Earl Wilson. Sign up for our daily Hollywood newsletter and never miss a story. In 1989, Claudia Puig of the Los Angeles Times described her lawsuit against Clint Eastwood as a "precedent-setting legal case, as it raises the question of whether a woman, who is legally married to one man, can claim palimony rights from another. Culture Actress Sondra Locke died on Nov. 3, but news of her death surfaced Thursday evening. "Eastwood's Ex Hit Hard by Sudden Impact of Breakup". [236] By the time of Trading Favors (1997), her fourth effort, still only eight percent of all films were made by women, per the Directors Guild of America. She was nominated for her screen debut in "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter" (1968), based. [218] "Due to factors in my personal life, I have sustained two years of extreme and unnecessary stress, which my doctors tell me has been my enemy," Locke said at the time. Try again. "[110], Over the course of their decade-and-a-half-long personal relationship, Locke did not work in any capacity on any theatrical motion picture other than with Eastwood except for 1977's experimental horror western The Shadow of Chikara. based on information from your browser. ", In June 1999, Garrity sued Locke to get paid for persuading the appellate court to reinstate. Besides "The Outlaw Josey Wales," "The Gauntlet," and "Every Which Way But Loose", she went on to appear in other films such as "Bronco Billy" (1980), "Any Which Way You Can" (1980), and "Sudden Impact" (1983). [33], During her marriage, Locke was rumored to have been linked amorously to co-stars Robert Fields (Cover Me Babe), Bruce Davison (Willard), Paul Sand (The Second Coming of Suzanne) and Bo Hopkins (Gondola), as well as producer Hawk Koch, real estate agent Herb Goldfarb, and John F. Kennedy's nephew Robert Shriver. Locke's persona belied her age, and she habitually played roles written for women much younger than herself. She was 74. SONDRA Locke, who has died of cancer aged 74, was the long-time partner and regular co-star of Clint Eastwood in such movies as the classic 1976 western The Outlaw Josey Wales and the 1978. Failed to delete memorial. Even though she was the second child of four children, she considered herself the middle child. Oops, we were unable to send the email. Try again later. She was nominated for her screen debut in. [100][127][168], On the morning of April 3[182] or 4,[100] Eastwood complained in the kitchen that Locke was "sitting on [his] only real estate in Los Angeles" and bolted. Locke claimed the reason that she and Eastwood were at odds was because she wanted to branch out into the industry and build a career beyond his filmsincluding by directing her own movies. [203] One juror disclosed that the panel sided with Locke by a 10-to-2 vote (nine votes are needed for a verdict) and were only debating the amount. Smith departed the scene before Sondra's birth. Watson said. Over time Suzanne has developed a cult following,[33][69] while Reflection is cited as an early example of media portrayals of transgender people. Please try again later. "[33] She had a maternal half-brother, Donald (born April 26, 1946) from Bayne's subsequent brief marriage to William B. She first starred with Eastwood in the western The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976), which he also directed. On the coattails of the franchise's success, she performed live in concert (one-off gigs) with The Everly Brothers, Eddie Rabbitt and Tom Jones.[116]. She achieved recognition for her relationship with Clint Eastwood and the six hit films they made together. "Sondra Locke, 74, Is Dead; Oscar-Nominated Actress". The supercalifragilistic Lin-Manuel Miranda, The Golden Globes are quirkyand thats a good thing, How The Sopranos gave us Trump training wheels, Rockos Modern Life was even loonier than you thought, The years best movies,according to our critic. She was born in Oklahoma City on April 8, 1940 to Warren and Voicey Marie Matherly. "[96], In 1975, Locke was cast in the western film The Outlaw Josey Wales as the love interest of Clint Eastwood's eponymous character. Born Sandra Louise Smith, she spent a year at Middle Tennessee State University before a friend helped her prepare for a role in the 1968. [229][230][231] Her remains were cremated on November 9 at Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary and the ashes were given to her widower, Gordon Anderson. Meanwhile, Locke claimed that she had had two abortions over the course of their relationship, because Eastwood had told her that he didnt want more children. The stars tell all about their relationship off-camera and on in an excerpt from the rich new oral history. "The minute she heard the first reference to her or to her family, she threw up her arms: 'What the hell is this?'" How did it come to this? After-the-fact publicity claimed that 2,000 actresses tried out for the role. [33], Given that Locke waited decades to confirm that her marriage was platonic, most of her actual romantic attachments went unpublicized. [204] Before any court decision could be made, Locke settled the case with Eastwood for an undisclosed amount of money. However, their relationship ended acrimoniously, coloring both their legacies and entwining them in two ugly lawsuits. Sondra Elaine Locke, of Edmond, Oklahoma, passed away December 4, 2019. Born Sandra Louise Smith, she spent a year at Middle Tennessee State University before a friend helped her prepare for a role in the 1968 film "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" after she was discovered in a talent search. