Clint Eastwood considered acting retirement but one role convinced him otherwise. Eastwood made his name as an actor, but once he broke through with movies like the Dollars Trilogy, he quickly set his sights on becoming a director too. He made his directorial debut with 1971 psychological thriller Play Misty For Me, and decades later is just as well known for his work behind the camera. Beginning with the 2000s, Eastwood made the transition from performing onscreen to directing full-time, with some noticeably large gaps between his acting appearances.

https://screenrant.com/million-dollar-baby-movie-clint-eastwood-quit-acting/