What happened to Edward R Murrow? Cause of death explored amid George clooney’s broadway debut as legendary  reporter

George Clooney, 64, is all set to make his Broadway debut this month in the role of Edward R. Murrow in an adaptation of the 2005 Oscar-nominated movie, Good Night and Good Luck. Clooney co-wrote the original screenplay and this play, which tells the story of corporate media in the 1950s.

Broadcaster Edward R. Murrow died of lung cancer on April 7, 1965, at his home in Pawling, New York, three weeks after he had been discharged from a New York hospital.

While speaking with 60 Minutes on March 23, George noted that he was not ready to play the role for Good Night, and Good Luck in 2005, but feels ready now.

"Murrow had a gravitas to him that at 42 years old I didn't - I wasn't able to pull it off."

He also went on to add,

"Look, I'm 63 years old. I'm not trying to compete with 25-year old leading men. That's not my job. I'm not doing romantic films anymore."

Edward gained prominence during World War II for his live radio reports from London for CBS. He was also one of the first journalists to report on the Holocaust and delivered a firsthand account of the Buchenwald concentration camp. Murrow had been battling lung cancer since October 1963, a result of his chain smoking, and had been in and out of the hospital post the diagnosis.

Murrow headed the United States Information Agency until 1964, before his lung cancer diagnosis.

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More about George Clooney's Broadway debut as Edward R. Murrow

George Clooney is all set to star as legendary American broadcaster Edward R. Murrow in the Broadway adaptation of the 2005 film Good Night, and Good Luck.

The play had it's first preivew at the Winter Garden Theatre on March 12, with a full audience. While speaking to Jon Wertheim during a recent apperance on 60 Minutes, George Clooney opened up about his experience on coming to Broadway,

"I mean, look at this place. This is proper old Broadway. And it's exciting to be here, you know? Um - look - let's not kid ourselves. It's nerve wracking and there's a million reasons why it's dumb to do."

When Jon questioned what George Clooney meant by that, he emphasized that it would be difficult to bring the audience back to 1954, where the play is set.

The play is set to feature the historic television face-off between Murrow and Joseph McCarthy.