Clint Eastwood is a legendary figure in Hollywood, not only because of acting prowess but also because he is a brilliant storyteller. From countless nominations to multiple wins, the Dirty Harry star has had enough accolades to his name, proving that he is every bit deserving of the fame he has received all these years. However, despite his immense fame, the actor has said some very concerning things in the past.
Years ago he had made some alleged antisemitic remarks about the Academy Awards committee but when he won his first Oscar, the actor-director accepted and enjoyed the experience for a very personal reason.
Clint Eastwood’s Reason For Cherishing His First Oscar
It has been decades since Clint Eastwood made his debut in Hollywood and ever since then he has been unstoppable. A recipient of numerous accolades and maker of multiple successful movies, the actor-director once had expressed his reservations about Academy Awards, even before he won his first-ever nomination.
While certain people labeled him as anti-semitic because of his Academy-related comments, he went on to get his first-ever nomination just sometime later at the age of 62. It was his movie Unforgiven that gave him an Oscar each for Best Picture and Best Director and a nomination for Best Actor.
Despite his earlier comments, the actor enjoyed his first nomination and win for a very personal reason which was being able to take his mother Ruth Wood to the ceremony (via Parade).
“It was nice, I guess. The nicest thing was that I got to take my mother to the Oscars. I’d been successful as a movie director and actor but not as successful in that kind of hoopla. So that was fun. I got to take her, and I still remember that. The trophies are tucked away in the house somewhere.”
Stated the director when asked if he even cared at that point about awards like the Oscars for he was already a pretty successful filmmaker at that point.
What Alleged Anti-Semitic Comments Did Clint Eastwood Make?
Clint Eastwood was 62 when he received his first Oscar nomination. Even though he lacked an Academy Award before, he was already a successful filmmaker and actor, having acted and directed several fan-loved movies.
However, before he ever won or was nominated for an Oscar, the actor was said to have stated in the book Clint: The Life and Legend of Clint Eastwood, a biography of his life written by Patrick McGilligan,
“I will never win an Oscar and do you know why? First of all, because I’m not Jewish. Secondly, because I make too much money for those old farts in the Academy. Thirdly, and most importantly, because I don’t give a f**k.”
His comments were understood by many as anti-semitic. However, things began to change for soon he went on to earn multiple Oscar nominations in the subsequent years after his first win with Unforgiven.