The number one box office star who has also earned critical acclaim as a director, never seemed in a hurry, his movements were casual, his speech was soft, it seemed obvious that Clint has reached a level of comfort in his much publicized life. Being around him, and chatting with him, he was very much at ease, it felt as though he had known us for years.
In a lengthy, successful career that is now waning slowly into its twilight, the original Oakland native is still a formidable character. His features are handsome in a rugged way, his hair is now graying, but when you are in his presence you think mostly of when you saw him as the consummate tough guy or cowboy, the occasional crook who still convinced you he was the good guy, someone you could count on to come through in the end. You immediately recall the stare that gazed into the distance as he spoke in a voice confident, yet uncertain. He has given us lines and monologues to remember, a few we would all have liked to have administered at one time or another.
“Do you know what this is punk? This is a 44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world. Now I know what you’re thinking. Did he fire six shots or only five? Well, you gotta ask yourself one question. Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?”
~ Detective Harry Callahan, from Dirty Harry.
Delivered in a monotone, deliberate voice with clenched jaw creating a wrinkled brow and steely eyes, Clint Eastwood could be portraying any of his famous characters. This happened to be Dirty Harry, perhaps his most popular, but the look applied to many portrayed by Clint then, all had similar style. It was that “look” that brought him notoriety as a young actor playing the role of Rowdy Yates on Rawhide, a popular TV show in the 50’s and early 60’s where he was actually more popular than the leading man Eric Fleming, who played the tough trail boss, Gil Favor.
Clint had been working odd jobs since leaving the service in 1954 where he was stationed at Fort Ord in Monterey, California. Those odd jobs included laboring, digging pools in the San Fernando Valley while he pursued his ambition of becoming an actor. “I had moved to Los Angeles and enrolled in L.A. City College,” recalled Clint. “In the service I met a couple of guys who were actors – Martin Milner, David Jannsen – and when we got out, a cinematographer got me a screen test. I got an offer under contract with Universal, seventy-five bucks a week to start. They threw me out a year and half later. But it was pretty good deal for a young guy.” Rowdy Yates provided his breakthrough, as well as allowing Clint to begin accumulating a small fortune he would use to one day, develop his own production company, Malpaso.
“I met Clint in 1958,” said his close friend and consultant Dan Tibbitts. “I knew his father, Clint Sr., a big man who weighed probably 260 pounds and who loved life, just a fun loving man. He had a massive heart attack on the kitchen floor when he was 62, right when Clint was just starting Rawhide. Clint was very close to his dad. His passing seemed to motivate Clint all the more. Not many people could take what he made in Rawhide and then start his own production company. But Clint did.”
Clint had been your typical actor in training, playing scenes in acting class, going to auditions and working out at the gym. He would occasionally pop up on an episode of Death Valley Days, or Highway Patrol, eventually appearing with James Garner on Maverick. As it is sometimes in Hollywood, he got lucky walking the halls of CBS one day when an executive bumped into him, looked at him and asked if he was an actor. The network was looking for a second leading man for a new Western series, “Rawhide.” It would become his break.
Rawhide ran for seven successful years developing the character Rowdy Yates, a role that he found familiar to others except Clint didn’t find him all that interesting. Now in his 30’s, in the last year of Rawhide, he wanted something more. He took the summer hiatus from the TV show and spent it in Spain working for an unknown Italian director, Sergio Leone. It didn’t make him rich and the working conditions were poor, but the film that emerged “A Fistful of Dollars,” offered him a character he had never played, a grizzled grown up, tough and morally ambiguous.
“I had done Rawhide for about five years,” he said. “The agency called and asked if I was interested in going to Spain and Italy, I said, ‘Not particularly.’ They said, “Why don’t you give the script a quick look?” Well, I was kind of curious, so I read it, and I recognized it right away as Yojimbo, a Kurosawa film I had liked a lot. Over I went, taking the poncho with me – yeah, the cape was my idea.” Kurosawa introduced an actor Toshiro Mifuni who could be called the Clint Eastwood, Japanese style. His character didn’t say much and when he did speak, it was well placed, just like Clint.
Following his first “Spaghetti Western,” as they were termed, Clint appeared in a few more, Hang ’em High, For a Few Dollars More and probably his most popular, The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Hollywood executives were now paying closer attention and the studios, that at the time owned most of the actors, were anxious to get him on their payroll. Clint saw more than that and wanted to start his own production company and thus he formed Malpaso Productions.
