Name: Clinton "Clint" Eastwood
DOB: May 31 1930
San Francisco, California
After humble beginnings in the B grade movie industry, Eastwood became noticed in the TV series "Rawhide" in 1959 as cowboy Rowdy Yates. This led him to the attention of Italian director Sergio Leone, who after failing to cast James Coburn, Charles Bronson and Richard Harrison, hired Eastwood to play "The Man with No Name" in "A Fist Full of Dollars." The result became instant recognition, two sequels and a cult legacy, as well as defining the ultimate "Western" genre, to the point that the name "Clint Eastwood" became synonymous with "The Wild West." Making his mark as the silent, strong tough guy, Eastwood's next role was alongside Richard Burton in the World War II thriller "Where Eagles Dare, and various projects such as "Kelly's Heroes" alongside Donald Sutherland and Telly Savalas." But it was not until the cusp of 1970 when Eastwood became recognised as a Hollywood Star. teaming up with director Don Siegel and directing his first movie, "Play Misty For Me", as well as forming his own production company "Malpaso". In 1971, Eastwood and Siegel created the legendary icon "Dirty Harry", which catapulted Eastwood into success and creating a cult status of his character. The character of Dirty Harry was so successful, it spawned four sequels right up to 1988. During this time, Eastwood began to hone his skills behind the camera, also working with acclaimed writer and director Michael Cimino on two films. He expanded his boundaries, directing "Breezy" a romance starring William Holden, and "The Eiger Sanction" to which Eastwood took up rock climbing and performed all of its stunts, making it a cult film among rock climbing enthusiasts. After playing a hard cop in the electrifying "The Gauntlet", Eastwood took a comedic turn in the panned, but successful "Every Which Way But Loose, alongside Clyde the orangutan, which also spawned a sequel. In 1979, he starred as convict Frank Morris in the factual based screen adaptation of "Escape from Alcatraz". In the 1980's, Eastwood also starred in "Firefox" a high tech thriller, "Pale Rider" which was screened at the Cannes Film Festival, and the final Dirty Harry flick, "The Dead Pool." In 1993, Eastwood achieved the ultimate Director's recognition when winning two Oscars for Best Director and Picture for "Unforgiven" also starring Gene Hackman and frequent collaborator Morgan Freeman. in 1994 came the successful "In the Line of Fire" directed by Wolfgang Petersen and in 1995 made two critically acclaimed projects as actor and director, "The Bridges of Madison County" a romance with Meryl Streep and "A Perfect World" a psychological man hunt with Kevin Costner. The 90's proved to be the rise of his directorial talents with "Absolute Power" in 1997, and "Midnight of Good and Evil". In the 2000's, Eastwood directed "Mystic River" to excellent reviews, but in 2004 he recreated his stunning success in 1992 with "Million Dollar Baby" also winning Best Director and Best Picture. In 2006 came the World War 2 epics "Flags of our Fathers" and "Letters from Iwo Jima".
In 2008, Eastwood directed John Malkovich and Angelina Jolie in Changeling, and Eastwood himself will direct and star in Gran Torino.
Aside from the movies, Eastwood was also a Mayor in 1986 - 1988, served in the Korean War, and is an avid Jazz musician. He is also a helicopter pilot and an art lover. |
