Clint Eastwood – Actor and Director

Clint Eastwood was born on May 31, 1930, in San Francisco. His family’s constant wandering in search of work, and the fact that as a child he often had to spend time alone, influenced his personality, making him a quiet and introverted man.

While attending technical school in Oakland, he first encountered the stage by participating in school productions. Encouraged by friends, he applied for screen tests at Universal Pictures. He was directed toward drama training and in 1955 signed an acting contract.

At first he played small episodic parts in B-movies, and his first major role in the television serial Rawhide was the result of a chance meeting with producer Robert Sparks. Between 1959 and 1966 Clint Eastwood appeared in 254 episodes of the series.

The actor’s characteristic walk and appearance attracted the attention of Italian director Sergio Leone, who offered him a role in his western A Fistful of Dollars.

Wrapped in a dirty poncho, with several days’ stubble and a constant cigar clenched in his teeth, the Stranger appears. Cynical and brutal, he leaves a trail of corpses behind anyone who stands in his way. He protects no one and fights for no ideal.

The anti-hero of A Fistful of Dollars, and of the two following films in the so-called Dollar Trilogy — the spaghetti westerns: For a Few Dollars More, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly — permanently defined the actor’s image in films of the 1970s and 1980s, reinforcing his image as a cold, ruthless tough guy and bringing him international popularity.

Through Coogan’s Bluff, the mysterious rider from nowhere gradually matured into Inspector Harry Callahan. Thanks to the series of films begun by Dirty Harry, Clint Eastwood became recognised as the symbol of a style of cinema dominated by violence, cruelty and crime.

For the first time in cinema there appeared a policeman who shoots criminals without even interrupting his sandwich.

In 1970 Eastwood founded his own production company, Malpaso Productions, and in 1971 he turned to directing, believing that working as a director, producer and actor on one film gave him greater satisfaction than acting in several films as only an actor.

It proved to be a very wise decision, because Eastwood the director revealed himself to be a truly gifted artist possessing deep reserves of sensitivity and wisdom.

Films directed by him such as:

• Play Misty for Me
• High Plains Drifter
• Pale Rider
• Bird

are valuable, mature works.

And yet, Hollywood only finally stopped treating him as an outsider in 1993, when he received Oscar statuettes (along with a nomination for Best Actor) for Best Picture and Best Director for the western Unforgiven.

In 1995 Eastwood created the intimate and restrained love story The Bridges of Madison County.

Another directorial success was the excellent story about the American South, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.

Mystic River received Oscar nominations for both Best Picture and Best Director.

Eastwood’s latest film at the time of publication, Million Dollar Baby — honoured with that year’s Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director, as well as a nomination for Eastwood’s leading role — is proof that for this creator and outstanding actor, the passage of time is not an obstacle. On the contrary, it positively influences the development of his talent.

The list of awards and honours granted to Clint Eastwood is enormous.

A recipient of the French Legion of Honour, American Golden Globes and a member of the British Film Institute, among many distinctions he also received the National Board of Review Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000.

In March 2003 he was honoured with the Screen Actors Guild Lifetime Achievement Award, and a month later received the Hank Award, recognising outstanding contributions to American music, which for many years has also been his passion.

Eastwood’s connections with jazz are widely known, and excellent music accompanies all of his films.

Clint Eastwood is also a devoted public servant and community-minded citizen.

Neglected and run-down Carmel in California, where he still lives and of which he served as mayor between 1986 and 1988, became within two years a modern and attractive tourist town.

In 2002 he was appointed commissioner for parks affairs.

He is the founder of a rehabilitation centre for young drug addicts in Monterey, and a generous supporter of many charitable organisations.