This Day in History (May 31)
Name: Clint Eastwood
Born: Clinton Eastwood Jr.
Birth Date: May 31, 1930
Occupation: Actor, Director
Born today May 31, 1930 in San Francisco, California. Clint Eastwood got his big break starring on the TV western Rawhide. He then became immensely popular via a string of Sergio Leone 'spaghetti' westerns and then in the Dirty Harry franchise. In recent years, Eastwood has directed many films, including the Academy Award-winning projects Unforgiven, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby and The Changeling. He's also known as a big supporter of the Republican Party, and made headlines when he spoke at the Republican Convention in 2012.
In 2006, Eastwood directed two World War II dramas, Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima. These companion films viewed the conflict from two distinctly different perspectives. Flags of Our Fathers explored the American side, telling the story of one man's efforts to learn more about his father's involvement in the raising of the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima. The truly multi-talented, Eastwood even wrote some of the music for the film.
Occupation: Actor, Director
Age at present: 83 today
Place of Birth: San Francisco
Born today May 31, 1930 in San Francisco, California. Clint Eastwood got his big break starring on the TV western Rawhide. He then became immensely popular via a string of Sergio Leone 'spaghetti' westerns and then in the Dirty Harry franchise. In recent years, Eastwood has directed many films, including the Academy Award-winning projects Unforgiven, Mystic River, Million Dollar Baby and The Changeling. He's also known as a big supporter of the Republican Party, and made headlines when he spoke at the Republican Convention in 2012. |
| Rowdy Yates |
Eastwood worked odd jobs as a hay-bailer, logger, truck driver, and steel-furnace stoker. In 1950, he was called to military duty with the Army Special Services, based in Monterey, California. While in the Army, Eastwood met actors David Janssen and Martin Milner, who convinced him to move to Los Angeles in 1954 after he finished his military duty. Eastwood took a screen test and signed a contract with Universal for seventy-five dollars a week. Eastwood's rugged looks landed him the role of Rowdy Yates on the TV series Rawhide (1959), which ran for eight seasons.
His early films include 1964's A Fistful Of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More (1965) and The Good the Bad and the Ugly
(1966). Nicknamed 'spaghetti westerns' due to their Italian production,
these films gained worldwide popularity, and Eastwood became
internationally known.
The Acclaimed Director
Back in the United States, Eastwood directed his first film, the thriller Play Misty For Me (1971), and starred in the leading role. He also earned accolades for directing and producing the 1992 western Unforgiven, which won an Academy Award (best picture). The following year, he directed and starred in 1993's A Perfect World, and went on to star in and direct 1994's The Bridges of Madison County (with Meryl Streep)
The Acclaimed Director
Back in the United States, Eastwood directed his first film, the thriller Play Misty For Me (1971), and starred in the leading role. He also earned accolades for directing and producing the 1992 western Unforgiven, which won an Academy Award (best picture). The following year, he directed and starred in 1993's A Perfect World, and went on to star in and direct 1994's The Bridges of Madison County (with Meryl Streep)
In 2006, Eastwood directed two World War II dramas, Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima. These companion films viewed the conflict from two distinctly different perspectives. Flags of Our Fathers explored the American side, telling the story of one man's efforts to learn more about his father's involvement in the raising of the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima. The truly multi-talented, Eastwood even wrote some of the music for the film.
Drawing from correspondence found on that island battlefield, Letters of Iwo Jima looks at the experiences of Japanese soldiers during World War II. While both films earned wide praise, but 'Letters' garnered four Academy Award nominations, including best picture, and Eastwood earned his fourth nod for an Oscar (best director). Several widely acclaimed directorial projects followed, including 2008's Gran Torino (in which Eastwood also stars) 2009's Invictus and 2011's J. Edgar.
Also check out the many biographies we hold on this talented star.
Outside of acting, Eastwood has tried his hand at politics. He was elected Mayor of Carmel, California in 1986, serving two years.
~ from Bio.TrueStory
Quote: 'I think being able to age gracefully is a very important talent. It's too late for me.' ~ Clint Eastwood
