Clint Eastwood's Life in Photos

Mar. 16, 2025

01of 25John Kobal Foundation/GettyClint Eastwood was born on May 31, 1930, in San Francisco, moving around the state with his parents and younger sister, Jeanne, before settling in Piedmont.

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John Kobal Foundation/Getty

American film star and director Clint Eastwood posing bare-chested. (Photo via John Kobal Foundation/Getty Images)

Clint Eastwood was born on May 31, 1930, in San Francisco, moving around the state with his parents and younger sister, Jeanne, before settling in Piedmont.

02of 25US ArmyAhead of college — and his acting career — Eastwood was drafted into the Army, though didn’t face combat, and instead worked as a swimming instructor at California’s Ft. Ord, according tomilitary.com.

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US Army

Clint Eastwood in his Army uniform during the Korean War. SHARE IMAGE: Download Image Photo By: Army photo

Ahead of college — and his acting career — Eastwood was drafted into the Army, though didn’t face combat, and instead worked as a swimming instructor at California’s Ft. Ord, according tomilitary.com.

03of 25Archive Photos/GettyIn 1953 he married model Maggie Johnson; together, they had children Kylie and Alison. They divorced in 1984, though remain friendly: in 2018, Johnson was at Eastwood’s side forthe premiere ofThe Mule.

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Archive Photos/Getty

American actor Clint Eastwood with his first wife Maggie Johnson at their home in the Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, circa 1960. (Photo by Archive Photos/Getty Images)

In 1953 he married model Maggie Johnson; together, they had children Kylie and Alison. They divorced in 1984, though remain friendly: in 2018, Johnson was at Eastwood’s side forthe premiere ofThe Mule.

04of 25Silver Screen Collection/GettyEastwood eventually enrolled at Los Angeles City College, but after three semesters, landed a $75-a-week contract with Universal. But he really hit it big in 1959 when he was cast as Rowdy Yates on the hit CBS seriesRawhide.

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Silver Screen Collection/Getty

American actor Clint Eastwood (in costume as Rowdy Yates) on the set of an epsiode of the television show ‘Rawhide,’ late 1950s to mid 1960s. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)

Eastwood eventually enrolled at Los Angeles City College, but after three semesters, landed a $75-a-week contract with Universal. But he really hit it big in 1959 when he was cast as Rowdy Yates on the hit CBS seriesRawhide.

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Clint Eastwood, US actor, smoking a cigar, wearing a brown hat and poncho in a publicity portrait issued for the film, ‘A Fistful of Dollars’, Spain, 1964. The Spaghetti western, directed by Sergio Leone (1929-1989), starred Eastwood as ‘The Man with No Name’ (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)

06of 25Universal Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via GettyThroughout his career, Eastwood shared the screen with other icons of his time, including Shirley MacLaine inTwo Mules for Sister Sara.

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Universal Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty

American actors Shirley MacLaine and Clint Eastwood on the set of Two Mules for Sister Sara, directed by Don Siegel. (Photo by Universal Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

Throughout his career, Eastwood shared the screen with other icons of his time, including Shirley MacLaine inTwo Mules for Sister Sara.

07of 25Warner Brothers/GettyAfter making his directorial debut with the thrillerPlay Misty for Me,Eastwood went on to direct portions of another 1971 action film,Dirty Harry,in which he also starred.USA Todaycalled itthe “most iconic role” of his career.

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Warner Brothers/Getty

Clint Eastwood lays on a couch in a scene from the film ‘Dirty Harry’, 1971. (Photo by Warner Brothers/Getty Images)

After making his directorial debut with the thrillerPlay Misty for Me,Eastwood went on to direct portions of another 1971 action film,Dirty Harry,in which he also starred.USA Todaycalled itthe “most iconic role” of his career.

08of 25Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via GettyBy 1975, Eastwood — here in 1979’sEscape from Alcatraz —was pulling in $1 million per film and had launched his own production company, Malpaso, according to a PEOPLE profile.

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Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty

American actor Clint Eastwood on the set of Escape From Alcatraz, directed by Don Siegel. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

By 1975, Eastwood — here in 1979’sEscape from Alcatraz —was pulling in $1 million per film and had launched his own production company, Malpaso, according to a PEOPLE profile.

09of 25Warner Bros. Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via GettyFilm critic Roger Ebert said Eastwood “dominates so completely” in 1985’sPale Rider,another film he produced, directed and starred in. He also received his first Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or award nomination for the movie.

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Warner Bros. Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty

American actor, director and producer Clint Eastwood on the set of his movie Pale Rider. (Photo by Warner Bros. Pictures/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

Film critic Roger Ebert said Eastwood “dominates so completely” in 1985’sPale Rider,another film he produced, directed and starred in. He also received his first Cannes Film Festival Palme d’Or award nomination for the movie.

