Filmmaker Clint Eastwood dines in Mesilla

LAS CRUCES - Hollywood actor and filmmaker Clint Eastwood dined at the Double Eagle Restaurant in Mesilla on Wednesday.

Eastwood is in the area shooting footage for his upcoming film "The Mule." 

He was kind and humble, said Service Manager Eileen Bermudez.

"Once he came in, our hostess asked us if we saw who it was and I said no. She said it was Clint Eastwood and I didn’t believe it was him," Bermudez said. "I went around to go sit him and he poked his head through the bar and yup, it was him. I was shaking and I got to talk to him at his table."

More:Clint Eastwood's 'The Mule' to film in Las Cruces

Bermudez said Eastwood took pictures with staff —  "He put his arm around my shoulder for the photo, it was like a dream come true," she said — and gave the restaurant kudos on its service and food. 

"He wanted to talk to the chef who was on that day, Fred Vacio," Bermudez said. "We brought out the chef and he (Eastwood) said the food was amazing and said the restaurant was something different in Las Cruces. We told him about the time we were featured on 'Ghost Adventures,' he was so excited." 

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Bermudez said Eastwood had mentioned he would be in the area for a while, especially Mesilla because he "loves the town."

The Warner Bros. production, "The Mule," will employ approximately 85 New Mexico crew members and approximately 200 New Mexico background talent. Primary filming in southern New Mexico will take place next week.

The film is the story of Earl Stone, a man in his 80's who is broke, alone and facing foreclosure of his business. He is offered a job that requires him to drive, however, unbeknownst to Earl, he's just signed on as a drug courier for a Mexican cartel.

Eastwood will star in, direct and produce the film. His daughter, Alison Eastwood, also has a role in the film. Other stars include Bradley Cooper, Laurence Fishburne, Michael Peña, Dianne Weist, Taissa Farmiga and Igancio Serricchio.

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Jacqueline Devine can be reached at 575-541-5476, jdevine@gannett.com or @JackieIsDevine on Twitter.