Clint Eastwood: A Cowboy On Screen And In The Director's Chair

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Clint Eastwood as the Man With No Name in 'For A Few Dollars More' (1965). Source: IMDB

As "Dirty" Harry Callahan, Josey Wales, and "The Man With No Name," Clint Eastwood established himself as one of the great screen badasses of the '60s and '70s. But there was far more to the former Rawhide actor than anyone could have predicted. Within a couple of years of leaving TV, he'd established himself as a box-office draw, then in 1971 embarked on his career as a director. Eastwood makes movies like he acts -- efficiently. And the quality of the work is evident from the four Oscars on his mantelpiece (two for Best Director, two Best Picture).

Clint Eastwood. Even his name sounds like a punch in the face. The original man’s man who’s short on words but never lacking in gravitas detailed his survival of a plane crash as, “So we went swimming” -- he was in the Army at the time, and the plane is still down there. He also became the mayor of a small California town, partly to bring ice cream shops back. (Who bans ice cream?) Did you know he's been writing and playing music for his movie soundtracks since 1969? Eastwood may be closing in on 90 but he’ll still whoop your butt, thanks to a twice a day training regimen.