Clint: The Man and the Movies

by Shawn Levy

From the acclaimed film critic and New York Times bestselling biographer of Paul Newman, the definitive biography of Hollywood legend Clint Eastwood, the most prolific and versatile actor-director in the history of the medium, and an indelible fixture of American culture.

C-L-I-N-T. In that short, sharp syllable, there is an emblem of American manhood and morality and sheer bloody-minded will, for better and worse, on screen and off, for more than sixty years. Whether he's holding a pistol, an orangutan, or a boxing glove; whether he's facing down bad guys on a western street (Old West or new, no matter); staring through the lens of a camera; or accepting one of his thirteen Oscars (including two for Best Picture); he is as blunt, curt, and solid as his name, a star of the old school stripe and one of the most prolific and accomplished directors of his time, a man of rock and iron and brute  Clint. 

To tell the story of Clint Eastwood is to tell the story of nearly a century of American culture. No Hollywood figure so completely and complexly represents the cultural and political climates of contemporary America. At age ninety-four, he has lived a tumultuous century and embodied much of his time and many of its contradictions. 

We picture him most immediately as he has appeared to us on  squinting through cigarillo smoke in A Fistful of Dollars or The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly; imposing rough justice at the point of a .44 Magnum in Dirty Harry; sowing moral vengeance in The Outlaw Josey Wales or Pale Rider; abandoning farming for murder-for-hire in Unforgiven; grudgingly training a woman boxer in Million Dollar Baby; standing up for his neighbors despite his racism toward them in Gran Torino. But those are roles, however well-cast and convincing, and they are two-dimensional in comparison to the whole life. The reality of Clint Eastwood is far more rich, knotty, and absorbing—a saga of cunning, determination, and conquest, a great American story about a man ascending to the Hollywood pantheon while keeping a gimlet eye on its ways and habits and one foot firmly planted outside its door. 

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Film, Audiobook, History, Media Tie In, Celebrity

560 pages, Paperback

Published August 26, 2025

About the author

Shawn Levy is the author of eleven books of biography, pop culture history, and poetry. The former film critic of The Oregonian and KGW-TV and a former editor of American Film, he has been published in Sight and Sound, Film Comment, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, The Hollywood Reporter, and The Black Rock Beacon, among many other outlets. He jumps and claps and sings for victory in Portland, Oregon, where he serves on the board of directors of Operation Pitch Invasion.

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Clint is in the great line of [silver screen actors] Spencer Tracy and James Stewart and Robert Mitchum. They have a kind of dynamic lethargy. They appear to do nothing, and yet they do everything." -- Eastwood's Where Eagles Dare (1969) co-star Richard Burton, on page 125

Although there have been a handful of fairly thorough previous attempts, author Levy's Clint: The Man and the Movies is THE biography for the enduring actor / director who just turned 95 (!) this year. Raised in Great Depression- and WWII-era Northern California (while narrowly avoiding certain death in a 1951 aircraft accident during his brief military service), Eastwood first achieved moderate fame on TV as cowpoke Rowdy Yates - although he would later self-deprecatingly refer to the character as 'the idiot of the plains' - on the 1959-1966 western series Rawhide. Branching out into film - like his cowboy TV show contemporaries James Garner, Burt Reynolds, and especially Steve McQueen - Eastwood unusually and initially first found success via Europe with his trio of 'spaghetti westerns' (shot in Spain with Italian crews via director Sergio Leone) informally known as 'The Man With No Name' trilogy in the mid-1960's. Immediately afterwards Eastwood teamed with American director Don Siegel for four films within four years - the most popular of which was the controversial but popular cop vs. serial killer thriller Dirty Harry in 1971, which eventually spawned four sequels over the next seventeen years - and by age 40 he had finally become both a bankable global box office star and iconic action hero, eventually reaching a durability that was second only to actor John Wayne. Not comfortable to rely merely on acting as his sole profession, Eastwood soon branched out into directing and has prolifically helmed over 40 features since 1971, winning Oscars for Unforgiven and Million Dollar Baby amongst dozens of other nominations. As if the acting and/or directing careers didn't quite keep him busy enough, Eastwood also has eight grown children by five different mothers, served a term as a small-town mayor to enact progressive changes in tired local ordinances, and has even composed some of the music used in his various film projects. Author Levy thoroughly documents the man's interesting long life and career in this outstanding biography, and amusingly is a true fan as much as appropriately a critic when it comes to intelligently discussing Eastwood's filmography of 50+ years . . . such as his 'What the hell was he thinking?'-ish puckish attitude when mentioning the two comedic films in which Eastwood co-starred with an orangutan. And yet . . . said films were both right alongside Superman and The Exorcist as the most financially successful blockbusters from the Warner Brothers studio during the 70's and 80's. Eastwood's professional luck and pluck over the decades in the entertainment industry has been simply amazing.

[NaTaya Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this Clint biography in honor of Father’s Day, hoping to feel a little closer to my dad, who was a huge Clint Eastwood fan. What I didn’t expect was just how much I would actually enjoy it! Levy has crafted an exhaustive (in the best possible way) and thoroughly researched account of Eastwood’s nearly 100 years. It's a true saga of determination, cunning, and conquest in Hollywood.

What really sets this biography apart is how balanced and honest it is. Levy doesn’t shy away from the darker or more complicated parts of Eastwood’s life, but he also highlights the remarkable achievements and enduring appeal that transformed the man into a legend. The result is a nuanced portrait that feels both fair and deeply human, allowing readers to appreciate both the man and the myth.

