While filming the movie Play Misty for Me Clint Eastwood decided to attempt a dangerous underwater stunt, almost drowned him alive
Clint Eastwood, the renowned American actor, director, and producer, is known for his tough-guy persona and willingness to perform his own stunts. Throughout his career, he has portrayed iconic characters in various Westerns, action films, and dramas.
Eastwood’s dedication to realism and authenticity often led him to undertake his own stunts, adding a genuine quality to his performances. However, one particular stunt nearly took his life.
Clint Eastwood Talked About that One Stunt Which Almost Drowned Him Alive
In 1971, Clint Eastwood was filming the movie Play Misty for Me when he decided to attempt a dangerous underwater stunt. The scene involved Eastwood swimming out to a buoy and then being pulled back to shore by a rope attached to a boat. However, the rope became tangled in the boat’s propeller, and Eastwood was dragged underwater.
Eastwood struggled to free himself from the rope and reach the surface. He was eventually able to break free. While talking about that near-drowning incident, Eastwood told Fresh Air:
“I remember having to be on the hood of a car. The scene is, he’s going to roll off the car just before a car piles into the bay. Well, they had me wired onto the car so I wouldn’t roll off and get hurt on the way, so they had a cable drilled through the hood.”
“And so I was wired on the car when, all of a sudden, when you get wired on there with this cable, and you think, what happens if somebody, you know, they don’t stop in time, and you go right into the bay? I’m stuck wired on there. I can’t even float to the surface. So it was, you know, a couple of things like that because you get little bit of a reticent. But, in the meantime, I’ve had quite a few jumping through windows and jumping off roofs, some things like that.”
Despite the danger, Eastwood has continued to perform his own stunts in his films. He is one of the few actors of his age to do so.
Clint Eastwood’s Dedication to His Craft: Performing Horseback Stunts at 91
At the age of 91, the iconic actor and director once again defied expectations by performing a daring horseback stunt for his film, Cry Macho. While talking to the Los Angeles Times, he detailed how he insisted on performing the stunts himself, though there weren’t many.
In the movie, there was a scene, where the actor punches someone in the face by himself. Recalling that scene he said, “It might not be as good as I’ve thrown in the past but it was fun to do it.”
The film was entertaining and a great watch but this project was close to the Pale Rider actor as it took decades to become a reality.
At a time when many actors rely on stunt doubles, Eastwood remains committed to bringing authenticity to his roles. This dedication is what sets him apart from many of his contemporaries.