Clint Eastwood - The Man With No Name | Western Legend

Clint Eastwood

"The Man With No Name"

Clinton Eastwood, Jr. was born in San Francisco, California, to Clinton Eastwood, Sr. and Margaret Eastwood on May 31, 1930. Eastwood's father was a steelworker and his mother was a factory worker. He was raised in a typical middle class Protestant home and during his early years was required to move often due to the variety of jobs his father worked along the West Coast.

Clint Eastwood graduated from Oakland Technical High School in 1949. After graduation, he worked in a variety of jobs including, gas station attendant, factory worker, and fireman. On occasion, Eastwood even played ragtime piano in a local bar in Oakland.

Clint Eastwood's early film career involved work in B-films, such as "Tarantula" and "Francis In The Navy", both in 1955. His first acting breakthrough came with the long-running TV western series, "Rawhide" in 1959. His role as Rowdy Yates in this hit series made him a household name around the country. "Rawhide" ran from 1959 to 1966.

In 1964, Mr. Eastwood was contacted by director, Sergio Leone, and was invited to audition for Leone's up-coming film, "A Fistful Of Dollars". As they say, the rest his history.

Clint Eastwood helped establish the "spaghetti westerns" and created the "Man With No Name". Eastwood starred in the trilogy which included "For A Few Dollars More" and "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly".

Clint Eastwood was now more than a star, he was an icon and his 1968 role in the Don Siegel film "Coogan's Bluff" launched a 10-year collaboration with Siegel. He appeared in the "Dirty Harry" films and in 1969, Eastwood even starred in the musical, "Paint Your Wagon" with fellow non-singer, Lee Marvin.

In 1970, Clint Eastwood starred in the war movie, "Kelly's Heroes" and two more Siegel directed films, "Two Mules For Sister Sara" and "The Beguiled".

The year 1971 was a turning point in Mr. Eastwood's career, when he formed his own production company known as Malpaso and he directed his first film, "Play Misty For Me". In 1973, Clint Eastwood directed two westerns, "High Plains Drifter" and "The Outlaw Josey Wales".

The 1970s and 1980s were filled with many different acting and directing roles, but in the 1990s, Clint Eastwood rose to prominence once again with such films as "Unforgiven", "Deadwood", "In The Line Of Fire", "A Perfect World", "The Bridges Of Madison County" and others.

Clint Eastwood's success continued in the 2000s, with films like, "Space Cowboys", "Blood Work", and the biggest hit of his career, "Million Dollar Baby".

In 2006, Mr. Eastwood directed two World War II films, "Flags Of Our Fathers" and "Letters From Iwo Jima".

In 2008, Clint Eastwood directed the Oscar-nominated drama "Changeling" and the hit movie, many believe to be Eastwood's final acting role, "Grand Torino". This film grossed $30 Million in its first weekend and has since grossed over $227 Million worldwide.

Clint Eastwood quote:

"Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you got to get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean! Cause if you lose your head and you give up, then you neither live nor win.

That's just the way it is."

Clint Eastwood accepting an Academy Award