But be warned: this book is LONG. Honestly, if I hadn’t known better, I’d have thought it was “Clint” by Stephen King! Haha. But honestly, I never found myself bored. Every page is packed with fascinating details, stories, and insights. For fans of Eastwood or anyone interested in Hollywood history, this one is a... I hate to say "must-read" because it's so cheesy, but honestly. It's a must-read. Haha.

Beyond the facts and filmography, reading it was a personal experience for me and gave me all those good nostalgia vibes. It brought back memories of watching Clint’s movies with my dad and made me feel close to him again. I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s comprehensive, honest, and absolutely compelling. A very easy five stars!

[Justin Gerber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leaves no film unturned. Truly essential.

Levy presents the troubling history of Eastwood’s personal life without flinching but does not act as a moral arbiter, leaving judgement for the movies themselves.

[John Schorg · Rating 5 out of 5]

For any fan of Clint Eastwood, this is the book to read. From the start, the author makes it clear he isn't aiming for the glowing portrait provided in an earlier book by Richard Schickel or the sour appraisal that came a few years later from Patrick McGilligan. Mostly, he succeeds... there is plenty of good and bad here. What is memorable is an honest appraisal of an entirely singular career. Of special note are some particularly acute breakdowns of Eastwood's work, such as The Dollars trilogy, Dirty Harry, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Tightrope, Unforgiven, and Million Dollar Baby. As a fan of the man's work for decades, I enjoyed the look back.

[Blake Altman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here's something you should know about me: I've seen every single Clint Eastwood movie!

Well, almost every single one. I didn't bother with all the uncredited appearances, and I'm not sure it's even possible to find a good copy of THE LAST TRAVELING SALESLADY anywhere, but I've seen 99% of them!

Clint is, without a doubt, one of my favorite filmmakers of all time. He has a style unlike anyone else in Hollywood, and a sensibility toward acting and directing that cannot be replicated. His films range from interesting boondoggles to flat-out masterpieces, and he's still making them at the age of 95. I am constantly impressed by him, so when I heard there was a new book about him, I had to track it down!

CLINT is an extensive retelling of Eastwood's life, from birth to the present day, primarily structured around his filmmaking career. As far as biography goes, it strikes a fair balance between adoring puff piece and hard-hitting takedown, acknowledging Clint's strengths and unprecedented career while also illustrating his faults and failures. To know Clint Eastwood is to love his work and hate what he did to Sondra Locke.

I can't fully concur with all of Levy's opinions about Clint's films (he's a lot more critical of Richard Jewell than I am), but there's no denying that this is a well-crafted examination of an American icon, for better and worse. Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in American cinema, even if Clint isn't your cup of tea!

[Dennis Hogan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished Clint: The Man and the Movies―A Comprehensive Biography of Hollywood's Most Iconic Actor-Director by Shawn Levy published in 2025. Levy is well qualified as a film critic and author of eleven books. I read his Paul Newman biography and it also was very good. Levy’s book is dispassionate and thorough. He calls him as he sees them with praise when appropriate and not holding back on Eastwood’s lesser movies. Levy makes it clear in his introduction he is not a personal admirer for reasons that will be come clear as the book unfolds, but he clearly admires Eastwood's contribution to cinema. The book is very up to date and well worth the read.

[Bob Nabers · Rating 3 out of 5]

The best thing that could be said about the book is that it is well researched and accessible. Coincidentally, that is all that is good about it. Once Clint’s career gets going, roughly a third of the text is the author’s criticism of Clint’s works, which is awful, impressionistic criticism with adjectives in the place of arguments. Still worth a read tho

[Jeff Bursey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thorough bio of Eastwood that spends a lot of time on his TV series and each of his films. (Up to and including Juror #2.) Eastwood's good, bad, and odd behaviour is discussed at length, his partners and children are talked about often, and his conservative views as well as his abilities as a filmmaker are all here, told in a lively way (with maybe a few too many exclamation marks, but not so many as to be off-putting). Recommended.

[Anand · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic book for fans of Eastwood and his films

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

***Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this upcoming book***
An extremely in-depth and well researched look at the life and career of a true American icon, the one and only Clint Eastwood. Say what you will about the man and his personal life, you still have to marvel at the career he's had (directing movies in his 90's!!!!) and the mark he's left on the movie business.

I would highly recommend this to all fans of movies or anyone looking to read about the life of a one of a kind entertainment personality.

[Biggus · Rating 2 out of 5]

footnote, end of footnote, footnote, end of footnote, footnote, end of footnote, footnote, end of footnote, footnote, end of footnote, footnote, end of footnote, footnote, end of footnote, footnote, end of footnote,

ffs, who thought saying this a billion times (audiobook) was a good idea. Why not say 'period' at the end of each sentence as well? Honestly, it drove me insane, and never again, EVER, will I listen to a book that insists on being so literal. What makes this even more annoying than it already is, is the fact that most of these footnotes could have simply been read as part of the story.

It might seem a trivial complaint, but listen to the whole 20 plus hours and then tell me I'm wrong.

end of footnote

Nah, I'll never read this author again. The book is mistitled. It should be called, A Critique of the critics of Clint's movies, (with lotsa fancy words thrown in to impress, eg "terroir" ffs)
I am a big fan of Clint, not so much a fan of this overly long, and often boring book.

