Clinton "Clint" Eastwood Jr. does not embrace the moniker of "conservative," but his politics fall decidedly that way. He has publicly acknowledged his belief in limited government and limited spending and has called himself at times a "fiscal conservative" and at other times a "libertarian." He has been a registered Republican since 1951, saying his first vote was cast for Dwight D. Eisenhower. He was also publicly supportive of Republican Richard Nixon in 1968, Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980 and Republican John McCain in 2008. Some speculate Eastwood's support for McCain led to his Academy Award snub in 2009.
Eastwood was born on May 31, 1930 in San Diego to Clint Sr. and Margaret Ruth (Runner) Eastwood. He attended Oakland Technical High School, graduating in 1948. He worked a variety of blue collar jobs as a lumberjack, gas station attendant, fireman, steel mill worker and as an aircraft manufacturer.
In 1950, during the Korean War, he was drafted into the US Army Special Services, and had his first interaction with two actors, Martin Milner and David Janssen. He was aboard a military flight that crashed into the Pacific, and later testified about the incident. After his military service expired, he moved to Los Angeles.
Eastwood enrolled in LA City College to study business administration, but quickly dropped out. Still in touch with Milner and Janssen, Eastwood decided to try his hand at acting. His first break came in 1954, when a friend scored him a screen test. He landed a $75-a-week contract that included acting lessons, and his first role came in the B-movie in Revenge Of The Creature, which was directed by Jack Arnold and released in 1955. A series of other B-movie roles followed and then, in 1958, he earned a spot as Rowdy Yates on the hit TV-show Rawhide. The show ran for seven years and his role earned Eastwood minor fame.
In the early 1960s, spaghetti western director Sergio Leone and his producers were having trouble casting the lead in a film about a family feud in Mexico. Producers had to cut actor James Coburn from the starring role for financial reasons, and actor Charles Bronson turned the film down because of its script. These hardships opened up the role to Eastwood, and he was cast as the "The Man With No Name" in the hit 1964 film, A Fistful of Dollars. Eastwood followed it up with For a Few Dollars More and The Good, the Bad & the Ugly, playing the same character throughout the trilogy. The role earned him massive fame.
For the next several years, Eastwood made his name playing tough-guy roles. His first directorial film was 1971's Play Misty for Me, which was overshadowed that year by one of Eastwood's most famous films, Dirty Harry, which would go on to become a franchise film series lasting well into the 1980s. During the 1970s and 1980s, Eastwood also played Philo Beddoe in Every Which Way But Loose and Any Which Way You Can, starring as a wandering trucker with an orangutan named "Clyde" as a sidekick. Clyde stole the show, but the films were highly popular and further cemented Eastwood's status as a Hollywood film star.
Mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California:
In 1985, Eastwood became embroiled in a dispute with his hometown's preservationist-dominated government, which automatically rejected his proposal to build a small building in downtown Carmel that would have improved the district. On Jan. 30, 1986, he announced his candidacy for mayor, a position that paid just $200 a month. Eastwood maintained he had no plans for higher office, but promised to make it easier to build or renovate properties (a promise he kept). Eastwood announced in 1987 that he would not run for a second term, and in 1988, he returned to film making with a new sense of purpose.
Academy Award Nominations & Victories in the 1990s:
Eastwood continued to act in and direct films during the 1980s, but in the 1990s, he began to earn critical acclaim and recognition as a serious filmmaker. His 1992 film Unforgiven, which he directed and in which he starred, became an instant classic and was nominated for nine Oscars. Eastwood won for Best Director and his co-star, Gene Hackman, won for Best Supporting Actor. The film also won Oscars for Best Film Editing and Best Original Screenplay. Toward the end of the 1990s, Eastwood began to direct more films and act in less.
Academy Award Nominations & Victories in the 2000s:
Eastwood's first directorial effort of the decade came in 2003, with the psychological crime drama Mystic River. The film was nominated for six Academy Awards and won two for Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor. The release of Million Dollar Baby in 2005, was one of Eastwood's highest grossing films, earning more than $200 million. Eastwood won for Best Director and was nominated for Best Actor. Eastwood's next two films, both about World War II, Flags of Our Fathers, which was nominated for two Oscars, and Letters from Iwo Jima, which won an Academy Award for Best Sound Editing.
Controversy Over His Most Recent Films:
In 2008, Eastwood directed Changeling, starring Angelina Jolie, which was nominated for three Academy Awards for Best Actress, Best Art Direction and Best Cinematography. Conspicuously absent were any nominations for Eastwood's directing work. Eastwood also returned to the screen in January 2009, with Gran Torino, which he also directed. Although the film earned more money in one weekend than any of his other films ($30 million) and received wide critical acclaim, it was not nominated for any Academy Awards. There is wide Internet buzz that these slights are payback for his support of a Republican candidate in 2008.
