To many fans, Clint Eastwood has made their day as an actor, director, and writer.
The Academy Award-winner has thrilled audiences with such classics as the “Dirty Harry” movies, “Unforgiven,” and “Million Dollar Baby.” Often, his skills behind the camera are revealed in the credits in films Eastwood doesn’t appear in.
He was even a politician, serving as mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, in the 1980s. He's also best known in the political circuit for his 2012 Republican National Convention speech that some say upstaged the GOP nominee Mitt Romney.
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As for President Donald Trump, Eastwood admitted in November that the then-president-elect said “some foolish things,” but “says what is on his mind,” according to the Daily Express. “Trump was on to something because — secretly — so many people are getting tired of political correctness and kissing up.”
But there are some things about the actor's life that fans might not know. Here are five of them:
1. He could have been James Bond — Eastwood was offered the role of 007 after Sean Connery called it quits in the 1970s. He said he believed the character should be played by a British actor, according to HuffPost. He also could have been Superman, but turned down that role as well.
2. Eastwood is an honored academic — He has received honorary doctorates from Berklee College of Music, the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts, and Wesleyan University because of his musical, directorial, and writing talents. He was also awarded an honorary doctorate from the American Film Institute, AMC pointed out.
3. He’s a respected film composer — Eastwood started composing music for his movies as he became more and more successful. He has written the themes for “Bridges of Madison County,” “A Perfect World,” and “Absolute Power,” as well as the music for “Mystic River” and “Million Dollar Baby.” Check the credits for music composer the next time you see an Eastwood flick.
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4. Young Clint survived a plane crash — He was drafted into the U.S. Army and escaped death when a plane he was in went down off the coast of Northern California in 1951. The pilot and Eastwood, the only passenger, had to make an emergency landing and went into the water, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Eastwood recalled the plane going down at about four o’clock in the afternoon and having to swim "a mile or two" to shore, finally reaching it after nightfall.
5. The future star was fired from Universal — In 1959, newcomers Eastwood and Burt Reynolds were given the heave-ho at the same time by the studio, Mental Floss noted. Reynolds said Eastwood was fired because he talked too slow, had a chipped tooth, and had an Adam’s apple that stuck out too far. When Reynolds asked why he was being fired, he was told, “You can’t act.”
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