As George Clooney pulled out of Venice Film Festival this week due to a sinus infection, his previous health battles have been revealed. 

The actor, 64, was forced to skip a press conference on Thursday for his brand new movie Jay Kelly after being advised by doctors to rest. 

George unexpectedly cut short his press junket for Noah Baumbach's competition film on Wednesday and also skipped a dinner with the film's cast and crew.

The conference moderator announced his absence at the photocall, saying: 'I'm afraid George Clooney is not going to be here, because he has a bad, serious, sinus infection. We hope that he should be on the red carpet tonight.'

Adam Sandler added: 'Movie stars get sick too', before Laura Dern chimed in: 'George is so devastated that he can't be here.'

George reportedly started feeling unwell on Wednesday, sources told The Hollywood Reporter, adding he was advised to go 'home' and rest ahead of a busy Thursday, which included the world premiere of the film.

The Hollywood legend did attend the red carpet for his movie on Thursday night and on Friday morning was spotted with his wife Amal, 47.

As he recovers in the Italian city, George's health struggles have been laid bare - including a painful back injury that left him feeling like he 'couldn't live'.

In 2005 while filming action movie Syriana, George suffered an accident on set when the chair he was sitting on was knocked over.

The fall resulted in him tearing his dura mater, which is the protective membrane around the spinal cord.

George revealed it left him with fluid leaking from his nose and 'three or four months really laying into painkillers' while also considering suicide.

He previously explained to Rolling Stone: 'I was at a point where I thought, "I can't exist like this. I can't actually live'" I was lying in a hospital bed with an IV in my arm, unable to move, having these where it feels like you're having a stroke.'

Fortunately his condition was greatly improved after receiving treatment from a specialist. 

In 2018 George suffered a horror motorcycle crash while travelling to a film set in Sardinia as he collided with a car.

The ER star was travelling at 75mph when he was launched into the air and revealed he initially thought the smash had resulted in all his teeth being knocked out.

He vividly recounted: 'I launched. I go head over heels. But I landed on my hands and knees.

'If you did it 100 times, maybe once you land on your hands and knees, and any other version you land, you're toast. It knocked me out of my shoes.'

George added to GQ: 'When I hit the ground, my mouth-I thought all my teeth were broken out. But it was glass from the windshield.' 

In 2020, George went under the knife for surgery on his neck, which was related to the accident.

Just five years ago, George was rushed to hospital after drastically losing weight for a role in The Midnight Sky.

George had agonising pain in his abdomen and was diagnosed by medics with pancreatitis, which can be fatal if not treated.

The actor - who lost a whopping two stone - was admitted to hospital for several days and suggested shedding the pounds so quickly could have triggered his condition.

He told The Mirror: 'I think I was trying too hard to lose the weight quickly and probably wasn't taking care of myself.

'It took a few weeks to get better and as a director it's not so easy because you need energy.'

George was flanked by Amal on Friday morning as they were pictured leaving Venice early amid his illness.