Oscar Backlash in 2009:
In a year when the leading candidates for Best Actor are men who portrayed a gay city councilman and an evil Richard Nixon, it doesn't appear that there is any room for a conservative actor who plays a bigoted retiree who becomes a reluctant hero. Although it is vexing that Eastwood wasn't nominated for Best Director for Gran Torino, it is particularly disconcerting that he was snubbed by the Academy for Best Actor. Eastwood, whose acting ability is highly regarded in Hollywood, has -- inexplicably -- never won an Oscar in that category ... and it appears unlikely that he ever will. Eastwood announced in late 2008 that his appearance in Gran Torino would be his last performance as an actor on the silver screen.
Filmography
2013 Trouble with the Curve (pre-production)
2008 Gran Torino
Walt Kowalski
Walt Kowalski
2004 Million Dollar Baby
Frankie Dunn
Frankie Dunn
2002 Blood Work
Terry McCaleb
Terry McCaleb
2000 Space Cowboys
Frank Corvin
Frank Corvin
1999 True Crime
Steve Everett
Steve Everett
1997 Absolute Power
Luther Whitney
Luther Whitney
1995 The Bridges of Madison County
Robert Kincaid
Robert Kincaid
1993 A Perfect World
Chief Red Garnett
Chief Red Garnett
1993 In the Line of Fire
Frank Horrigan
Frank Horrigan
1992 Unforgiven
Will Munny
Will Munny
1990 The Rookie
Nick Pulovski
Nick Pulovski
1990 White Hunter Black Heart
John Wilson
John Wilson
1989 Pink Cadillac
Tommy Nowak
Tommy Nowak
1988 The Dead Pool
Insp. 'Dirty' Harry Callahan
Insp. 'Dirty' Harry Callahan
1986 Heartbreak Ridge
Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Highway
Gunnery Sergeant Thomas Highway
1985 Pale Rider
Preacher
Preacher
1984 City Heat
Lieutenant Speer
Lieutenant Speer
1984 Tightrope
Wes Block
Wes Block
1983 Sudden Impact
Harry Callahan
Harry Callahan
1982 Honkytonk Man
Red Stovall
Red Stovall
1982 Firefox
Mitchell Gant
Mitchell Gant
1980 Any Which Way You Can
Philo Beddoe
Philo Beddoe
1980 Bronco Billy
Bronco Billy
Bronco Billy
1979 Escape from Alcatraz
Frank Morris
Frank Morris
1978 Every Which Way But Loose
Philo Beddoe
Philo Beddoe
1977 The Gauntlet
Ben Shockley
Ben Shockley
1976/I The Enforcer
Harry Callahan
Harry Callahan
1976 The Outlaw Josey Wales
Josey Wales
Josey Wales
1975 The Eiger Sanction
Dr. Jonathan Hemlock
Dr. Jonathan Hemlock
1974 Thunderbolt and Lightfoot
Thunderbolt
Thunderbolt
1973 Magnum Force
Insp. 'Dirty' Harry Callahan
Insp. 'Dirty' Harry Callahan
1973 Breezy
Man at Marina (uncredited)
Man at Marina (uncredited)
1973 High Plains Drifter
The Stranger
The Stranger
1972 Joe Kidd
Joe Kidd
1971 Dirty Harry
Police Inspector Harry Callahan
Police Inspector Harry Callahan
1971 Play Misty for Me
Dave
Dave
1971 The Beguiled
John McBurney
John McBurney
1970 Kelly's Heroes
Pvt. Kelly
Pvt. Kelly
1970 Two Mules for Sister Sara
Hogan
Hogan
1969 Paint Your Wagon
Pardner
Pardner
1968 Where Eagles Dare
Schaffer
Schaffer
1968 Coogan's Bluff
Coogan
Coogan
1968 Hang 'Em High
Marshal Jed Cooper
Marshal Jed Cooper
1967 The Witches
Carlo (Segment "Sera Come Le Altre, Una")
Carlo (Segment "Sera Come Le Altre, Una")
1966 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Blondie
Blondie
1965 For a Few Dollars More
Monco
Monco
1959-1965 Rawhide (TV series)
Rowdy Yates
217 episodes
Rowdy Yates
217 episodes
1964 A Fistful of Dollars
Joe
Joe
1959 Maverick (TV series)
Red Hardigan
– Duel at Sundown (1959) … Red Hardigan
Red Hardigan
– Duel at Sundown (1959) … Red Hardigan
1958 Ambush at Cimarron Pass
Keith Williams
Keith Williams
1958 Lafayette Escadrille
George Moseley
George Moseley
1958 Navy Log (TV series)
Burns
– The Lonely Watch (1958) … Burns
Burns
– The Lonely Watch (1958) … Burns
1957 The Enemy Below
Seaman (uncredited)
Seaman (uncredited)
1957 Escapade in Japan
Dumbo Pilot (uncredited)
Dumbo Pilot (uncredited)
1957 West Point (TV series)
– White Fury (1957)
– White Fury (1957)
1956 Death Valley Days (TV series)
John Lucas
– The Last Letter (1956) … John Lucas