End of footnote

[Stewart Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a long while to appreciate Clint Eastwood. I remember finding him stiff and wooden when I was younger, a relic of an older era of stars that didn’t appeal to my modern sensibilities. As I grew older, I became much more interested in classic films, specifically westerns, and came to understand his appeal after watching masterpieces such as The Good, The Bad and The Ugly and Unforgiven. This led me to dive deeper into Clint’s catalogue as actor and director, and eventually I came full circle on him: he’s never been a truly remarkable actor, and he’s very unshowy as a director, but a lot of his work has a quality of effective plainness, a minimalistic touch that can hide the deep ambitions within. Don’t get me wrong, he’s made his fair share of snoozers, but the range of his interests and the scope of his abilities can’t be denied in 2025, as he turns 95 and caps his 40th film as director.

In this biography’s introduction, Shawn Levy provides his reasoning for writing the book: there hasn’t been a major Clint Eastwood biography in decades, so some of his best work hasn’t been documented, and the 2 most significant previous biographies were heavily biased (one of them excused all of Clint’s failings and the other portrayed him as a villain). Levy attempts to find a middle ground between these approaches, to maintain distance and objectivity while also making some value judgments when he deems it appropriate. I personally loved his approach - he focuses on facts and catalogues Clint’s career on a movie-by-movie basis, but he also comments on the quality of the films and brings his own valuable critical perspective to the narrative. He doesn’t shy away from the dark parts of his subject’s life and personality, but he also doesn’t let them detract from the great accomplishments and milestones, either. There is a lot of Levy’s personality to be found here, and the book is all the better for it.

The level of research and footnotes here is fantastic, and there’s something for even the most diehard fans to learn. It’s 500 pages and it feels like half that because the book’s pacing is as quick as Eastwood’s; considering how Levy manages to discuss more than 40 films in detail, it could have been a much longer read. I found myself wanting to watch dozens of movies that I hadn’t seen yet, and appreciating the ones that I had seen even more than I already had thought possible. I also found myself viewing Clint as more of a person and less of an icon, less of an American myth. In many cases, I was disgusted by revelations of his behavior, especially towards his many romantic partners over the years. Very few biographies do this good of a job of humanizing their subjects, especially when that subject is such a piece of Hollywood legend.

The only knock against this book is that Clint is still alive and kicking, and Levy was clearly struggling to keep pace with him in the last few chapters. How do you write a biography about a guy who still drops a movie every year or two, well into his 90s? There isn’t much of an ending to the narrative, and I think this could have been just a bit more perfect if it had released after Eastwood died, chronicling the very end of his life and the reaction to his passing. But given that the guy might very well last until his 103rd birthday and continue making movies all the while, I can’t blame them for publishing now. Highly recommended.

[Tony Rittenhouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clint is an enigma!

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

To say Clint Eastwood (b. 1930) is an American actor and movie director hardly does justice to the icon. In his biography of Eastwood, film critic and writer Shawn Levy observes, 'C-L-I-N-T. In that short, sharp syllable, there is an emblem of American manhood and morality and sheer bloody-minded will, for better and worse, on-screen and off, for more than sixty years....He is a genuine box office superstar, tall and lean and handsome, with a glint in his eye and a record of hit films spanning more than five decades.'


Clint Eastwood as a young man

There are other biographies of Clint Eastwood, including the laudatory book by Richard Schickel and the censorious tome by Patrick McGilligan. Levy takes the middle ground, extolling Eastwood's accomplishments while detailing his affairs and one night stands. Clint was a notorious philanderer who fathered eight children with six women, two of whom were his wives. While Eastwood's personal life was messy, his professional accomplishments were (and continue to be) legion.


Clint Eastwood's eight children

Levy's 550+ page book seems to recount every detail of Eastwood's life and work, but I'll just give a brief overview. Starting with Eastwood's early years, Levy covers Clint's birth in San Francisco during the Great Depression and his peripatetic childhood as the family moved around for work.


Clint Eastwood as a child

Levy goes on to write about Clint's mediocre performance in school; his attraction to girls, hot rods, and music; his early interest in movies and who made them; his passion for cars and engines; his work as a paperboy, lawn mower, grocery bagger, caddy, and pool digger to keep himself afloat; and his conscription into the U.S Army in 1950, where he became an army lifeguard at Fort Ord in California.


Clint Eastwood training to be a lifeguard

Levy writes, 'Among the other grunts hanging around the pool at Fort Ord were a few fellows with nascent careers in Hollywood: guys like Richard Long (The Big Valley), Martin Milner (Route 66), and David Janssen (The Fugitive), who gave Clint the idea there might be some potential for him in that line of work.'

When Eastwood got out of the army he took a few college classes, and in 1953 Clint married Maggie Johnson, who shared his passion for music, fitness, and surfing.

>
Clint Eastwood and his first wife Maggie Johnson

At this time, Universal Studios had a Universal Talent School (UTS) for actors, with courses in elocution, poise, fitness, horsemanship, singing, dancing, stage fighting, fencing and acting. After one semester in college, Clint enrolled in UTS, and this is where Clint's seventy-year career in movies began.


Clint Eastwood (middle of top row) at an acting seminar given by Marlon Brando at UTS

It seems Levy watched every movie and TV episode Eastwood was connected with as an actor, producer, or director, and the critic writes extensively about every aspect of Clint's work.



