Clooney pranks his dad in Monuments Men end credit

George Clooney's well known in Hollywood for pranking his co-stars and crew. But this latest stunt might just take the proverbial cake.

The credits of the his latest film, The Monuments Men, end with a dedication to his father, American journalist and broadcaster Nick Clooney.

[George Clooney: I'm getting too old for acting]

It reads: "In loving memory of Nick Clooney," commemorating the man… who not only isn't dead, but actually appears in the movie as an older version of George's character Frank Stokes.

Monuments Men co-star Matt Damon explained the bad taste prank on The Graham Norton show this week, adding that Clooney Senior took the joke in good humour.

He revealed: "Clooney's dad says, ‘What the hell George?' and George goes, ‘Well Dad, the movie doesn't come out for six months. It's much cheaper to take these things off the credits than put them on!'"

Damon added: "That's who you're dealing with and you have to understand that going into a movie. It is so funny to him.”

[Clooney: Hitler was a failed artist]

Future co-stars of Clooney Junior should beware - the actor has revealed that he has several ideas in the pipeline, but is waiting for the right moment to let rip.

"I've got some that baked for seven/eight years that I'm very proud of," he told the Radio Times. "Some of them are still going on – I've got to let them ride for a while."

The Monuments Men hit cinemas this weekend.