Here is a biography of Sondra Locke:
Sondra Locke was born on May 28, 1944, in Shelbyville, Tennessee, to Raymond Smith and Pauline Bayne. Her biological father departed before her birth, and her mother later married William B. Elkins, with whom she had a son, Donald. Locke's stepfather, Alfred Locke, adopted her and her brother, and they were raised as his own.
Locke's childhood was marked by a love of reading and a desire to escape her mundane life in Shelbyville. She was a cheerleader in junior high and graduated valedictorian of her eighth-grade class. She attended Shelbyville Central High School, where she excelled academically and formed a close friendship with classmate Gordon Anderson.
After high school, Locke enrolled at Middle Tennessee State University, but she left after her freshman year due to a disagreement with her mother. She moved to Nashville, where she worked as a promotions assistant for WSM-TV and began acting in community theater.
Locke's big break came when she was cast in the 1968 film "The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter," for which she received an Academy Award nomination. She then moved to Los Angeles, where she struggled to find consistent work, taking on smaller roles and television appearances.
In the early 1970s, Locke met actor Clint Eastwood, with whom she had a romantic relationship and eventually married in 1975. During their relationship, Locke appeared exclusively in Eastwood-controlled projects, including the films "The Outlaw Josey Wales" (1976),"The Gauntlet" (1977),and "Sudden Impact" (1983).
However, Locke's relationship with Eastwood became strained, and the couple eventually divorced in 1989. Locke filed a palimony lawsuit against Eastwood, seeking damages and an equal division of their property. The lawsuit was eventually settled out of court.
In the 1990s, Locke attempted to revive her directing career, but she faced significant obstacles and ultimately dropped her suit against Eastwood. She continued to act in small roles and eventually retired from the industry.
Locke died on November 3, 2018, at the age of 74, due to complications from metastatic breast cancer. Her death was not publicly announced until December, sparking speculation and controversy. Despite the challenges she faced in her personal and professional life, Locke will be remembered for her pioneering work as a woman in the film industry and her contributions to some of Clint Eastwood's most iconic films.