Eastwood's early performances were amateurish - 'he didn't know how to stand on a mark, where to aim his glance, how to inhabit his body, how to read a line' - but Clint learned. By the time Clint had a small role in 'Francis in the Navy' (1955), about an army lieutenant and a talking mule, he was getting the hang of acting, but not everything was rosy. For instance, in 'Ambush at Cimarron Pass' (1958) - which has been called the worst western ever made - 'Clint is as stiff and mumble-mouthed and emotionally shallow as in any of his least convincing TV work.'


Clint Eastwood (right) in 'Ambush at Cimarron Pass'

Eastwood pressed on nevertheless, and with excellent foresight, he made good use of his downtime on movie and TV sets, 'wandering through sound stages and various post-production facilities and learning about more than just the acting side of filmmaking.'

Clint got a big break when he was cast as Rowdy Yates in the television series 'Rawhide' (1959 - 1965), about cowboys leading cattle drives in the 1860s. This led to Clint being cast in Sergio Leone's three spaghetti westerns: 'A Fistful of Dollars' (1964), A Few Dollars More (1965), and 'The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966), which were shot in Spain and Italy. The three films, which featured a gunman (Eastwood) dispensing his personal brand of justice, became known as 'The Man With No Name Trilogy'. From here on, there was no stopping Eastwood.


Clint Eastwood in Sergio Leone's spaghetti westerns



Back in the states, Eastwood and producer Robert Daley formed the Malpaso Company, to make their own movies. Daley was the businessman, Clint was the creative force, and Malpaso focused on 'sober budgets; location shoots; long-term relationships with production personnel; and new money- and time-saving technologies.'

Malpaso's early films, such as 'Hang 'Em High' (1968), Coogan's Bluff (1968), and 'Where Eagles Dare' (1968) are action-packed movies starring Eastwood, who was toiling at a brutal pace. The ability to work on one film after another - with almost no respite - helped spur Clint's success, and the Malpaso Company (with studio backing) continued to put out film after film.



Levy mentions each of Eastwood's movies in turn, writing about the scripts, writers, actors, producers, directors, plots, locations, budgets, success (or failure) at the box office, his own opinions, and more. For films helmed by Eastwood, Levy emphasizes Clint's directing style, which is to move fast and do as few takes as possible, an approach most actors must get used to.

By the late 1960s, when Eastwood was approaching 40, he was an international film star commanding more than $1 million per movie. Levy writes, 'Eastwood now found himself among the very, very few people who could command the highest salary AND steer his own journey going forward. And he chose to go small. In many ways, Eastwood was choosing the most out-of-the-box of all the options that lay in front of him, and he was taking the very first steps on his iconoclastic path.'

Among other things, Clint made 'The Beguiled' (1971) about a wounded Union soldier healing at a girls' school, and 'Play Misty For Me' (1971), about a radio disc jockey being stalked by a disturbed woman. 'Play Misty For Me' was Eastwood's first directorial effort, and 'he demonstrated complete ability with the task: shooting, pacing, scoring, casting and working with actors, finding the spine of the story, and assembling a complete package.'



Afterwards, Clint starred in 'Dirty Harry' (1971) about a tough as nails San Francisco police inspector. 'Dirty Harry' spawned four sequels (1971 - 1988), and the franchise contains some of the most iconic quotes in film history, such as "Go Ahead, Make My Day".



During all this time, Clint was wed to Maggie Johnson, but admits he wasn't cut out for marriage. Clint comported himself as if he were a bachelor, giving himself free rein with other women, including classmates at UTS; girls at nightspots and jazz clubs; neighbors; actresses; stuntwomen; girls he met on location; etc. Maggie either didn't know or chose to ignore Clint's behavior, and the couple had two children and stayed together until 1984, when they divorced.

Clint went on to have long-term relationships with Sondra Locke and Frances Fisher, and was married to Dina Ruiz from 1996 to 2014. Afterwards, Eastwood was involved with Erica Fisher followed by Christina Sandera. As mentioned above, Clint's extended relationships and casual encounters resulted in eight children with six mothers.


Clint Eastwood with Sondra Locke


Clint Eastwood with Frances Fisher


Clint Eastwood with his second wife, Dina Ruiz

To get the scoop on all of Eastwood's movies and accomplishments, you'll have to read the book, but I will say Clint and his films were nominated for multitudinous awards and won many. Clint's most lauded films are probably 'Unforgiven' (1992) and 'Million Dollar Baby' (2004), which won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director for Eastwood;





'Mystic River' (2003) and 'Letters from Iwo Jima' (2006) which were nominated for Best Picture and Best Director for Eastwood;





and 'American Sniper' (2014) which was nominated for Best Picture.



One might think Clint would slow down by his eighties, but nothing could be farther from the truth. At age 88, Eastwood directed and starred in 'The Mule' (2018), based on a true story, about a nonagenarian horticulturist and Korean War veteran who becomes a drug mule for a Mexican cartel; at age 91, Clint directed and starred in 'Cry Macho' (2021), about a broken-down rodeo star who rescues a boy kidnapped by his alcoholic mother, and teaches him to be a good man; and at age 94 Clint directed Juror #2 (2024), about a juror who realizes he may be guilty of the crime attributed to the defendant.



So far, Eastwood has appeared in more than 60 movies and directed 40. And rumors hint that Clint is looking at scripts and hoping to get behind the camera once again.