Throughout his career Clint continued to turn out westerns like Pale Rider and Honkytonk Man. One of his own favorites was the Outlaw Josie Whales. “I feel very close to the western,” he said at the time. “There are not too many art forms that are original. Most are derived from European art forms. Other than the western and jazz or blues, that’s all that’s really original.” His characters all seemed to possess a rebellious side, like Dirty Harry, reconciling some of his own personal thoughts. “Anytime someone tells me the trend is such and such, I go the opposite direction. I hate the idea of trends. I hate imitation; I have a reverence for individuality. I got where I am by coming off the wall. I’ve always considered myself too individualistic to be either right-wing or left-wing.”
Dirty Harry, the role he executed, as detective Harry Callahan, was a huge hit, rolling out in four films. His character was a non-sympathetic cop who couldn’t stand for the politics of bureaucracy. He was a little reckless. “I think people jumped to conclusions about Dirty Harry without giving the character much thought, trying to attach right-wing connotations to the film that never really intended,” said Clint. “Somehow I think it was interpreted as a pro-police point of view, as a kind of rightist heroism, at a time in American History when police officers were looked down on as “pigs,” as very oppressive people – I’m sure there are some who are, and a lot who aren’t. I’ve met both kinds.”
His movies were hits, most of which never cost the huge Hollywood budgets but were successful in turning a profit. “We didn’t deal in big budgets,” recalled Clint. “Bronco Billy for example, cost five million. We sold it to TV for ten. We knew what we wanted to shoot and we didn’t waste anything. I never understood how they could be made for thirty and forty million, when they could be made for half that. Maybe it’s because no one cares. We care.”
His history in films is remarkable, as an actor, director and producer. His career is linked to some of Hollywood’s most notorious characters, from the Man with No Name, to Dirty Harry Callahan, to the infamous William Munny. The man from Malpaso has appeared in 54 features, starring in 46. His Malpaso production company, formed in 1971, expanded his creative efforts into directing and producing, but acting has always been the baseline and, in the early years, often a requirement for his directing assignments. His characterizations have included dispassionate investigative reporter Steve Everett from the hard-hitting drama “True Crime; cat burglar Luther Whitney from the 1996 hit “Absolute Power”; Texas Ranger Red Garnett from the critically praised “A Perfect World”; and Secret Service agent Frank Horrigan in 1993’s $100 million hit “In The Line of Fire.”
One of his most popular films was a non-action movie “The Bridges of Madison County,” in which he plays National Geographic photographer Robert Kincaid. Yeah, Kincaid’s a peculiar guy. Really, he’s kind of a lonely individual. He’s sort of a lost soul of Mid-America. I’ve been that guy.”
His career was finally rewarded by his peers garnishing the highest honor when he received an Oscar for Best Director and Best Picture in 1995, for his epic, “Unforgiven,” his 10th western and 36th starring role. Eastwood’s portrayal of an alcoholic, anti-heroic gunman brought him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor and helped catapult “Unforgiven” into the spotlight for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Gene Hackman), and Best Sound Effect Editing Oscars. “I guess Unforgiven is my favorite. I liked Josie Whales a lot too,” he said. “I want mood. I guess Unforgiven is a good example. When we were in the saloon, and I wanted it to look like it’s coal-lit, I don’t want an electronic feel. I want it the way the light would pool. I liked this film because even the perpetrators of the violence are touched by it, and a lot of good people are the victims.”
But Clint Eastwood isn’t satisfied with just making movies. He enjoys so much more and is always intrigued by a new challenge, one of which is his development of Tehama (Indian word for abundance of nature, page 26). He opened a very popular bar in Carmel, the Hogs Breath Inn that immediately became one of the little town’s most frequented saloons and sought out tourist attractions. Then, to the shock of many, including close friends, he became mayor of Carmel.
“I remember we were skiing in Sun Valley when Clint turned to me and said, “I’m thinking about running for mayor of Carmel,” said Tibbitts. “I just about fell off the chair lift.” He was serious because of the things happening in his town and those that weren’t getting accomplished he felt he could help change it. “What he did was organize a series of teas and coffees, small groups, with the local citizens,” said Dan. “He really wasn’t that good in front of a lot of people, which most people would find funny.
It was big a deal. There were some 250 media from around the world covering the mayoral election in a town of 4,500 people, rather amazing. Clint won in a land slide, 75 percent of the vote.” Clint would walk about town meeting, greeting the citizens, asking them for their vote. “I remember one time walking up this elderly lady who was working in her garden,” he recalled. “I said hello, I’m Clint Eastwood. I’m running for mayor. She looked up at me and said, ‘well that’s nice. I’ll actually know the mayor for once.’ She was 104 years old and I couldn’t believe it.
I told her she didn’t look a day over 80. I asked her what her secret was and she said when she’s outside she always wears a hat. I wear a hat outside almost all the time nowadays,” said Clint, as he smiled.
