Eastwood settles libel lawsuit

Clint Eastwood settled a libel lawsuit against the writer and publisher of an unauthorized biography he said portrayed him as a wife abuser.

As part of the settlement, announced Thursday, the book’s author and publisher agreed to remove a reference to Eastwood beating his former wife, Maggie Eastwood, as well as other statements the actor-director said were false and defamatory.

Eastwood filed the $10-million libel action in 2002 against St. Martin’s Press and Patrick McGilligan, who wrote “Clint: The Life and Legend.”

A former associate of Eastwood told McGilligan that he saw the actor physically abuse his former wife. The associate later recanted his remarks.