of George Clooney. George famously lived with Rosemary during his early Hollywood days.
Early Life
Born on May 23, 1928, in Maysville, Kentucky, Rosemary was one of five children to Marie and Andrew Clooney. Her singing talent emerged early, leading to a successful audition with her sister Betty in 1945 on Cincinnati's WLW radio station.
Rosemary Clooney holding Miguel Ferrer (1955-2017) (Photo by De Carvalho Collection/Getty Images)
Singing Career
Clooney joined Columbia Records in the late 1940s, initially collaborating with Tony Pastor's big band. Her 1951 solo hit "Come On-a My House" marked her breakthrough. She followed with hits like "Botch-a-Me," "Half as Much," and "Mambo Italiano." Her success continued with songs like "Hey There" and "This Ole House." After leaving Columbia Records in the late 1950s, she recorded with MGM, Coral, RCA Victor, Reprise, and Dot Records. In 1976, Clooney signed with United Artists, later joining Concord Records where she released several albums, starting with "Everything's Coming Up Rosie." Her prolific recording career spanned multiple decades, with her final release being the live album "The Last Concert" in 2002.
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Television Career
Clooney's television career blossomed with her appearances on CBS's "Faye Emerson's Wonderful Town" in the early 1950s. By 1956, she starred in her own show, "The Rosemary Clooney Show," later renamed "The Lux Show Starring Rosemary Clooney." She often collaborated with Bing Crosby, including in the acclaimed 1957 special "The Edsel Show." Her television presence extended to commercials and guest-starring roles on shows like "Hardcastle and McCormick," "ER," and "LateLine," earning her an Emmy nomination in the process.
Film Career
Rosemary Clooney debuted on the big screen in 1953 with "The Stars Are Singing." She then starred in "Here Come the Girls," "Red Garters," and "White Christmas." Though her film appearances dwindled, she made a notable cameo in the 1994 comedy thriller "Radioland Murders."
Autobiographies
Clooney authored two autobiographies. "This for Remembrance" (1977) detailed her personal and professional life with an introduction by Bing Crosby. In 1999, she released "Girl Singer," a candid recount of her battles with addiction and depression.
Personal Life and Death
Clooney married José Ferrer in 1953, producing five children before their initial 1961 divorce. They remarried in 1964, only to divorce again in 1967. Clooney struggled with her mental health, exacerbated by the assassination of her friend Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. She married her longtime friend Dante DiPaolo in 1997. A lifelong smoker, Clooney was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2001. After undergoing surgery, she passed away on June 29, 2002, in her Beverly Hills home.