His term would last two years and that was it. His run at politics was over. But he was credited with getting a lot accomplished and today because of his concerns for the environment and the land, he has taken a position on the board of Parks and Recreation. Clint is very much into protecting the land in and around his home, one of the reasons he decided to purchase the old Williams Ranch and parts of Monterra Ranch where he has built Tehama Golf Club. He didn’t want to see a high density development springing up in the beautiful hillsides and valley.
Then in 1998 he and four friends and business associates including Arnold Palmer, Peter Ueberoth and Richard Ferris purchased Pebble Beach Company for $860 million, raising it from the hands of the Lone Cypress Co., a Japanese concern who had owned it for many years. He spends a lot of time at Pebble Beach and is respected for taking time to talk to just about everybody.
Clint gives his time and also his dollars to numerous charities one of which is the Charitable Council of Monterey where his wife Dina sits on the board. The Council serves the community in numerous ways assisting other non-profit organizations in the area with administrative assistance and also a teen, mentoring program for girls called ECHO. His Tehama Sportswear Company also donates a certain amount of the profits from its summer line “Fac Diem Meam,” (Make my Day), to the September 11th Victims Relief Fund through the United Way.
As busy as Mr. Eastwood is, he always finds time for golf or tending to chores around his Mom’s farmhouse. His golf game has dropped off slightly as he has gotten older, but not his enthusiasm. “Clint likes to play fast,” said Dan. “During the AT&T; he sometimes gets a little frustrated because of the pace of play. We always seem to have a problem over at Poppy Hills.” He recently added to his bag a new driver, a Cherry Bomb, a blazing red club, which has helped him off the tee.
His handicap is currently a 16, not too shabby for a man of 72. He has played in many places, all over Scotland and Ireland, and now that he has a new home in Hawaii, enjoys playing there immensely. Some of his playing partners assemble an impressive roster of entertainers, PGA Tour pros and politicians, including a round with former President Bill Clinton. “One of the most miserable days of my golfing life,” he said. “It was in D.C and it was cold and rainy. I got the invitation so I played. But it wasn’t all that much fun.” When at home at Tehama, his playing companions are some of his oldest and dearest friends, members, people you would never know.
Each year he participates in the American Film Institute Golf Tournament at Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles. The event benefits the school where young aspiring actors, directors and future producers can earn a masters degree in film. Some of those students end up working on Eastwood sets “It’s a real nice event,” he said. “Besides it’s a chance to get together with good friends, like Jimmy Woods, little Joey Pesci, Jack, play a wonderful golf course and enjoy a beautiful day outside. It doesn’t get much better than that.” One of his dearest friends was Jack Lemmon. “He was a nice man. I’ll miss him on the golf course and I will miss him on the stage. Jack was very talented and he sure loved to play golf”
This year Clint has two film projects he’s working on, though when not filming, he enjoys his time in Carmel and Hawaii. On occasion Clint can be found at Mission Ranch, his very popular restaurant and Inn. Sometimes he even strolls behind the piano to sing a blues or jazz number, the music he is endeared to, pleasing the local crowd. He always seems to be involved in everything and his desire for quality in life and at any of his properties is quite evident. When we were barely ten minutes into our interview over lunch, Clint stopped James, the Food & Beverage director as he strolled across the dining room and inquired about getting “some new breads. These are too doughy,” he said. “See about getting some San Francisco breads.” As James later stated, the order for baking new bread was delivered very quickly.
Clint Eastwood is a fascinating man, very cordial, congenial, caring, and fun loving and quite brilliant. “He has to have a gym everywhere he goes,” said Tibbitts. “He knows so much about the physiology of the human body. I think he is a frustrated doctor actually. He is certainly smart enough to be one.” Clint is still a heartthrob to the ladies too, something his wife Dina has gotten used to. “At 72 he still attracts the babes,” said Dina. “They find him as cute as I do.”
In his long and storied career, Clint has captured the hearts of many. He has earned the respect of his peers and received numerous accolades for his accomplishments. He is content, but not about to retire. When all’s said and done, he’s really a pretty simple guy.
“I don’t like the wimp syndrome,” said Clint. “No matter how ardent a feminist may be, if she is a heterosexual female, she wants the strength of a male companion as well as the sensitivity. The gentlest people in the world are macho males, people who are confident in their masculinity and have a feeling of well being in themselves.
They don’t have to kick in doors, mistreat women, or make fun of gays. Most people, who’ll remember me, if at all, will remember me as an action guy, which is OK. There’s nothing wrong with that. But there will be a certain group, which will remember me for the other films, the ones where I took a few chances. At least, I like to think so.” You can hear him saying that, can’t you…? in that voice of a legend…the voice of Clint Eastwood.