John Lucas
– The Last Letter (1956) … John Lucas
1956 The First Traveling Saleslady
Lt. Jack Rice
Lt. Jack Rice
1956 Away All Boats
Marine (Medic) (uncredited)
Marine (Medic) (uncredited)
1956 Star in the Dust
Tom - Ranch Hand (uncredited)
Tom - Ranch Hand (uncredited)
1956 Highway Patrol (TV series)
Joe Keeley
– Motorcycle A (1956) … Joe Keeley
Joe Keeley
– Motorcycle A (1956) … Joe Keeley
1956 Never Say Goodbye
Will (uncredited)
Will (uncredited)
1955 Tarantula
Jet Squadron Leader (uncredited)
Jet Squadron Leader (uncredited)
1955 Lady Godiva of Coventry
First Saxon (uncredited)
First Saxon (uncredited)
1955 Francis in the Navy
Jonesey
Jonesey
1955 Allen in Movieland (TV movie)
Orderly
Orderly
1955 Revenge of the Creature
Jennings - Lab Technician (uncredited)
Jennings - Lab Technician (uncredited)
Producer (36 titles)
2011 J. Edgar (producer)
2010 Dave Brubeck: In His Own Sweet Way (TV documentary) (executive producer, producer)
2010 Hereafter (producer)
2009 Invictus (producer)
2009 Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me (TV documentary) (executive producer)
2008 Gran Torino (producer)
2008 You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story (video documentary) (executive producer)
2008 Changeling (producer)
2007 Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends (TV documentary) (producer)
2006 Letters from Iwo Jima (producer)
2006 Flags of Our Fathers (producer)
2005 Budd Boetticher: An American Original (video documentary) (executive producer)
2005 Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That (TV documentary) (executive producer)
2004 Million Dollar Baby (producer)
2003 Mystic River (producer)
2002 Blood Work (producer)
2000 Space Cowboys (producer)
1999 True Crime (producer)
1998 Monterey Jazz Festival: 40 Legendary Years (video documentary) (executive producer)
1997 Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (producer)
1997 Absolute Power (producer)
1995 The Stars Fell on Henrietta (producer)
1995 The Bridges of Madison County (producer)
1993 A Perfect World (producer)
1992 Unforgiven (producer)
1990 White Hunter Black Heart (producer)
1988 Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser (documentary) (executive producer)
1988 Bird (producer)
1986 Heartbreak Ridge (producer)
1985 Pale Rider (producer)
1984 Tightrope (producer)
1983 Sudden Impact (producer)
1982 Honkytonk Man (producer)
1982 Firefox (producer)
1972 Joe Kidd (executive producer - uncredited)
1971 The Beguiled (executive producer - uncredited)
2010 Dave Brubeck: In His Own Sweet Way (TV documentary) (executive producer, producer)
2010 Hereafter (producer)
2009 Invictus (producer)
2009 Johnny Mercer: The Dream's on Me (TV documentary) (executive producer)
2008 Gran Torino (producer)
2008 You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story (video documentary) (executive producer)
2008 Changeling (producer)
2007 Tony Bennett: The Music Never Ends (TV documentary) (producer)
2006 Letters from Iwo Jima (producer)
2006 Flags of Our Fathers (producer)
2005 Budd Boetticher: An American Original (video documentary) (executive producer)
2005 Budd Boetticher: A Man Can Do That (TV documentary) (executive producer)
2004 Million Dollar Baby (producer)
2003 Mystic River (producer)
2002 Blood Work (producer)
2000 Space Cowboys (producer)
1999 True Crime (producer)
1998 Monterey Jazz Festival: 40 Legendary Years (video documentary) (executive producer)
1997 Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (producer)
1997 Absolute Power (producer)
1995 The Stars Fell on Henrietta (producer)
1995 The Bridges of Madison County (producer)
1993 A Perfect World (producer)
1992 Unforgiven (producer)
1990 White Hunter Black Heart (producer)
1988 Thelonious Monk: Straight, No Chaser (documentary) (executive producer)
1988 Bird (producer)
1986 Heartbreak Ridge (producer)
1985 Pale Rider (producer)
1984 Tightrope (producer)
1983 Sudden Impact (producer)