Eastwood has done more than make movies. Levy writes that Clint is a committed lover of nature who purchased tracts of land for preservation and (appropriate) development. Clint is a dedicated fan of jazz, blues, and country music and has lifted them into the limelight at every chance. Moreover, Clint has written the music for some of his movies. Clint became mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California - where he lives - for two years, to promote business; Clint was a regular at the annual pro-am golf tournament at Pebble Beach; Clint was a dedicated Republican who supported Ronald Reagan and Mitt Romney (he's entitled to his views); Clint is a loving father to his children; and more.

Levy's book is a well-researched and informative biography of Clint Eastwood, highly recommended to readers interested in the show business mogul.

Thanks to Netgalley, Shawn Levy, Mariner Books, and Harper Audio for copies of the book.

You can follow my reviews at http://reviewsbybarbsaffer.blogspot.com

[Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Clint” is a new biography of the actor, producer, and director, Clint Eastwood, covering his extraordinary life and career.

The book starts with his family background, covers the rise of his acting career through the “Spaghetti Westerns”, Dirty Harry films, and over 40 other movies covering of largely increasing excellence, in front and behind the camera.

It’s not only a story of his film career but gives a thorough, and not always pleasant view of Clint beyond film. While Clint Eastwood is very famous person, I’m not sure that I’d like the man if I ever met him in person. (I did visit the Hog’s Breath Inn once in the early 1980’s while passing through Carmel; but he was not there that evening.)

The book is largely a chronological review of Clint’s life and work, building on other biographies and covering a 75 long career where the man is still making films at 95 years of age. Through his work Clint has become an international cultural icon, a symbol of America, and an almost unparalleled talent for quality and duration of his career.

Shawn Levy the author reports faithfully for most of the book, and he seems to come alive when discussing the details Clint Eastwood’s films. This is where Levy shines the brightest and is most animated – clearly communicating that he’s a student of film and a budding (or perhaps frustrated) movie reviewer.

I liked the book, the good selection of photos inside it, and the writing. There were many things I didn't know including Clint's production company - Malpaso - his business sense and economy in shooting.

Highly recommended.

[Debbie Kogut · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too long

It was too long. Way too long. Longer than expected. Took forever to get through. Very long. Is it over yet?

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My thanks to both NetGalley and Mariner Books for an advance copy of this biography that tells the story of what really can only be called the last Hollywood star, a man who continues to work after almost 70 years in a business that worships youth, with no signs of stopping even as he closes in on his 95 year on Earth.

The cult of personality is not something I ever had an interest in joining for any of my many interests. I have met authors, illustrators, comic book writes, poets, movie stars and I think two directors of film. Most were just meet and greets, a thank you for what your work has meant in my life, I hope you are well, and continue to create. I never thought we would be soulmates, never thought of sharing my ideas with them. They were people who worked hard, and I respected that. To paraphrase a great movie line, meeting one's celebrity hero might be the most important thing in a person's life, to the celebrity it's just Tuesday. Some artists I have had to put away, as their personal lives reflect too much on their creations. The good thing, at least to me, is that there are always creators out there in need of fans. However in reading this book, I have had a hard time separating the man from the legend. I can't think of another artist in any medium who has had the longevity, the drive to create, to change, to explore, to work, and who loved being the legend he continues to be as Clint Eastwood. Nor do I think I have read about an artist who hurt so many people, mainly woman, who had grudges and acted as vindictively as Eastwood has acted to people. Calling himself a married bachelor, using his studio to help him save money in a lawsuit against another woman. And yet the work. Great books make a person think. Great biographies make people think about how people have lived, and what we would have done different. This one is great for it does all that, but never loses sight of the art, movies that will stand the test of time for hundreds of different reasons. Clint: The Man and the Movies is a magisterial look at a legendary film maker and actor, written by Shawn Levy, and is one of the best celebrity biographies I have read, about a man who is still working in film.

Clinton Eastwood, Jr, was born in California and shared not only his father's name, but his work ethic. Clint's father was a man who worked hard to support his family, during one of the worst times in American history. Clint's family moved often, giving him a feeling of being alone in the world, a loner aspect he carried not only into his future relationships with others, but onto the big screen. Clint was not much of a student, and upon graduation was at a loss as to what to do. Clint worked at everything, digging pools, life guarding, road work, until the army came calling. There Clint was lucky to stay stateside during the Korean War, and here he met some people who lived in Hollywood. Clint had acted a bit, and was tall, chiseled and perfect everyone said for Hollywood fame. Though Hollywood was not ready for him. Married, Clint was just about to give up fame, until TV came calling. And soon an offer to make a film in Europe. a Movie that changed everything.

There is so much to Clint's life that it really is astounding. Bit parts in horror films, bad western movies, Leone's movies, and finally his own chance at directing. The films too. I thought I was pretty good, but there are so many. Unforgiven a personal favorite, Bird, a big favorite. Letters from Iwo Jima, a movie that confused me so much, astounded that an American in his seventies could make such a small beautiful dark film about war. Levy is a really good author. At no time does this book drag, or present too much information. Levy is really good at discussing film acting, film directing, even digging pools. This is a warts and all book, and in many places Clint is not the hero one expects. Especially with woman. Levy is very good about this, not salacious, but factual. Levy looks over Clint's entire oeuvre from Spaghetti, to Apes, boxers, cops, snipers, and more. Levy looks at what makes these films work, the style the speed, the way Clint works with actors, and why his crew stays so loyal. And why the movies are so good.

There is so much here for readers. A biography on a man still working hard, while close to 100. A study of film making. A warning for woman in Hollywood. A look at Hollywood deals from handshakes, to the current state of streaming. There is a lot to wonder about also. Separating the artist from the man, the art from what reality shows. I really enjoyed this book, for the information, for the story, and for the questions it asks.

