Actor Clint Eastwood has turned into a bit of an action hero in real life. People magazine reports that the veteran actor and director came to the rescue of a man who was choking, performing the Heimlich maneuver and saving the man’s life.

Eastwood, 83, was at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am when he noticed tournament director Steve John choking, the story says.

“I was drinking water and eating these little appetizers, threw down a piece of cheese and it just didn’t work," John told the publication. "I was looking at him and couldn’t breathe. He recognized it immediately and saved my life."

Eastwood told The Carmel Pine Cone that he “saw that look of panic people have when they see their life passing before their eyes.” He added, “It looked bad.” The actor said it was the first time he had used the Heimlich maneuver.

Clint Eastwood