Swoon! These Rare Photos of a Young Clint Eastwood Capture the Hollywood Rebel Who Redefined Cool
Step back to 1956 and see Clint Eastwood in rare photos before 'Rawhide' and stardom
Not every actor has the ability to charm multiple generations of fans, popularize a character that has no name and redefine the Western genre by bringing to light the harsh realities of the era. But Clint Eastwood is certainly not just any actor. With a career that has spanned over seven decades, a smooth transition into directing and producing and multiple Oscars wins, Clint Eastwood and his career are one of a kind.
Eastwood has been considered a trailblazer in his work, assisting in the creation of the “Spaghetti Western” and new types of anti-heroes in those films. He made waves with roles in The Dollars Trilogy (1964-1966), the Dirty Harry film series (1971-1988), Unforgiven (1992)—which won him his first Oscar—and Million Dollar Baby (2004).
But it wasn’t just Eastwood the actor who changed the film industry—it was Eastwood the director, too. Beginning with his directorial debut on Play Misty for Me in 1971, the actor turned director became an even more respected artist for his character-driven and versatile storytelling.
As Eastwood was becoming one of the most famous and respected actors, he was also making fans swoon over his charm and good looks. Take a look at these rare photos of a young Clint Eastwood that will make you wish it was still the 1950s when the actor was your celebrity crush.
Clint Eastwood (1956)
A cozy Clint Eastwood is smirking at the camera in this photo that was taken in 1956. The 26-year-old actor had yet to star in his biggest roles, like Rawhide or one of his popular Westerns, but he certainly was already stealing our hearts.
It may not be the “Clint Squint” exactly, but this look is definitely one we wouldn’t mind being on the receiving end of.
Eastwood is also well-known for his commitment to health and fitness, a trait he’s passed down to his own son, actor Scott Eastwood. Scott spoke about the lessons his father instilled in him in a previous interview.
“My dad was a machine about exercise,” Scott Eastwood recalled. “He showed me how to lift when I was 14 or 15—he gave me some advice, then left me to do it on my own.”
His son also commented on the legendary actor’s eating habits, saying, “My dad does not eat for pleasure. He eats salmon and brown rice for breakfast.”
It’s not 100% clear what Eastwood is doing in the above photo, but it certainly foreshadows his future career as a Western TV and film star.
With the cooling temperatures and falling leaves, we’re approaching sweater weather now and we can’t help but obsess over this photo of Eastwood preparing for the same. The actor is seen enjoying a cup of coffee in his home and staring off into the distance.
Although you probably wouldn’t casually see anyone, let alone an actor like Eastwood, making a call on a payphone today, the photo above shows off the era.
It might seem like Eastwood is enjoying a pleasant swim in the above photo, but there is more here than meets the eye. The actor was actually a competitive swimmer when he attended Oakland Technical High School. In later years, he utilized his skills by becoming a lifeguard and swimming instructor prior to and after being drafted into the Army.
His days as a swimmer became a lifesaving tactic in 1951 when the actor was a passenger on a Navy bomber that crashed, and he and the pilot were forced to swim to shore for survival.
The Western TV series Rawhide was Eastwood’s breakout role and launched his career as a Western star. The show, which ran for 8 seasons between 1959 to 1965, starred Eastwood as Rowdy Yates for its entirety. Prior to the role, the actor had multiple uncredited and smaller roles in films like Revenge of the Creature (1955) and Away All Boats (1956), but Rawhide was his first major project. Although he would later become better known for his film roles, he couldn’t have gotten there without the success of Rawhide.
1959 is the year Eastwood’s career really took off, with his starring role as Rowdy Yates in Rawhide. Although 28 years old, his incredible life was only just getting started.
“Around 1959-60, [Rawhide] was my first break after years of doing bit parts and unappealing roles,” Eastwood later recalled. “So, it was a chance to gain a lot of experience and spend five or six years with various directors before Sergio [Leone] and [Don] Siegel, and all of those guys.”
The above photo of Eastwood really paints a picture of the era, as the Rawhide star is lying on his floor listening to records from artists like Barney Kessel and Erroll Garner. But what you can’t see in the photo is that Eastwood was an appreciator of music, particularly jazz.
Eastwood became a talented and accomplished pianist, a skill he developed as a child. He took his passion and began performing professionally in clubs throughout the 1950s. His time as a musician didn’t end when he became a legendary actor and director, as he utilized his musical knowledge to compose for his films. Eastwood even released several albums over the years, including his debut country record in 1963, Rawhide’s Clint Eastwood Sings Cowboy Favorites.
It’s clear his passion for exercising regularly and eating healthy didn’t disappear, as the actor is seen doing a pushup while elevated on three chairs. In 1991, Eastwood spoke to Muscle & Fitness, laying out his exercise routine.
He shared, “One day I’ll go in and do an hour of just shoulders arms. The next day I’ll do an hour of back and chest. Next day legs. Then depending on my schedule, I’ll run or use the Stair Master or a computerized stationary bike.”
Although he’s slowed down a bit as he’s gotten older, the habit still hasn’t died out because even at 95, Eastwood is prioritizing his well-being and it may even be his key to longevity.
He was also known for his signature squint, which became the cleverly titled “Clint Squint.” What began as an instinct to keep the bright lights out of his eyes in his earlier films would become a deliberate acting choice for Eastwood later on.
“If I lost my squint, I think my whole career would go down the tubes,” Eastwood said about the “Clint Squint” in an interview. But all jokes aside, the squint was an integral aspect that defined his tough yet mysterious characters he is known so well for.
Although the official Clint Squint was yet to be born in this photo, it seems the actor was pulling it off years prior.
Eastwood is seen above posing in a Jaguar convertible and it’s telling of his passion for cars. The actor’s collection was diverse and consisted of classic rides, including a 1955 Ford Thunderbird, a 1975 Ferrari 365 GT4 BB and a 1990s GMC Typhoon. But while he enjoyed collecting cool cars, he also enjoyed driving them, insistent that cars are meant to be driven rather than just looked at.
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