[Jaclyn Overby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, Net Galley and Harper Adult Audio for the audiobook arc in exchange for an honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.5/5 stars)
An Unflinching Portrait of a Hollywood Icon
Clint: The Life and Legend by Shawn Levy is a rich, nuanced, and thoroughly researched biography that strips away the mythology and gets to the man behind the squint — Clint Eastwood. Levy doesn’t simply retell Eastwood’s rise from B-movie obscurity to Hollywood legend; he investigates it, questions it, and at times, gently confronts it.

What I enjoyed:

Levy’s approach is journalistic rather than hagiographic. He doesn’t idolize Eastwood, nor does he vilify him. He presents the contradictions: the liberal-leaning libertarian, the rugged individualist who thrived in a deeply collaborative industry, the man who built his brand on stoicism and silence yet has directed some of the most emotionally resonant films of the last fifty years.

The biography covers Eastwood’s entire life up to its publication — childhood, early TV days, the spaghetti westerns that made him an international star, and his long and often surprising directing career (Unforgiven, Million Dollar Baby, Mystic River). Levy dives into the details of Eastwood’s personal life too — the romantic entanglements, the children (some of whom he didn’t acknowledge for years, which gave me the ick), and his complicated relationships with collaborators.

One of the most compelling aspects of the book is how Levy explores Eastwood’s evolution as a filmmaker. From being dismissed as just an action star to becoming a respected auteur, Eastwood’s transformation is handled with care, especially regarding how his off-screen persona blurred with — and at times clashed with — the moral ambiguity of his characters.

What I didn’t enjoy:

While the book is well-researched, it can occasionally feel a bit clinical. Levy’s prose is efficient but not especially lyrical, and some readers might find the tone a little dry. Eastwood himself did not participate in the biography, which means key insights often come secondhand — from friends, coworkers, and archival material.

Additionally, fans expecting a Hollywood puff piece may be disappointed. Levy digs into Eastwood’s flaws: his at times tyrannical control over film sets, his often aloof fathering style, his tendency to rewrite history to suit his image.

Overall verdict:

For fans of Eastwood, Hollywood history buffs, or anyone interested in the psychology of stardom, Clint is a compelling and insightful read.

[Hal · Rating 3 out of 5]

An extensive biography on this all too used term "iconic man" of the motion picture creative arts. Do people still use the term motion picture? By the same token are there those out there of the youngest generation who wonder who this guy is? That's how far back Clint Eastwood goes, to the motion picture era. Well actually from the TV westerns series that dominated in the late 50's and early 60's. 1900's that is.

This biography by Shawn Levy is pretty extensive spanning not only the age of this subject now in his 90's but around 500 pages a lengthy read. I was wondering if would end. Many are wondering if Clint ever will. More power to him. He certainly lives the title of living legend. Levy talks a bit about past biographies of this man one pretty scathing the other considered a hagiography. I would say this version borders on hagiography also. Though Levy exposes some of the shallowness that makes up Clints' character, particularly in his relationships and his financial hoarding, he pretty much paints a good guy image of the man.

His achievements both in front of and behind the camera are mostly focused on to the detriment of not really drilling into the personal life side of the man. Just as Mr. Eastwood would want it. So we get a seemingly endless droning on about this movie and that and all the structural details that went into the planning and execution, we get glimpses of the complexities that make up the character himself. Yes we can draw a pretty good conclusion about the fellow but it does not go far enough in my opinion to get a grasp of the tick factors and the relentlessness specifically in the serial, I was going to say monogamy but in his case it does not seem to apply. We also get to see pieces of his obsessive nature of independence and defiance to the system that certainly is the movie making and performance arts business.

Eastwood we find is a real health nut especially relating to his diet, longevity supplements, and physical workouts, but we don't know much beyond what it really is that he does and believes. So outside of in depth analysis of his pictures we are still left with a shallowness of what is going on not behind the camera but the skull. A good read, just not a true enlightening one.

[Mediaman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Long, simplistic overview of Eastwood's film career with a little about his private life tossed in. It's never enough, despite 500 pages used, and seems like a very lengthy Wikipedia entry.

Levy goes movie-by-movie through Clint's filmography, using a couple of pages for most of his works but there's nothing here that seems original or unique. It's the private life of Eastwood that is worth reading about, and that comes across as simply confusing. It's not well written, with the author mixing in "we" and "I" phrases along with his supposedly objective narrative that includes Levy's mini-reviews of the movies.

There are a few insights gleaned from reading it, often missed by the author. Why did Eastwood move so far from Hollywood? The obvious answer is that he was juggling so many women that he wanted his wife far away from his L.A. flings. At one point Clint had four places in different locations to have sex with women, he cheated on anyone he was committed to, and end up having eight children, mostly from women he wasn't married to and some birthed secretly.

Another thing learned is that Clint is one of the biggest hypocrites in America. He HOSTED THE POPE, while he was cheating and sleeping around! Eastwood is supposedly a conservative, but he thumbs his nose at morals, is a "libertarian" rebel, all the while practicing Transcendental Meditation and encouraging at least three abortions? What a two-faced mess. The guy is a great example of disgusting behavior toward women but somehow has gotten away with it due using his fortune to silence people or sue them.

Ultimately I was confused why there was a need for this book. Levy alludes in detail to the two other major biographies about Clint, and the more recent coverage updates are rushed and extremely incomplete. It's published in 2025 but essentially ends many years earlier.