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. "[131], According to court testimony, Locke confronted Eastwood over his passive-aggressive behavior on December 29, 1988,[u] eliciting estrangement between the couple. [130], Locke's death was kept secret until December 13, when Radar Online broke the news the day before Eastwood's latest blockbuster The Mule (2018) opened in theaters nationwide, citing the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. This is a carousel with slides. "[152] According to her death certificate, the two were residing at the same address when she died,[20] and he was the person who reported her death.[153]. Locke is remembered as an early pioneer for women in Hollywood. In the meantime, she accepted some television offers, co-starring with an all-female ensemble cast in Friendships, Secrets and Lies (1979) and portraying big band era vocalist Rosemary Clooney in Rosie: The Rosemary Clooney Story (1982). "[128], After 13 years away from acting, Locke returned to the screen in 1999 with cameo roles in the straight-to-video films The Prophet's Game with Dennis Hopper and Clean and Narrow with Wings Hauser. [147] Anderson was gay. Contradictory sources have either directly cited, or implied, every year from 1943 to 1950. [7] Following graduation in 1962, Locke enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University (then Middle Tennessee State College) in Murfreesboro on a full scholarship. Co-stars such as Cicely Tyson, Louie Anderson, Sally Kellerman, Stacy Keach and Ted Neeley all active on social media were equally silent. Josh Young. [166], Locke referred to these intervals as "casually exploring for a romantic relationship," noting that she had not fallen in love with any of the men. Sondra Locke (1944 - 2018) was an Academy Award-nominated actress and frequent co-star of Clint Eastwood. Gordon Addison Broadway and Theatre Credits, Sandra Locke appeared with Clint Eastwood in hit films, "Sondra Locke: a charismatic performer defined by a toxic relationship with Clint Eastwood", Eastwood's Ex Tells All in Unflattering New Book, A Fond Farewell to Sondra Locke (1944 2018), "Eastwood Unforgiven: Locke's Lawsuit Spins Saga of Love and Power in Hollywood", "Oscar-nominated actress Sondra Locke dies at 74", "Videotapers' Syndication $$ Whopper for Nashville", "Suing Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke Strikes with Magnum Force", "Clint Eastwood gets top role in outlaw film". As far as she was concerned their relationship was still salvageable. [58] Within one year of this exposure, she decided to pursue a career in film and changed the spelling of her first name to avoid being called Sandy. I felt it was like social extortion of a kindblackmail or whatever you want to call it, he said. All rights reserved. "[33], Locke and actor/director Clint Eastwood entered a domestic partnership in October 1975. [157], George Crook, a cameraman for WSM, squired Locke to Nashville society events including the 1965 hunt ball. There was a problem getting your location. "[32] She never knew her biological father,[48] and did not attend the funerals of her mother (deceased 1997)[49] or stepfather (deceased 2007),[50] nor did she have anything to do with her brother, sister-in-law and three nieces. The Oscar-nominated actress had a long Hollywood careerand a turbulent relationship with Clint Eastwood, resulting in two acrimonious lawsuits. [75] Although her salary for the film was reported in newspapers as $15,000, Locke later claimed it was less than one-third that amount. Her mother married Alfred Locke, a carpenter, when she was four. Sondra Locke died on Nov. 3, 2018, of cardiac arrest as a result of both breast and bone cancer. "[42], Locke held a variety of jobs, including as a bookkeeper for Tyson Foods and secretary in a real-estate office. She worked regularly with Eastwood, who was her companion for 14 years despite their marriages to other people. Sondra Locke (Sandra Louise Anderson), actor and director, born 28 May 1944; died 3 November 2018, Actor and director who starred opposite her partner Clint Eastwood in six hit movies, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. He's said things that were hurtful to my character and hurtful to me professionally. There was an error deleting this problem. [33], Locke was a cheerleader and class valedictorian in junior high. "[235] In a tribute to the late actress, author Sarah Weinman wrote: "Sondra Locke, like Barbara Loden, deserves to be known for her work, not for the famous man she was disastrously involved with. [79][80] It was announced that she would play the lead in Lovemakers a film adaptation of Robert Nathan's novel The Color of Evening but no movie resulted. [85] Locke felt overqualified for her role but did it as a favor to Davison,[69] who at the time was her unofficial paramour.