Christina Sandera, the longtime partner of the acclaimed actor and director Clint Eastwood, has passed away at the age of 61. The news of her death was confirmed by Eastwood himself, who shared his sorrow in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter: “Christina was a lovely, caring woman, and I will miss her very much.” The announcement was brief, and no additional details about the circumstances surrounding her death were provided.

Sandera and Eastwood had been together for a decade, marking a significant chapter in the life of the iconic actor. Their relationship began in 2014, following Eastwood’s separation from his second wife, Dina Eastwood. Christina Sandera had been a resident of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, where she worked as a hostess at Eastwood’s Mission Ranch Hotel and Restaurant.

It was there, amidst the charm of Carmel, that the couple first met. Clint Eastwood, who served as the mayor of the Northern California city, found a kindred spirit in Sandera, and the two quickly formed a close bond.

Before Sandera, Eastwood had a series of notable relationships. He was married to Maggie Johnson from 1953 until their divorce in 1984, and later to Dina Eastwood, with whom he parted ways in 2014.

In between these marriages, Eastwood had several long-term relationships, including with stuntwoman Roxanne Tunis, and the late actress Sondra Locke, who was his domestic partner for 14 years and co-starred with him in four films. He also dated flight attendant Jacelyn Reeves and actress Frances Fisher, with whom he shared both a professional and personal connection.