Celebrity Nooz: Sondra Locke

Sondra Locke (Actress) - Every Which Way But Loose

Updated: 10/3/13

Name: Sondra Locke

Born: May 28, 1944, Shelbyville, Tennessee

Claim To Fame: Locke is known for her role in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter, and for appearing in several films with former partner Clint Eastwood: The Outlaw Josey Wales, The Gauntlet, Every Which Way But Loose, Bronco Billy, Any Which Way You Can, and Sudden Impact.

Family Life: She was with Clint Eastwood from 1975-1989. They never married. She has been married to Gordon Anderson since 1967, but they are separated.

Info: Locke's career began in 1967 when she won a nation- wide talent search for the role of Mick Kelly in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter opposite Alan Arkin. Her performance in this film earned her the Academy Award nomination and two Golden Globe Award nominations.

She went on to appear in 1969's Cover Me Babe as Melisse, in the 1971 cult film Willard, and on the television series The F.B.I., Cannon, Barnaby Jones and Kung Fu.

She began appearing in a string of films alongside Clint Eastwood, starting with the role of Laura Lee in 1976's western The Outlaw Josey Wales. Next, she starred with him in the hit action film The Gauntlet (1977) and in Every Which Way But Loose (1978). The 1980 sequel, Any Which Way You Can, was equally successful. Their other films included Bronco Billy (1980) and Sudden Impact (1983, which was the highest-grossing film in the Dirty Harry franchise.

In 1986, Locke directed the feature film Ratboy, and followed this up with the critically acclaimed thrilled Impulse (1990). Later, she directed the made-for-television film Death in Small Doses (1995), based on a true story, and the independent film Do Me A Favor (1997).

Trivia: Breast cancer survivor.

Graduated from Shelbyville Central High (now Shelbyville Senior High School) in 1962.

Attended Middle Tennessee State University, but did not graduate.

Has one younger maternal half-brother, Donald Locke (b. 1946).

Listed as one of the top sex stars of 1969 by Playboy magazine.

Underwent two abortions and a tubal ligation in the late 1970s.

Later discovered Eastwood secretly fathered two children with another woman during the last three years of their relationship.

Underwent a double mastectomy and chemotherapy due to breast cancer in 1990.

In 1997, she published an autobiography, The Good, the Bad, and the Very Ugly ? A Hollywood Journey.

Where Are They Now: Her last acting credit was in 2008's Clean and Narrow. Locke has not worked in the film industry since then. She now lives in Hollywood Hills with her partner Scott Cunneen and is retired from acting.

Write To Sondra Locke:
Sondra Locke
15821 Ventura Blvd. #235
Encino, CA 91436

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