This future couple first met at Universal Studios in 1972 when Sondra was auditioning for Clint`s directorial debut. They began living together shortly after making "The Outlaw Josey Wales." Both were married and denied their affair at the time. Clint was separated from his wife Maggie but had yet to announce the split. Sondra was married to Gordon Anderson, a gay sculptor whom she met as a child in Tennessee and remains legally married to this day.
Clint and Sondra lived together for nearly 15 years and starred in six movies together. Sondra became pregnant with Clint’s baby twice. She aborted both pregnancies and subsequently had a tubal ligation, sterilizing her from ever having children. She would later claim that Clint made her have these operations. Clint had several affairs and even fathered two children by another woman during their relationship. It wasn`t until Frances Fisher came along that Clint considered leaving Sondra.
One day while Sondra was away directing a film, Clint changed the locks on their house and had all of Sondra’s belongings put in storage. She sued him for palimony. This became the first of many court battles that would last nearly a decade. Sondra was battling cancer throughout the entire ordeal. Clint gave her a directing deal with Warner Bros. in a 1991 settlement, but it turned out to be phony. In 1996, they were back in court, with Sondra suing him for fraud. She published an autobiography “The Good, the Bad, and the Very Ugly” which included details of their troubled relationship. In 1999, they settled out of court for a reported $7 million. It remains one of the ugliest breakups in Hollywood history.
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