George Clooney’s first wife, 66, looks unrecognizable in rare outing with famous husband

Pictured alongside her husband, Mad Men star John Slattery, Talia Balsam made a head-turning appearance

eorge Clooney’s first wife, actress and filmmaker Talia Balsam, made a rare red carpet appearance looking dramatically different from her early Hollywood days.

Pictured alongside her husband, Mad Men star John Slattery, at the “Nuremberg” New York Screening at the Museum of Modern Art the 66-year-old stunned in an effortlessly chic look.

(L-R) John Slattery and Talia Balsam attend the "Nuremberg" New York Screening at the Museum of Modern Art — (L-R) John Slattery and Talia Balsam attend the “Nuremberg” New York Screening at the Museum of Modern Art

Talia wore a sleek black turtleneck tucked into high-waisted flared jeans, paired with a satin-lapelled blazer and oversized glasses. Her warm brunette hair was styled in a voluminous blowout, adding to her polished, understated look.

Meanwhile, John, 63, kept it classic in a black suit and open white shirt, completing his signature silver-haired style with black-rimmed glasses.

Talia Balsam was once married to George Clooney

Fans who remember Talia from her earlier years as a young starlet in the ’80s and her brief marriage to George from 1989 to 1993 were surprised by her transformed yet elegant appearance. The couple appeared relaxed and affectionate, posing closely together for photographers.

The outing marked a rare joint appearance for the longtime couple, who have been married since 1998 and often keep their relationship out of the spotlight. They share one son together.

George Clooney and wife Talia Balsam — George Clooney and ex wife Talia Balsam in 1990

George and Talia met in 1984 when starring in a local play, and quickly fell in love. However, their relationship didn’t last very long and Talia broke things off.

In between, he dated actress Kelly Preston (the late future wife of John Travolta) from 1987-89, even adopting a Pot-bellied pig with her named Max (who he kept after the break-up).

Years later, he and Talia reconnected and things moved quickly. He proposed in 1989 and soon after, that December, they jetted off to Las Vegas and tied the knot.

Talia's marriage to George was short-lived — Talia’s marriage to George was short-lived

Things started off well for the newlyweds. However, just three years in, their marriage started to deteriorate. “It was a very tough time,” George told Vanity Fair. “And in the middle of it all I had a bleeding ulcer and I was really sick.”

By 1992, he had filed for divorce, which was made official the following year. “I probably – definitely – wasn’t someone who should have been married at that point,” he shared. “I just don’t feel like I gave Talia a fair shot. I was responsible for the failure of that marriage.”

Talia comes from a family of actors, the daughter of Martin Balsam and Joyce Van Patten, and the niece of actor Dick Van Patten.

She began her acting career in the late ’70s, at the same time as her ex-husband, and landed her first role of notice in 1977 on the sitcom Happy Days. She continued playing recurring and supporting roles in TV and film for decades.

Her most significant roles include recurring turns on the shows Homeland and Mad Men, plus starring opposite Sarah Jessica Parker in the HBO series Divorce from 2016-19.

15 photos of Talia Balsam throughout the years…

1/15

1978

Talia appearing in Fast Lane Blues

2/15

1980

Talia in Taxi

3/15

Talia Balsam appearing in the ABC tv movie 'Crazy Times'

1981

Talia in the film Crazy Times’

4/15

Talia Balsam at the Mann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California

1987

Talia at the Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California

5/15

Talia Balsam during 38th Annual Broadway Stars Softball Game

1992

Talia during the 38th Annual Broadway Stars Softball Game

6/15

2001

John Slattery and Talia attend the premiere party for Jenifer

7/15

2003

Talia Balsam during the Mona Lisa Smile premiere

8/15

Actress Talia Balsam attends the opening night of "What the Bleep!?:

2006

Talia attends the opening night of What the Bleep!?

9/15

Actress Talia Balsam attends the premiere of "The Cake Eaters"

2007

Talia attends the premiere of The Cake Eaters

10/15

2008

Talia Balsam arrives for AMC’s Mad Men celebration

11/15

Actress Talia Balsam attends the opening night of "Next Fall" Off-Broadway

2009

Talia attends the opening night of Next Fall Off-Broadway

12/15

Actress Talia Balsam attends the 65th Annual Writers Guild East Coast Awards

2013

Talia attends the 65th Annual Writers Guild East Coast Awards

13/15

Actress Talia Balsam attends the Atlantic Theater Company 30th Anniversary gala

2015

Talia attends the Atlantic Theater Company 30th Anniversary gala

14/15

Actors Talia Balsam and John Slattery attend A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson'

2018

Talia John attend A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson

15/15

Talia Balsam attends the premiere of Amazon's "Master"

2022

Talia attends the premiere of Amazon’s Master

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