Hollywood star Clint Eastwood has filed a $10m (£6.2m) libel lawsuit against the author of an unauthorised biography which he says falsely portrays him as a wife-beater and coward.

The actor lodged the lawsuit at the US District Court in San Jose against author Patrick McGilligan and publisher St Martin's Press.

The writ contends that Clint: The Life of a Legend seeks to destroy Eastwood's reputation and is filled with errors.

"Clint Eastwood is not only an icon in the entertainment industry but he is also a family man," Eastwood's lawyer Marshall Grossman said.

"He is entitled to have what is written about him be accurate and truthful."

'Disservice'

The lawsuit said the book falsely claimed Eastwood had "decked" his first wife Maggie and that he used a romance with an officer's daughter to avoid being posted overseas during the Korean War because he was "dead scared".

Eastwood has also taken exception to being described as an atheist.

The suit said: "Its lies do a serious disservice to the book's readers, the public and most of all to Clint Eastwood himself, who has spent nearly a half a century building a reputation that defendants so intently - and unlawfully - attempt to destroy."

'Embarrassment'

But author Mr McGilligan said: "The book is fair and honest to the best of my ability."

And St Martin's Press is confident that book is accurate.

As well as seeking $10m for libel, Eastwood is also asking for punitive damages for harming his "reputation and standing in the community, mortification and embarrassment".

"He is not one to sit idly by and permit somebody to deal with his reputation in this fashion," added Mr Grossman.