Clint Eastwood is one of the most iconic actors and directors in the history of cinema. He has starred in classic films such as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Dirty Harry, Unforgiven, and Million Dollar Baby. He has also directed acclaimed movies such as Mystic River, Letters from Iwo Jima, and American Sniper. But who was the man behind the legend? Who was his father, Clinton Eastwood Sr.?
Early Life and Career
Clinton Eastwood Sr. was born on June 11, 1906, in San Francisco, California¹. His father, Burr Eastwood Sr., was a farmer and a lumberman, and his mother, Jesse Mabel Anderson, was a homemaker¹. Clinton had two brothers and a sister¹.
Clinton grew up in a rural area near San Jose, where he attended school until the eighth grade¹. He then worked as a farmhand, a truck driver, a steelworker, and a gas station attendant¹. He also developed a passion for music and played the saxophone in a band².
In 1927, Clinton married Margaret Ruth Runner, a secretary and a former swimmer who had competed in the 1920 Olympics¹². They had two children: Clinton Jr., born in 1930, and Jeanne, born in 1934¹.
Clinton moved his family to various places in California, Oregon, and Washington, following different jobs and opportunities². He worked as a bond salesman, a grocery clerk, a paper company foreman, and a fireman². He also briefly served as a detective for the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department².
Relationship with Clint
Clinton was a supportive father who encouraged his son’s interest in music and mechanics². He bought him his first guitar and his first car². He also taught him how to hunt and fish².
However, Clinton was not very close to Clint emotionally. He was a strict disciplinarian who often scolded his son for his poor grades and his rebellious behavior². He also had a drinking problem that sometimes led to violent outbursts².
Clint later described his father as “a very good man that was very frustrated” ³. He said that he respected him but did not really know him well³. He also admitted that he inherited some of his father’s traits, such as his stoicism and his independence³.
Later Years and Death
Clinton retired from Georgia-Pacific Corporation in 1967 and moved to Carmel-by-the-Sea with his wife Ruth¹². He enjoyed playing golf and watching his son’s movies².
Clinton died of a heart attack on July 21, 1970, at the age of 64¹². He was buried at Mission San Carlos Borromeo Cemetery in Carmel-by-the-Sea¹.
Clint was devastated by his father’s death and dedicated his next film, The Beguiled , to his memory². He later said that he wished he had spent more time with him and told him that he loved him³.
Clinton Eastwood Sr. may not have been famous or successful like his son, but he was an important influence on his life and career. He was the father of a Hollywood legend.