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Clint Eastwood

Cry Macho: Why Clint Eastwood Replaced Arnold Schwarzenegger In The Lead

Clint Eastwood is the director and star of Cry Macho, but the lead was almost played by fellow iconic actor Arnold Schwarzenegger. When one thinks of the term macho, it’s quite possible Eastwood would be a person who quickly comes to mind. Eastwood spent much of his long career, especially the earlier decades, playing badass heroes or antiheroes in things like the Dirty Harry franchise, and the legendary Dollars Trilogy of Spaghetti Westerns.

Of course, the same could be said for Schwarzenegger, who’s known first and foremost as an action star, and has blown up just about every possible person, place, or thing onscreen. Whether he be playing an advanced cyborg in the Terminator franchise, a one-man army in Commando, a spy in True Lies, or a special ops soldier in Predator, Schwarzenegger is perhaps the “manliest” actor to ever work in Hollywood. Then again, as the name would imply, Cry Macho is far from a straightforward hero story.

Based on a 1975 novel of the same name by N. Richard Nash, and scheduled for release on September 17, 2021, Cry Macho will see Eastwood – now 91-years-old – direct and star as Mike Milo, a washed up rodeo star and horse breeder who finds himself being paid to escort a man’s son home from Mexico. Things get complicated when the job turns out to be harder than Mike ever thought, leading him on a journey to possible redemption and self-discovery. It sounds like something Eastwood would make, but for almost a decade, Schwarzenegger was set to play Mike Milo instead.

In 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger was given a choice between two upcoming film projects, a remake of Westworld or an adaptation of Cry Macho. A Westworld remake would of course later end up happening as an acclaimed HBO TV series, while the Austrian Oak chose Cry Macho. The reason Schwarzenegger’s movie went unmade was because recall campaign to unseat Grey Davis as California governor ended up being successful, giving him bigger things to focus on. The decision was made to place the project on hold. In 2011, following the completion of Schwarzenegger’s terms as governor, Cry Macho was moving forward again, only to be derailed by a high-profile personal scandal involving the action icon.

Cry Macho‘s movie adaptation languished until the 2020 announcement that Clint Eastwood was taking over as both director and star. While it may seem odd that a 91-year-old man is assuming a role that’s not nearly that old in the book, Eastwood was actually attached back in his younger days, and almost starred as Mike Milo in the late-1980s, although it’s unclear if he planned to direct at that time. However, he ultimately opted out of the project in order to reprise one of his signature roles, “Dirty” Harry Callahan in The Dead Pool. So in that way, Cry Macho brought Eastwood’s career nearly full circle.

Clint Eastwood

From Al Pacino to Clint Eastwood, Here Are 9 Celebs Who Became Dads in Their Golden Years

Here Are 9 Older Celebs Who Welcomed Kids Later in Life
Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Mike Marsland; Photo by Ray Tamarra

Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Mike Marsland; Photo by Ray Tamarra
 

 
Also Read: Nick Cannon Defends Beyoncé’s Renaissance Premiere Look: “Kim Kardashian Wishes She Looked Like That”
 
Older celebs are rewriting the parenting playbook, proving that there’s no expiration date on fatherhood. Al Pacino and Robert De Niro have also joined the league of seasoned celebrity dads, challenging the conventional timeline. The National Center for Family and Marriage Research notes the average age for new fathers hovers between 27 and 30, but these icons are rewriting the script, embracing fatherhood past the age of 65. Juggling toddlers in your 30s is demanding enough, but these stars took on the challenge after retirement. From embracing the bachelor life to laser-focused careers, these nine celebrities deferred daddy duty until their 40s and beyond.
1. Al Pacino – 83 Years Old
Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by AxelleImage Source: Getty Images | Photo by Axelle
 
At 83, iconic actor Al Pacino defied age norms by becoming a father once again, welcoming a son named Roman Pacino with his 29-year-old girlfriend, producer Noor Alfallah. The couple’s relationship gained attention in April 2022, and a few months later, they joyfully announced the arrival of their child, who arrived in the summer of 2023. Already a father to three grown children—Julie Marie, Anton, and Olivia—Pacino embraces fatherhood anew with enthusiasm. His eldest daughter, Julie Marie, was born in 1989, when he was still married to Jan Tarrant, while the twins, Anton James and Olivia Rose, were welcomed in 2001 with Beverly D’Angelo, as per US Weekly.
2. Robert De Niro – 79 Years Old
Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Stephane CardinaleImage Source: Getty Images | Photo by Stephane Cardinale
 