1982 Honkytonk Man (producer)
1982 Firefox (producer)
1972 Joe Kidd (executive producer - uncredited)
1971 The Beguiled (executive producer - uncredited)
Director (35 titles)
2011 J. Edgar
2010 Hereafter
2009 Invictus
2008 Gran Torino
2008 Changeling
2006 Letters from Iwo Jima
2006 Flags of Our Fathers
2004 Million Dollar Baby
2003 The Blues (TV series documentary)
2003 Mystic River
2002 Blood Work
2000 Space Cowboys
1999 True Crime
1997 Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil
1997 Absolute Power
1995 The Bridges of Madison County
1993 A Perfect World
1992 Unforgiven
1990 The Rookie
1990 White Hunter Black Heart
1988 Bird
1986 Heartbreak Ridge
1985 Amazing Stories (TV series)
– Vanessa in the Garden (1985)
1985 Pale Rider
1983 Sudden Impact
1982 Honkytonk Man
1982 Firefox
1980 Bronco Billy
1977 The Gauntlet
1976 The Outlaw Josey Wales
1975 The Eiger Sanction
1973 Breezy
1973 High Plains Drifter
1971 Play Misty for Me
1971 The Beguiled: The Storyteller (documentary short)
Soundtrack (21 titles)
2009 Qwerty (TV series)
– Episode #3.26 (2009) (writer: "Gran Torino")
2008 Gran Torino (writer: "Gran Torino")
2007 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV series)
– Episode dated 5 February 2007 (2007) (performer: "Don't Fence Me In")
2007 Grace Is Gone (music: "Grace Is Gone")
2006 Flags of Our Fathers (writer: "Flags of Our Fathers")
2006 The Wire (TV series)
– Alliances (2006) (performer: "Another One Bites the Dust")
2004 Million Dollar Baby ("Blue Morgan")
2003 Mystic River ("Mystic River")
2000 Space Cowboys (writer: "ESPACIO")
1999 True Crime (writer: "Why Should I Care")
1997 Absolute Power ("Power Waltz", "Kate's Theme")
1997 Qui (short) ("Claudia's Theme")
1995 The Bridges of Madison County ("Doe Eyes Love Theme from 'The Bridges Of Madison County'")
1993 A Perfect World ("Big Fran's Baby")
1986 Heartbreak Ridge (writer: "How Much I Care")
1986 All-Star Party for Clint Eastwood (TV movie) (writer: "How Much I Care")
1984 City Heat ("Montage Blues")
1982 Honkytonk Man (performer: "When I Sing About You", "No Sweeter Cheater Than You")
1980 Any Which Way You Can (performer: "Beers To You")
1980 Bronco Billy (performer: "Barroom Buddies")
1969 Paint Your Wagon (performer: "I Still See Elisa", "I Talk To The Trees", "Best Things", "Gold Fever")
– Episode #3.26 (2009) (writer: "Gran Torino")
2008 Gran Torino (writer: "Gran Torino")
2007 The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV series)
– Episode dated 5 February 2007 (2007) (performer: "Don't Fence Me In")
2007 Grace Is Gone (music: "Grace Is Gone")
2006 Flags of Our Fathers (writer: "Flags of Our Fathers")
2006 The Wire (TV series)
– Alliances (2006) (performer: "Another One Bites the Dust")
2004 Million Dollar Baby ("Blue Morgan")
2003 Mystic River ("Mystic River")
2000 Space Cowboys (writer: "ESPACIO")
1999 True Crime (writer: "Why Should I Care")
1997 Absolute Power ("Power Waltz", "Kate's Theme")
1997 Qui (short) ("Claudia's Theme")
1995 The Bridges of Madison County ("Doe Eyes Love Theme from 'The Bridges Of Madison County'")
1993 A Perfect World ("Big Fran's Baby")
1986 Heartbreak Ridge (writer: "How Much I Care")
1986 All-Star Party for Clint Eastwood (TV movie) (writer: "How Much I Care")
1984 City Heat ("Montage Blues")
1982 Honkytonk Man (performer: "When I Sing About You", "No Sweeter Cheater Than You")
1980 Any Which Way You Can (performer: "Beers To You")
1980 Bronco Billy (performer: "Barroom Buddies")
1969 Paint Your Wagon (performer: "I Still See Elisa", "I Talk To The Trees", "Best Things", "Gold Fever")
Composer (8 titles)
2011 J. Edgar
2010 Hereafter
2010 The Writers' Block (TV series)
– Coffin Maker (2010)
2008 Changeling
2007 Grace Is Gone
2006 Flags of Our Fathers
2004 Million Dollar Baby
2003 Mystic River
2010 Hereafter
2010 The Writers' Block (TV series)
– Coffin Maker (2010)
2008 Changeling
2007 Grace Is Gone
2006 Flags of Our Fathers
2004 Million Dollar Baby
2003 Mystic River
