Quiz

At age 74, he became the oldest person to win the Best Director Oscar for Million Dollar Baby (2004).

When he directs, he insists that his actors wear as little makeup as possible and he likes to print first takes. As a result, his films consistently finish on schedule and on budget.

When directing, he simply says "okay" instead of "action" and "cut." (source: Sunday Morning Shootout (2003)).

Learned mountain climbing for Assassinio sull'Eiger (1975) because he felt the scenes were too dangerous for him to pay a stuntman to do for him. He was the last climber up The Totem Pole in Monument Valley, and as part of the contract, the movie crew removed the pitons left by decades of other climbers. The scene where he was hanging off the mountain by a single rope was actually Eastwood, and not a stuntman.

He wore the same sarape, without ever having washed it, in all three of his "Man with No Name" Westerns.

As a director, he has always refused to test screen his films before their release.

Claimed that the trait he most despised in others was racism.

Whenever asked if he would do a Dirty Harry 6, he often joked that he can imagine Dirty Harry now long retired, and fly-fishing with his .44 magnum.

Was offered the role of James Bond in Agente 007 - Vivi e lascia morire (1973). He was flattered, but declined, saying that Bond should be played by an English actor.

Though he often smokes in his movies, he is a lifelong non-smoker offscreen.

Was asked for permission about his name being used for Marty (Michael J. Fox) in Ritorno al futuro - Parte III (1990). He consented and was said to be tickled by the homage.

The genesis of his production company, Malpaso Productions, had a curious origin. When Italian director Sergio Leone approached Eastwood about appearing in what would become the "Spaghetti Western" trilogy--Per un pugno di dollari (1964), Per qualche dollaro in più (1965) and Il buono, il brutto, il cattivo (1966)--Eastwood was eager to take it but was advised against it by his agent, suggesting it would be a "bad move" (mal paso). Against all advice, the actor went ahead and accepted the "man with no name" role and his decision turned out to be a "good move". Eastwood never forgot the irony of the situation and adopted "Malpaso" as his production company name.

Although he has been associated with violence throughout his career, he personally detests it and has carefully shown the horrific consequences of violence in films such as Gli spietati (1992), Un mondo perfetto (1993), Potere assoluto (1997), Mystic River (2003), Million Dollar Baby (2004) and Gran Torino (2008).

Developed his movie voice by listening to audio recordings of Marilyn Monroe. He said he'd noticed Monroe's breathy whisper and he thought it was very sexy and since it had worked so well for her, he decided he'd "do" a male version of it himself.

An accomplished jazz pianist, he performs much of the music for his movies, including the scene in the bar in Nel centro del mirino (1993).

He and Burt Reynolds had major influences on each other's careers. It was he who sent a copy of "Sharky's Machine" to Reynolds, which gave Reynolds the idea to turn the novel into a movie, Pelle di sbirro (1981), which went on to garner excellent reviews. On the other hand, it was Reynolds who sent Clint a copy of "The Outlaw Josey Wales", later made into a film by Eastwood (Il texano dagli occhi di ghiaccio (1976)). Years later, Reynolds told him about "this great novel" called "The Bridges of Madison County", and some time later it was shot by Eastwood (I ponti di Madison County (1995)).

Got his role in Gli uomini della prateria (1959) while visiting a friend at the CBS lot when a studio exec spotted him because he "looked like a cowboy."

He stood at 6'4" at his peak, but due to recent back problems, he can only stretch up to 6'2".

Is 35 years older than ex-wife Dina Eastwood. Dina's parents were 19 and 21 when she was born. This makes Clint 16 years older than his former mother-in-law and 14 years older than his former father-in-law.

He has always disliked the reading of political and social agendas in his films, which has occurred from Ispettore Callaghan: il caso 'Scorpio' è tuo!! (1971) to Million Dollar Baby (2004). He has always maintained that all of his films are apolitical and what he has in mind when making a film is whether it's going to be entertaining and compelling.

William Goldman said of Eastwood that he was the only person to be a star in the '70s, '80s and '90s. By "star" Goldman means Variety's list of top ten actors of the decade.

Some of his favorite actors are Gary Cooper, Humphrey Bogart, Robert Mitchum and James Stewart.

Was offered Al Pacino's role in Ogni maledetta domenica (1999), but turned it down because Warner Bros. wouldn't let him direct it also.

Turned down Paul Newman's role in L'inferno di cristallo (1974).

He directed 12 different actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Gene Hackman, Meryl Streep, Sean Penn, Tim Robbins, Marcia Gay Harden, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie, Matt Damon, Bradley Cooper, Kathy Bates, and himself (in Gli spietati (1992) and Million Dollar Baby (2004)). Hackman, Penn, Robbins, Freeman and Swank won Oscars for their performances in one of Eastwood's movies.