At 79, legendary actor Robert De Niro surprised many by welcoming his seventh child, Gia Virginia Chen De Niro, in May 2023. During interviews, De Niro has also been quite frank about having so many kids, emphasizing the joy of expanding his family even at an advanced age. The iconic Oscar winner, whose oldest child is 51, acknowledged that parenthood doesn’t get easier but expressed contentment with embracing fatherhood once again. De Niro’s diverse family includes children from previous marriages and relationships, showcasing a 51-year age gap between his eldest and youngest offspring, as per Parents.
3. Mick Jagger – 73 Years Old
Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Paul BergenImage Source: Getty Images | Photo by Paul Bergen
 
At the age of 73, Mick Jagger, the iconic frontman of The Rolling Stones, welcomed his eighth child with girlfriend Melanie Hamrick. The news was confirmed by his publicist, who also gave details about Jagger’s presence at the hospital and the well-being of the mother and baby. As per The Daily Mail, despite Jagger and Hamrick having no plans to marry, the rock legend flew from London to New York for the birth. Now at 79, Mick Jagger has a total of eight children, including sons James, Gabriel, and Lucas, and daughters Karis, Jade, Elizabeth, and Georgia May. In addition to his extensive family, Jagger is a grandfather to five and even became a great-grandfather in May 2014.
4. George Lucas – 69 Years Old
Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Taylor HillImage Source: Getty Images | Photo by Taylor Hill
 
Star Wars creator George Lucas and Mellody Hobson embraced parenthood later in life with the birth of their daughter, Everest Hobson Lucas, on August 9, 2013. At the age of 69, Lucas, known for his directorial prowess, welcomed his first biological child through surrogacy. Everest joined Lucas’s family alongside his three adopted children, Amanda, Katie, and Jett. Hobson, Lucas’ wife, played a significant role in expanding their family in their later years. Today, at 79, George Lucas continues to navigate the joys of fatherhood with Everest, as per Reuters.
5. Billy Joel – 68 Years Old
Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Naomi RahimImage Source: Getty Images | Photo by Naomi Rahim
 
At the age of 68, legendary singer Billy Joel embraced fatherhood once again with the arrival of his daughter, Remy Anne, born to his fourth wife, Alexis Roderick, on October 22, 2017, at New York University Hospital, as per USA Today. This marked Joel’s third venture into parenthood, as his second daughter, Della, was born in 2015. The iconic Piano Man singer shared his joy by performing My Life the day after Della’s birth, proudly displaying photos of his newborn. Notably, Joel’s firstborn, Alexa Ray, is now 36, with her mother being Joel’s second wife, Christie Brinkley.
6. Steve Martin – 67 Years Old
Image Source: Getty Images |  Photo by Jon KopaloffImage Source: Getty Images | Photo by Jon Kopaloff
Comedic legend Steve Martin welcomed fatherhood at 67 when his wife, Anne Stringfield, gave birth to their daughter Mary in December 2012. Known for his timeless roles, including Father of the Bride, Martin became a first-time dad after keeping the pregnancy a well-guarded secret. The couple’s age difference—Stringfield being 26 years younger—added to the surprise. Martin’s journey into parenthood was unconventional, considering he had portrayed a father on screen long before becoming one in real life. Mary, born in 2012, stands as the beloved actor’s only child, emphasizing that life’s most significant roles often come later in one’s narrative, as per Hollywood Life.
7. Clint Eastwood – 66 Years Old
Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Eddie SandersonImage Source: Getty Images | Photo by Eddie Sanderson
At 66, Clint Eastwood welcomed his youngest daughter, Morgan Eastwood, on December 12, 1996, with his second wife Dina Eastwood, then 31. Despite his age, Eastwood asserted that he became a better father with enhanced parenting skills. Known for directing Sully, Eastwood also has six other children from previous marriages. Morgan, now 27, gained attention as a teen on E!’s Mrs. Eastwood & Company in 2012 and has since pursued a versatile career in the entertainment industry. She has acted in films like Million Dollar Baby and Changeling, produced a short film titled I See You, and contributed to the soundtrack of Johnny Mercer: The Dream’s on Me.
8. Alec Baldwin – 64 Years Old
 Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Roy RochlinImage Source: Getty Images | Photo by Roy Rochlin
 