It's unclear whether the author was trying to make the star look bad. There are people Eastwood cut out of his life that went on to belittle him and a couple of exes who were very public about his mistreatment. Clint Eastwood sounds like a horrible human--how did he ever get the opportunity to host the Pope or stand up at a Republican convention when he represents so many things that are immoral?

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think I was motivated to read this by my appreciation for Clint Eastwood's accomplishments in the cinema of the past 60+ years, and by my desire to get ahead of the recognition that he will inevitably receive when his demise finally arrives, when we will look back in awe at what he accomplished during his long career. Still, the book was a long slog, and probably one better invested in some good literature or an important insight into today's screwed-up world.

This is a well-researched and fairly balanced overview of Clint's entire life and career, including the good, the bad, and the ugly (sorry, couldn't help myself...). The author's tone is more casual and familiar than I would have liked--his manuscript would never pass muster as an academic screed. He has an annoying habit of flipping between writing a biographical tell-all and purveying traditional film criticism. These two just don't seem to go together--it's one thing when he describes, as a reporter, how other critics have reacted to various movies, and another when he steps into the roles of those critics himself. These two voices felt different from each other and incongruous.

My main takeaway was that Eastwood is a great artist almost despite himself--he has an incredible gut feel for a good story, and tremendous instincts as he crams his vision into his films in very few takes and with very little indulgence for his actors' fussing over the details. While his movies themselves are often nuanced, his film-making process apparently rarely is. It's counter-intuitive, but one can't argue with the end results.

My last impression was that while his art is very interesting, the man himself doesn't seem to be so at all. The author could barely find any decent quotes from him--the man just doesn't seem to say interesting things. It's hard to imagine sharing a dinner with him, it would just be too boring. I'd way prefer to spend my time with Scorsese, Tarantino, or Coen.

[ManOfLaBook.com · Rating 5 out of 5]

For more reviews and bookish posts visit: https://www.ManOfLaBook.com

Clint: The Man and the Movies by Shawn Levy is a biography of the prolific actor and director Clint Eastwood. Mr. Levy is a well-known film-critic and best-selling author.

When I was 10 years old, or so, my mother took me to the big city to see Disney’s The Black Hole, instead though the theater played A Fistful of Dollars. My mom figured “what the hell” and bought tickets anyway. Then year old me was disappointed but I loved movies even back then. Needless to say, I’ve never seen anything like it before, and a new Clint Eastwood fan was born.

Clint by Shawn Levy is an immensely enjoyable book. If this isn’t a definitive biography of Mr. Eastwood, I’m not sure one could suppress it.

I felt the book was balanced and honest. While the author is certainly a fan, he doesn’t shy away from the more complicated, complex, and dark sides of his subject. While the book certainly highlights the many achievements Mr. Eastwood has achieved, he does not mince words when it comes to his behavior and antics, especially when it comes to relationships with women.

All of this leads to fine, nuanced portrait of Clint Eastwood. Allowing us to see this flawed human being, made me appreciate his work even more and make him a relatable human, instead looking up to an American legend.

Even though this book is quite long, it’s packed with history, details, and anecdotes on every page which makes the reading a pleasure. I never got bored, learned a lot, and now have to go and re-watch Eastwood’s movie catalog once again.

And many years later, I finally got to see The Black Hole… A Fistful of Dollars was, and still is, much better.

[Reza · Rating 3 out of 5]

Given Clint Eastwood’s extensive life and career, I anticipated a narrative that would weave in historical events he lived through. Unfortunately, this dimension is notably missing, leaving a gap where a richer historical context could have enhanced the storytelling.

The book certainly excels in its meticulous cataloging of Eastwood’s films. Each movie is dissected in terms of its production timeline, budget, crew, box office returns, and critical reception. However, the repetition of this format for each film can become tedious. The pages often feel dense with names and numbers, and while this is undoubtedly informative, it sometimes reads more like a reference manual than a compelling biography.

What I found most lacking, however, was a deeper exploration of Eastwood’s own perspective. I had hoped to gain insight into his creative mindset, to understand what drives his directorial choices, and to hear, in his own words, how he navigates the challenges of filmmaking. This kind of introspective content would have provided a more nuanced understanding of his genius. Instead, the book often feels like a compilation of facts that could have been gathered from various public sources, lacking the personal touch that would make it truly stand out. In summary, “Clint” offers a thorough but somewhat impersonal account of Eastwood’s career.

[Lablover · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author does a great job of going through EVERY movie that Eastwood ever did, from first to last. He states in the very beginning of the book that he's not biased but I would have to disagree. He goes through the reviews of Clint's movies, the bad ones. He reads every negative review but no positive ones. I never thought of Clint Eastwood as a fantastic actor. He doesn't have range like Hopkins, or even Depp. But he has made some movies that are fun and some that are really good. I think this author goes to every movie to have a life changing experience. Do some movies move you? Absolutely! But some movies are supposed to entertain. I don't think the author got that. I do think that Eastwood is a misogynistic ahole and he treated women like sh!t. However, I do think that some of his movies were just fun and entertaining to watch. I think the author was looking for deep meaning where none was intended. don't think he even liked Eastwood's movies at all. I don't why so many people liked this book.
He also made this book entirely long with all of his damn footnotes. I listened to the book so I couldn't skip them. They were read aloud throughout the book. The author also gives a mini-biography of the first director that Eastwood worked with in Italy. It was long and completely unnecessary.

