Clint Eastwood has confirmed the passing of his long-time partner, Christina Sandera, aged 61. “Christina was a lovely, caring woman, and I will miss her very much,” Eastwood, 94, said in a statement late last week, per The Hollywood Reporter.

The pair had been together for almost a decade, and though they kept their relationship relatively private, fans did get to see them on the red carpet together for the premieres of The Mule (2018) and The 15:17 to Paris (also 2018).

The couple first stepped out together as an item at the 2015 Academy Awards, where American Sniper, Eastwood’s popular adaption of the autobiography by former United States Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, received six nominations.

Yet it was all the way back in June 2014 that Us Weekly first reported that Eastwood and Sandera were romantically involved. It was claimed at the time that Sandera had been an employee at the Mission Ranch hotel and restaurant in Carmel, California, an establishment Eastwood owns.

Fast forward half a year, and the iconic actor had finalized his divorce from his second wife, Dina Eastwood, after a 17-year union.

Eastwood was married to his first wife, Maggie Johnson, from 1953 to 1984.

As for further details of Sandera’s passing, a representative from Warner Bros told The Hollywood Reporter: “No further information will be forthcoming.”

Now having reached the grand old age of 94, Eastwood is reportedly hard at work on what might prove to be his final ever flick.

Fans eagerly await his upcoming Juror No. 2, with the general consensus that the movie will mark the last professional project of Eastwood’s long and storied career, after which he can settle down and enter well-deserved retirement.

Rest in peace, Christina Sandera. Our thoughts go out to Clint Eastwood and her other loved ones.