Clint Eastwood has announced that he will retire from acting while promoting his latest directorial effort, Changeling.

The actor’s last acting role will be in the film Gran Torino, a film about an iron-willed veteran living in a changing world who is forced by his immigrant neighbors to confront his own long-held prejudices.

Eastwood said, “That will probably do it for me as far as acting is concerned. You always want to quit while you are ahead. You don’t want to be like a fighter who stays too long in the ring until you’re not performing at your best.”

Despite his announcement, he added that he would continue to direct and produce films.

His latest directing gig, Changeling, stars Angelina Jolie as a mother looking for her lost child. It opened in theaters on Halloween 2008 to mostly positive reviews. The film earned $27.6 million its opening weekend.

Gran Torino, Eastwood’s final acting film, opens January 19th, 2009.