[Ammon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clint: The Man and the Movies by Sean Levy, narrated by Mike Chamberlain
A fantastic look at the life and career of Clint Eastwood — famed actor, director, jazz aficionado, and even an erstwhile politician.

This is a true warts-and-all biography that dives into both his personal and professional lives, which were often messily intertwined. Levy doesn’t shy away from Eastwood’s complicated relationships with many women, nor his relentless dedication to health and fitness long before it became mainstream.

Eastwood’s on-screen legacy is just as fascinating. From cowboys and war heroes to prison escapees and octogenarian drug mules; from orangutan-loving brawlers and boxing coaches to astronauts and hard-edged cops. And, of course, the indelible stamp he left as the king of the spaghetti westerns.

📖 Text: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎙️ Narration: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️ Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The book itself is an excellent glimpse into Clint’s life; a play-by-play of his work as actor, director, reluctant politician, and enduring American icon.

The narration, however, was pretty flat: dry, unengaging, and it honestly didn’t add much to the experience.

Disclaimer: I received a free advance reader copy (ARC) from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

[Jeff Carpenter · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn’t completely sure why I decided to read this… I suppose there was a bit of the walking-around-in-his-shoes thrill, and the fact that Clint matured into a fine film director… a maverick director, at that. But, back in the day, I had never chosen to see his early movies that made him a star: the hard-boiled cowboy, and the nasty lawman who takes the law into his own hands.

But then, on page 194, I found out why I was reading this. In response to his 2nd Dirty Harry movie, Pauline Kael wrote a review of several thousand words that dissected the aggressive machismo, the lawlessness, and misogyny of Clint’s appeal to America, and it was an Aha! moment… it became clear to me that she was charting the rise of MAGA. She referred to Eastwood as “the hero of a totally nihilistic dream world.” Later, she wrote that Clint’s spaghetti westerns “stripped the (classic) Western form of its cultural burden of morality. They discarded its civility along with its hypocrisy. In a sense they liberated the form: what the Western hero stood for was left out, and what he embodied (strength and gun power) was retained.”
A contemporary critic, Jasun Horsley, writes, “that Eastwood’s appeal went beyond politics. It was primal, which is exactly what made it so appealing, and so dangerous.”

That explains to me the appeal of the swirling MAGA policies in Trump’s second term better than any political pundit has been able to do.

[Myssi Whitfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

CLINT by Shawn Levy is a well-researched, well written and well narrated biography of a subject who would prefer to keep his life private. Eastwood is a movie star and star director, so people think they know him. I have seen fewer than a handful of his films and didn't know much about him except that he was mayor for some small town in California. But his story and philosophy has been in front of us for 50 years. I now know that thanks to this book. It's not only a biography of him, it could qualify as part modern history book of Carmel-by-the-sea, Malpaso/film production, end of the studio system, health food and lifestyle, and a book on film criticism. I'm less a fan of the subject before I started the book, but I admire his commitment to more or less staying the same way after so many decades.

The narrator does a great job doing Eastwood's voice. I didn't notice a difference when he quotes others, but kudos on nailing Clint's voice.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback and to Harper Audio and Mariner Books.

This is a review of the audiobook.

[June · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating biography of a complicated man. I first noticed Clint when he starred as Rowdy Yates on Rawhide. He seemed to inhabit the role of 2nd trailhand effortlessly. His quirky facial gestures added to his character's western appeal.

Once Clint was firmly ensconced in Italy with Sergio Leone, in his 'Spaghetti Western' phase with 'A Fist Full Of Dollars 💸,' 'For A Few Dollars 💸 More' and 'The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly,' Clint's career rocketed 🚀 to another level!

The G.B.Ugly film was helped to its meteoric heights by Ennio Morricone's most influential, masterful 🎼 musical score, whose repetitive haunting, unique ocarina sound replicated a whistling technique that involves pressing the tip of the tongue against the hard palate and alternating with traditional whistling.

This method, often described as a "throat whistle" or "Spanish herder whistling," allows for a more varied and controlled tone. I was highly frustrated because I couldn't even do regular whistling. The whistling was like a worm crawling through my brain 🧠.

It seemed everywhere I went, everyone else was puckering up, whistling away in rounds.

[Jesse B · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for any Clint Eastwood or 20th century film fan. The biography is written in a very engaging style. The bio follows Clint from his middle class upbringing, Army service, struggles to make a career in the industry, and eventual stardom. The book made me realize just how accurate Tarantino's 'Once Upon a Time in Hollywood' was when it comes to depicting a struggling 60's TV actor on the brink. Interspersed with the biography are behind the scenes details on the productions of almost all of Eastwood's directed and appeared in films, along with a few pages of critical analysis of each film.

A very readable and satisfying warts and all depiction of one of the greatest self made Hollywood stars.

[Artie O’Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is likely to be the most accurate portrayal of Clint Eastwood, based on verifiable facts, insights from friends, family, colleagues, previous interviews, and news broadcasts. It presents a balanced view (The Good, The Bad and The Ugly) of the highs and lows of Clint Eastwood’s life, unlike previous books that have either deified or vilified him. This book provides a comprehensive historical account of the man behind and in front of the camera, often simultaneously. As a long-time admirer of Mr. Eastwood, particularly his westerns and Dirty Harry films, despite critical opinions, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it, whether you are a fan or not, as it is likely that you have appreciated one of his films, either as an actor or director.