Clint Eastwood has shared the screen with countless Hollywood legends, but Sondra Locke occupied a particularly complicated place in both his career and his private life. They first worked together on The Outlaw Josey Wales in 1976, and their on-screen partnership soon became something much more personal.

Eastwood and Locke eventually appeared together in six films, including The Gauntlet, Every Which Way but Loose, Bronco Billy and Sudden Impact. Away from the cameras, they were also in a long-term relationship, making Locke far more than simply another actress appearing opposite Eastwood.

But their story didn’t have a Hollywood ending. Their relationship collapsed bitterly, followed by highly publicized legal disputes. Locke later wrote extensively about their years together, while Eastwood disputed aspects of her account. What began as one of Hollywood’s most recognizable partnerships ultimately became one of its more complicated breakups.

Eastwood worked with many extraordinary actresses during his career, but few became intertwined with both his professional and personal life quite like Sondra Locke. Decades later, their six films remain a reminder of a partnership that existed both in front of the camera and far beyond it.