I don't know much about Clint's early career, but I do know that he a)was the star of a Western TV show ("Rawhide"), and b)later starred in some spaghetti westerns, two things that he has in common with Rick Dalton. Coincidence? Inspiration? Homage?
shareI don't think so.
Clint Eastwood kind of rose to stardom starting with those Spaghetti Westerns, which were some of best of the genre. Dalton on the other hand was a TV star who's career was on the decline, and the quality of the movies he was making were much lower. At least that's the impression I got.
According to one source, Burt Reynolds.
https://www.purewow.com/news/once-upon-a-time-in-hollywood-burt-reynolds-character
Makes sense I guess. Thanks!
shareBurt Reynolds and Steve McQueen also
shareSteve McQueen? How so? His career arc was nothing at all like Dalton's.
shareSteve McQueen was supposed to be at Sharon Tate's house the night of the Manson murders, but he went on a date with a girl he had met instead. I think the idea of McQueen with his tough-guy image, facing the Manson Family, was probably the initial spark that set this whole story off in Tarantino's imagination.
McQueen also played a bounty hunter in Wanted, Dead or Alive. He never made any spaghetti westerns, though.
They both starred in a TV western ( like Burt Reynolds and Clint Eastwood) and then to movies.
Certainly an inspiration, for QT put McQueen in the movie!