10of 25Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via GettyThe actor couldn’t have smiled more at his 1984 hand and footprint ceremony outside Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

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Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty

Clint Eastwood during Clint Eastwood Puts His Hands and Footprints In Cement at Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, California, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)

The actor couldn’t have smiled more at his 1984 hand and footprint ceremony outside Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood.

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Bettmann

Clint Eastwood proudly holds up a t-shirt proclaiming him as the mayor of Carmel, California, during his acceptance speech on April 9, 1986.

12of 25Reed Saxon/APBefore winning three best director awards at the Golden Globes, Eastwood was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1988. He also has an honorary Oscar and in 2003, received the Screen Actors Guild Awards' Life Achievement Award.

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Reed Saxon/AP

Clint Eastwood holds his Cecil B. DeMille award at the annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, Ca., Jan. 25, 1988. Eastwood was honored for his outstanding contribution to the entertainment industry by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon)

Before winning three best director awards at the Golden Globes, Eastwood was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1988. He also has an honorary Oscar and in 2003, received the Screen Actors Guild Awards' Life Achievement Award.

13of 25Warner Bros/Kobal/ShutterstockEastwood’s 1992 Western,Unforgiven,earned him his first Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor nominations — and won him the first two. Still a beloved film today, 25 years after its release,The Ringerdeclared"the genre hasn’t seen a better movie."

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Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock

Credit: Photo by Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock (5885182p) Clint Eastwood Unforgiven - 1992 Director: Clint Eastwood Warner Bros USA Scene Still Western (See F9 Note) Impitoyable

Eastwood’s 1992 Western,Unforgiven,earned him his first Best Picture, Best Director and Best Actor nominations — and won him the first two. Still a beloved film today, 25 years after its release,The Ringerdeclared"the genre hasn’t seen a better movie."

14of 25Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via GettyThe famously gruff star took a turn for the sentimental alongside Meryl Streep in 1995’sThe Bridges of Madison County,which made more than $182 million at the international box office.

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American actress Meryl Streep with actor, director and producer Clint Eastwood on the set of his movie The Bridges of Madison County. (Photo by Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)

The famously gruff star took a turn for the sentimental alongside Meryl Streep in 1995’sThe Bridges of Madison County,which made more than $182 million at the international box office.

15of 25J. Vespa/WireImageIn 1996, Eastwood married Dina Ruiz, with whom he has daughter Morgan. Dina and Morgan, plus Eastwood’s daughter Francesca (from his previous relationship with Frances Fisher), were the stars of the 2012 E! reality seriesMrs. Eastwood & Company,which chronicled their lives and Dina’s career. Eastwood and Ruiz divorced in 2014.

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J. Vespa/WireImage

Dina Eastwood and Clint Eastwood, winner Best Picture and Best Director for “Million Dollar Baby” (Photo by J. Vespa/WireImage)

In 1996, Eastwood married Dina Ruiz, with whom he has daughter Morgan. Dina and Morgan, plus Eastwood’s daughter Francesca (from his previous relationship with Frances Fisher), were the stars of the 2012 E! reality seriesMrs. Eastwood & Company,which chronicled their lives and Dina’s career. Eastwood and Ruiz divorced in 2014.

16of 25Chris Weeks/WireImageRuiz, Fisher and several of Eastwood’s children joined him in 2002 for the premiere ofBlood Work.

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Chris Weeks/WireImage

Clint Eastwood with his wife Dina Ruiz, Clint’s children and his former wife Frances Fisher (Photo by Chris Weeks/WireImage)

Ruiz, Fisher and several of Eastwood’s children joined him in 2002 for the premiere ofBlood Work.

17of 25BENAINOUS/CATARINA/Gamma-Rapho via GettyIn 2003, Eastwood’sMystic River —costarring Laura Linney, Kevin Bacon and Tim Robbins, among others — racked up numerous honors, including Best Picture and Best Director nods for the star.

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BENAINOUS/CATARINA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty

FRANCE - MAY 23: 56th International Cannes Film Festival: Stairs of “Mystic River” in Cannes, France on May 23, 2003 - Clint Eastwood, Laura Linney, Kevin Becon, Tim Robbins. (Photo by Pool BENAINOUS/CATARINA/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

In 2003, Eastwood’sMystic River —costarring Laura Linney, Kevin Bacon and Tim Robbins, among others — racked up numerous honors, including Best Picture and Best Director nods for the star.

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Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic

Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman during Warner Bros private screening of “Million Dollar Baby” at Museum of Modern Art in New York, New York, United States. (Photo by Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic)

19of 25Merie W. Wallace/Warner Bros.The moving 2007 war filmLetters from Iwo Jima(starring Ken Watanabe, right) earned Eastwood his fourth, and most recent, Best Director Oscar nomination and fifth Golden Globe nomination in the same category.

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Merie W. Wallace/Warner Bros.

Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) Director CLINT EASTWOOD and KEN WATANABE on the set

The moving 2007 war filmLetters from Iwo Jima(starring Ken Watanabe, right) earned Eastwood his fourth, and most recent, Best Director Oscar nomination and fifth Golden Globe nomination in the same category.

20of 25REMY DE LA MAUVINIERE/AFP via GettyFrench President Jacques Chirac awarded Eastwood with the medal of the Legion of Honour in February of 2007. Three years later, PresidentBarack Obamahonored the star with the Arts and Humanities award, thoughEastwood was unable to attendthe ceremony.

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REMY DE LA MAUVINIERE/AFP via Getty

Paris, FRANCE: French President Jacques Chirac (R) pins the medal of the Legion of Honour on the jacket of US actor and director Clint Eastwood, 17 February 2007, during a ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris. The 76-year-old Hollywood star’s acclaimed latest work, “Letters from Iwo Jima”, received its European premiere at the 57th Berlin Film Festival last Sunday. AFP PHOTO / POOL AP / REMY DE LA MAUVINIERE (Photo credit should read REMY DE LA MAUVINIERE/AFP via Getty Images)

French President Jacques Chirac awarded Eastwood with the medal of the Legion of Honour in February of 2007. Three years later, PresidentBarack Obamahonored the star with the Arts and Humanities award, thoughEastwood was unable to attendthe ceremony.

21of 25Warner Bros/Kobal/ShutterstockEastwood starred in and directed 2008’sGran Torino,in which he coined the iconic phrase, “Get off my lawn.”

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Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock (5885116o) Clint Eastwood Gran Torino - 2008 Director: Clint Eastwood Warner Bros USA Scene Still Drama

Eastwood starred in and directed 2008’sGran Torino,in which he coined the iconic phrase, “Get off my lawn.”

22of 25Jason LaVeris/FilmMagicSince 2014, Eastwood has been dating Christina Sandera.

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Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: Director Clint Eastwood and Christina Sandera attend a screening of “Sully” at Directors Guild Of America on September 8, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)

Since 2014, Eastwood has been dating Christina Sandera.

23of 25Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagicEastwood has directedBradley Cooperin two films: 2018’sThe Muleand 2014’sAmerican Sniper,for which they both earned Oscar nominations.“I love Clint Eastwood and I look up to him so much,“Cooper toldEntertainment Weeklyin 2018. “And I always had in my mind, ‘Well, he was 41 when he madePlay Misty For Me.’ So I always thought when I get around that age then I gotta just [direct].”

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Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic

NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 15: Clint Eastwood and Bradley Cooper attend the ‘American Sniper’ New York Premiere at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Jazz at Lincoln Center on December 15, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)

Eastwood has directedBradley Cooperin two films: 2018’sThe Muleand 2014’sAmerican Sniper,for which they both earned Oscar nominations.

“I love Clint Eastwood and I look up to him so much,“Cooper toldEntertainment Weeklyin 2018. “And I always had in my mind, ‘Well, he was 41 when he madePlay Misty For Me.’ So I always thought when I get around that age then I gotta just [direct].”

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Emma McIntyre/Getty

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 08: (L-R) Actress/model Francesca Eastwood, director/actor/producer Clint Eastwood, and actor/model Scott Eastwood attend the screening of Warner Bros. Pictures' ‘Sully’ at Directors Guild Of America on September 8, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

25of 25Vivien Killilea/GettyIn 2016, Eastwood directed Tom Hanks in the biopicSully,about “Miracle on the Hudson” pilot Chesley Sullenberger.“When [Clint]’s in charge he says in a really quiet soft voice, ‘all right, go ahead.’ And instead of shouting ‘cut,’ he says ‘that’s enough of that,’ " Hanks said of Eastwood’s beind-the-camera style ina 2016 interview with Graham Norton. “It’s intimidating as hell.“Though Eastwood kept a low profile through the COVID-19 pandemic, he returned to work again with 2021’sCry Machoand appeared at the February 2022 AT&T Pro-Am at Pebble Beach.

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Vivien Killilea/Getty

TELLURIDE, CO - SEPTEMBER 03: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Director Clint Eastwood and actor Tom Hanks speak during a Q&A after a screening of “Sully” at the Telluride Film Festival 2016 on September 3, 2016 in Telluride, Colorado. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images)

In 2016, Eastwood directed Tom Hanks in the biopicSully,about “Miracle on the Hudson” pilot Chesley Sullenberger.

“When [Clint]’s in charge he says in a really quiet soft voice, ‘all right, go ahead.’ And instead of shouting ‘cut,’ he says ‘that’s enough of that,’ " Hanks said of Eastwood’s beind-the-camera style ina 2016 interview with Graham Norton. “It’s intimidating as hell.”

Though Eastwood kept a low profile through the COVID-19 pandemic, he returned to work again with 2021’sCry Machoand appeared at the February 2022 AT&T Pro-Am at Pebble Beach.

source: people.com