At 64, Alec Baldwin and his wife, Hilaria, celebrated the arrival of their eighth child, Ilaria Catalina Irena Baldwin, on September 22, 2022. The couple, expressing gratitude, shared the joyful news, emphasizing the magic and love surrounding their expanding family. Alec, known for his Saturday Night Live stint, has children from different marriages, including a daughter named Ireland with ex-wife Kim Basinger. Having tied the knot with Hilaria in 2012, the Baldwins embraced parenthood with zeal, with their latest addition, Ilaria, joining the Baldwinito clan, as per US Weekly.
9. Paul McCartney – 61 Years Old
Image Source: Getty Images | Photo by Samir HusseinImage Source: Getty Images | Photo by Samir Hussein
 
At 61, Paul McCartney defied expectations by embracing fatherhood once again with the birth of his daughter, Beatrice Milly McCartney. His enthusiasm for parenting at an older age was evident as he expressed genuine delight in the experience. The Beatles legend, previously a father to three grown children from his first marriage, found joy in the ‘thrill’ and ‘education’ of raising a young child. This new chapter unfolded with his second wife, Heather Mills, marking the beginning of a different yet fulfilling fatherhood. Beatrice’s arrival brought immense joy to the couple, who described her as ‘a little beauty,’ as per Entertainment Weekly.

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Clint Eastwood

The Netflix Clint Eastwood Thriller That’s Still An A+ In Suspense

Clint Eastwood movie


In the Line of Fire is the story of a Secret Service agent named Frank Horrigan who suffers from severe PTSD stemming from his inability to stop a murder when he was younger. Failing to save anyone would be traumatizing, but Frank didn’t let “anyone” get killed. It was the JFK assassination that he failed to stop.
When an ex-CIA agent calling himself Booth (after John Wilkes) makes it known that he plans to kill the current president, Horrigan begs to be put on active duty again. The middle-aged secret service agent wants a chance to make up for not saving Kennedy by making sure this president doesn’t get taken out. What follows is a tense back and forth as Booth continuously contacts Horrigan to tease him about letting John F. Kennedy get shot as Frank attempts to locate and stop the would-be assassin.

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Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood’s Co-star Was Poisoned, Strangled, and Nearly Decapitated While Filming Iconic 1966 Western

Clint Eastwood is one of Hollywood’s most masterful and skilled directors, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t acted in several iconic films as well. This included his legendary role as Blondie in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Unfortunately, one of his co-stars in the film suffered a lot during the filming process and almost lost his life.
Clint Eastwood has also been part of other iconic films such as Dirty Harry,  A Fistful of Dollars and many more. That said, there is no doubt just how dedicated he has been to all of his films so far in his career.

Cool outlaw with cigarette

Clint Eastwod in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Clint Eastwood’s Co-star In The Good, The Bad and The Ugly Suffered Many Unfortunate Mishaps During Shooting
Clint Eastwood’s The Good, The Bad and The Ugly(1966) stands as the quintessential spaghetti western epic, with actor Eli Wallach delivering a memorable performance that made him an icon in films. However, behind the scenes, Wallach faced many dangerous situations that brought him close to life-threatening incidents. One such instance involved a misfired stunt with a horse, which dragged him dangerously across the set.

Sussy manEli Wallach before his near-death experience

The truly death-defying scene unfolded as Wallach’s character tried to use a passing locomotive to break the chain of handcuffs after escaping a POW camp. The train, equipped with low steel steps overlooked during planning, was nothing short of death. During the scene, Wallach, chained to a soldier he had just killed, found himself in a life-threatening situation as the lowered metal steps on the oncoming train were dangerously close to decapitating him.
In another instance, Wallach was almost poisoned during shooting when he accidentally drank from a bottle of acid that a film technician had set next to his soda bottle – something that no one was aware of at the time.
In yet another near-mishap, Wallach’s character was supposed to be hanged, and the horse beneath him was intended to bolt in response to a pistol being fired. However, the execution of the scene didn’t go as planned. The horse instead galloped for about a mile with Wallach still mounted and his hands bound behind his back – strangling him and almost killing him in the process.
Clint Eastwood Didn’t Initially Want To Do The Film
By the mid-1960s, Clint Eastwood had already established himself in the Western genre and was seeking new challenges in his career. When initially asked to appear in the film, he declined for several reasons.

Iconic staredownClint Eastwood and Eli Wallach

One factor was Eastwood’s disappointment in sharing the screen with two established actors, Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef. He wasn’t happy about Wallach’s character being given the best dialogues. On top of that, Eastwood was offered lesser pay, as his status as a major star in the United States wasn’t really established then.
Thankfully, the producers were eager to have Eastwood on board for the film. Therefore, they offered him a $250,000 salary, 10% of the profits and a new Ferrari 275 GTB. In the end, Eastwood accepted and the rest is history.

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