An enduring cultural icon of masculinity, Clint Eastwood has left an indelible mark in the entertainment world. Having amassed four Academy Awards along with numerous Golden Globe and Cesar Awards among others, Eastwood shares a great relationship with three-time Oscar award-winning director Steven Spielberg. So much so, that the two of them have formed a secret pact that won’t let the Unforgiven actor retire in peace.
There’s no doubt that despite their advancing age, both Eastwood and Spielberg have shown no signs of slowing down in their respective careers.
Steven Spielberg once revealed his secret retirement pact with Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood, known for his prolific work as an actor and director, has defied expectations by remaining active in the industry. When asked about his retirement plans in a 2018 interview, Eastwood admitted that he didn’t have a definitive answer, stating that he was still enjoying his work. And this uncertainty has often fueled curiosity about when the iconic actor and filmmaker might decide to step back from the spotlight.
Whereas, just like Eastwood, Steven Spielberg has also expressed on multiple occasions that he has no intention of slowing down his directorial endeavors. In a 2012 interview with Digital Spy, he revealed that he and Eastwood often shared a lighthearted conversation about retirement. Spielberg humorously mentioned that he often asks Eastwood if he’s ready to retire, to which Eastwood always responds with a resounding “no.”
“I have no plans to quit. Clint Eastwood is one of my best friends, and we have an almost jokey relationship about retirement. Clint’s 81 now (Now 93 in 2023), and I always say ‘Clint, are you ready to retire?’, he says ‘No, are you?’, I say ‘No’. I’ve been waiting for the phone call that says Clint is hanging up his spurs. If it doesn’t happen for Clint, it’s not going to happen for me.”
For now, it seems that both Eastwood and Spielberg are content to keep pursuing their artistic endeavors, delighting audiences with their timeless storytelling and cinematic prowess.
When Clint Eastwood thought Steven Spielberg had a serious skin condition
In 2010, Clint Eastwood found himself directing the film Hereafter, starring Matt Damon, after Steven Spielberg initially considered helming the project. Upon receiving the script, Eastwood was immediately drawn to its merits. However, Eastwood and Spielberg would eventually meet to discuss the project, an encounter that left the Million Dollar Baby actor amused by Spielberg’s peculiar behavior.
Recounting the meeting, Eastwood humorously commented, “Steven has his meetings in the dark. I thought he might have some skin disease or something, but he’s sitting somewhat in the dark, and I just kept saying I’d do it. There was no need to rewrite the script. I either like it or I don’t, and I liked it as it was – after one reading.”
Furthermore, Eastwood like many other actors laughed to himself about Spielberg’s weird behavior during the meetings. However, in one of the interviews, a Spielberg insider cleared the air by revealing that Spielberg actually didn’t take his meetings in the dark. It was just that his conference room had a huge window, and sometimes he had to close the drapes to stop the sun from streaming in.