(March 20, 1951 - March 19, 1953) Was a lifeguard and projectionist of training films for the U.S. Army, stationed at Fort Ord in Marina, California. According to former buddy Don Loomis, as told in "Clint: The Life and Legend" (2002) by Patrick McGilligan, page 49, Eastwood avoided being sent to combat in Korea by romancing one of the daughters of a Fort Ord officer, who might have been entreated to watch out for him when names came up for postings.

The boots that he wore in Gli spietati (1992) are the same ones he wore in the TV series Gli uomini della prateria (1959). They are now a part of his private collection and were on loan to the 2005 Sergio Leone exhibit at the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles. In essence these boots have book-ended his career in the Western genre.

He, Warren Beatty, Robert Redford, Mel Gibson, Richard Attenborough and Kevin Costner are the only directors best known as actors who have won an Academy Award as Best Director.

Declined to have a party for his 80th birthday, explaining that at his age he doesn't like birthday parties for himself. He said his only plans to celebrate the occasion would be to go out for a drink with his then-wife.

Sworn in as parks commissioner for state of California at Big Basin Redwood Park, Santa Cruz, 8 June 2002. Holding up his new commissioner's badge, he told the crowd, "You're all under arrest.".

His production company is Malpaso Productions, which he formed in 1968. The company's first feature release was Impiccalo più in alto (1968).

Served as President of the Cannes Jury when Pulp Fiction (1994) won but the film was not his personal choice: "On the jury here when 'Pulp Fiction' won, somebody said, 'Oh, Clint Eastwood was on the jury, so he voted for the American film.' But my sensibilities are European, here is where my success started. Actually, Yimou Zhang's Vivere! (1994) was my favorite piece, but most of the European jurors seemed to like 'Pulp Fiction.'".

He objected to the end of Ispettore Callaghan: il caso 'Scorpio' è tuo!! (1971) when Harry throws his badge away after killing the Scorpio Killer, arguing with director Don Siegel that Harry knew that being a policeman was the only work for which he was suited. Siegel eventually convinced Eastwood that Harry threw his badge away as a symbol that he had lost faith in the justice system.

Claims to have been an early choice for the title role in Superman (1978).

Although he can handle pistols with either hand equally well, he is left-eye dominant, evident when he shoots a rifle as in Joe Kidd (1972) or Gli spietati (1992), but is right handed, as seen when he wears or handles one pistol.

He claims that he wound up getting the role in Sergio Leone's Per un pugno di dollari (1964) because James Coburn, to whom the role was originally offered, wanted $25,000. Eastwood accepted the role for $15,000.

Walked out on an interview with The Boston Herald's Stephen Schaefer when Schaefer asked about his kids.

When Don Siegel fell ill during production of Ispettore Callaghan: il caso 'Scorpio' è tuo!! (1971), Eastwood stepped in as director during the attempted-suicide/jumper sequence.

Has always been allergic to horses, which is why, in his westerns, he is rarely seen in close-up on horseback. When he had to ride horses in films, he would first have to sniff medication into his nose and lungs. On Bronco Billy (1980) it left him constantly miserable.

A former logger, steel furnace stoker and gas station attendant before becoming an actor.

He has directed five films that have been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Gli spietati (1992), Mystic River (2003), Million Dollar Baby (2004), Lettere da Iwo Jima (2006) and American Sniper (2014). Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby won in the category.

Considered for the role of Rambo in Rambo (1982) long before Sylvester Stallone was hired.

He has appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Ispettore Callaghan: il caso 'Scorpio' è tuo!! (1971), Il texano dagli occhi di ghiaccio (1976) and Gli spietati (1992). He has also directed two films that are in the registry: The Outlaw Josey Wales and Unforgiven.

Every year the PGA tour comes to Pebble Beach, Ca., to host a celebrity golf tournament where celebrities team up with the professionals. Clint participated in this every year from 1962-2002 and is the longest running participant. He now serves as Host.

Until his pride was displaced by discovery of a larger version of same tree in 2002, Eastwood used to be proud owner of tree believed to be the nation's largest known hardwood - a bluegum eucalyptus.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, one of the mothers of Eastwood's children told biographer Patrick McGilligan: "There is no guilt with Clint. Anything that vaguely resembles guilt is channeled into anger. His anger is always intended to prove people wrong, or prove their behavior bad. And if people are wrong or bad, there is nothing for him to feel guilty about.".

Was apparently such an organized director that he finished Potere assoluto (1997) days ahead of schedule.

President of jury at the Cannes Film Festival. (1994)

Practices transcendental meditation twice a day, and said in 2013 that he has been meditating for the past 40 years.

Became so fond of British pubs and beer during his time in London filming Dove osano le aquile (1968) that he opened the Hog's Breath Inn with co-founders Paul E. Lippman and Walter Becker in 1972. According to Lippman, "I had to terminate three pretty good waitresses in the first few months of operation; not because they went to bed with Clint Eastwood, but because they either talked about it all over the premises, or came in the next day acting like they owned the place." The restaurant closed in 1999 and has since re-opened under new management.