Clint Eastwood

Clinton Eastwood Jr. was born on May 31, 1930, in San Francisco. Nicknamed “Samson” at birth for weighing over 11 pounds, he grew up in Piedmont, California, during the Great Depression. A poor student with a rebellious streak, Clint held various jobs—lifeguard, caddy, grocery clerk, and firefighter—before being drafted into the Army during the Korean War. He served as a lifeguard and film projectionist at Fort Ord, sparking his interest in acting.

After his 1953 discharge, Eastwood moved to Los Angeles and pursued acting. Early roles were minor, and he was briefly under contract with Universal before being dropped. His big break came in 1959 as Rowdy Yates on Rawhide, a popular TV Western that ran for six seasons. When it ended, Eastwood took a risk by starring in Sergio Leone’s spaghetti Westerns: A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More, and The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. These films became cult hits and launched his movie career in the U.S.
By 1968, he had formed Malpaso Productions and starred in Hang ’Em High. Throughout the ’70s and ’80s, Eastwood cemented his stardom with hits like Dirty Harry, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Escape from Alcatraz, Every Which Way but Loose, and his directorial debut, Play Misty for Me. He became known for gritty characters and stripped-down, efficient storytelling.

In later decades, Eastwood proved himself as a serious filmmaker. He won Academy Awards for Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby, and directed acclaimed films like Mystic River, Gran Torino, Letters from Iwo Jima, and Sully. His production company gave him creative control, and he even composed scores for many of his movies.

Outside of Hollywood, Eastwood is a licensed pilot, jazz lover, golfer, and former mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea. He practices transcendental meditation and remains politically independent. Though private, his personal life has made headlines—two marriages, several long-term relationships, and eight known children.
Now in his 90s, Clint Eastwood’s legacy as an actor, director, and cultural icon is firmly secured. With a style defined by quiet intensity and tough moral codes, his work continues to influence generations of filmmakers and audiences alike.