Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood is an American actor and director best known for an extensive catalogue of Western and crime films. In what was Clint Eastwood's first film role since 2004's Million Dollar Baby (also directed by Eastwood), Gran Torino features Eastwood playing an elderly Korean war veteran named Walt Kowalski. As the film's director, Eastwood had the power to choose who he wanted to star in it. Eastwood has said he felt a connection to the material, which he liked because the story "dealt with prejudice, [and] it was about never being too old to learn."
Bee Vang
Bee Vang is an American actor of Hmong descent. Because Clint Eastwood wanted the film to feel as authentic as possible, he held an open casting call for Hmong actors in Fresno, California, Detroit, Michigan, and Saint Paul, Minnesota. Vang was from Saint Paul and was, like most of the fellow Hmong people he acted alongside, a first-time actor. In 2021, Vang spoke out against Gran Torino's use of many anti-Asian slurs, saying the same film would not get made at a time of increased public attention on anti-Asian violence in America.
Ahney Her
Ahney Her is an American actor of Hmong descent. She was born in Lansing, Michigan. She auditioned for Gran Torino after learning of the casting call at a soccer tournament. She was shocked to learn a Clint Eastwood film was specifically seeking Hmong actors.
Christopher Carley
Christopher Carley is an American actor from Suffern, New York. In Gran Torino he plays Father Janovich, a local Catholic priest who insists that Walt go to confession, as Janovich promised Walt's deceased wife.
