Pain almost drove George Clooney to suicide

It seems impossible to imagine that Oscar-winning, lady-loving movie star George Clooney would ever think of offing himself.

But he has. He even worked out how he would do it. Shockingly, the man who seems to have an impossibly charmed life really did contemplate suicide at one point ? and it wasn't from depression, regret over some horrible act or a romance gone bad.

So why would he ever dream of doing such a thing?

MORE: Clooney on losing his virginity

After sustaining a spinal injury during a stunt mishap while filming "Syriana" in 2005, the Cloonster was in such intense pain he thought suicide may be the only way to end it.

"I was at a point where I thought, 'I can't exist like this. I can't actually live,' " the actor says in the new issue of Rolling Stone.

Clooney, 50, was bedridden, suffering from severe headaches and spinal fluid leaks through his nose when the thoughts began to creep in.

MORE: Why did Elisabetta Canalis call Clooney dad-like?

"I was lying in a hospital bed with an IV in my arm, unable to move, having these headaches where it feels like you're having a stroke, and for a short three-week period, I started to think, 'I may have to do something drastic about this' ... but I never thought I'd get there," he continues. "See, I was in a place where I was trying to figure out how to survive."

1. More Entertainment stories
   1. Kim K.'s ex-publicist says wedding was staged

      Jonathon Jaxson told the New York Post that the reality star "knew weeks before getting married she didn't want to do it,"...

   2. Don't be a drag, give Spanx for Adam Sandler
   3. Readers got their 'Dancing' wish this week
   4. Reader: Ashton Kutcher should stick to acting
   5. Another emotional night for Paula on 'X Factor'

Clooney says that he even planned the method, but didn't think he'd actually carry it through, so he began to drink heavily to numb the pain.

He's since had surgery to help him with the spinal problems, but Clooney says he still gets headaches connected to the accident.

Glad you hung tough, George. Hollywood is better with you in it.

PICS: The Women of George Clooney

? 2011 E! Entertainment Television, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Source: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/45257441/ns/today-entertainment/

jcole jcole j cole j. cole j. cole joe namath austin weather