Veteran Hollywood actor-director Clint Eastwood and his wife Dina have separated after 17 years of marriage, People magazine reported Friday

The 83-year-old "Dirty Harry" star and his 48-year-old wife have been living apart for some time, People reported, citing an unidentified source as saying: "This is really sad .. They were great partners for many years."

It noted that Dina Eastwood, a television news presenter, had tweeted last week: "Darkness somewhere means light somewhere else. #newbeginnings

Have a cheeky weekend!"

On Wednesday, the same day the celebrity magazine Us initially reported their separation, she tweeted: "Time and truth go hand in hand.I try to spend TIME being positive while the TRUTH percolates.

"What do YOU do to be patient when you're antsy?" she asked.

The Us report said the couple split more than a year ago, citing an insider as saying: "Clint fell out of love with Dina a long time ago," adding that the separation was "amicable."

The couple married in 1996 and have a 16-year-old daughter. The Oscar-winning actor has seven other children by a number of women, including his first wife Maggie Johnson.

Last year Dina Eastwood launched a reality TV series, "Mrs. Eastwood and Company," which featured her and their children, although Eastwood himself only appeared briefly in the first episode.

Eastwood has won four Academy Awards during a long career, including best picture and best director for both 1993's "Unforgiven" and 2004's "Million Dollar Baby."

His most recent acting credit was for 2012's "Trouble with the Curve," while a report this week said he is in talks to direct "American Sniper," based on a Navy SEAL's autobiography, after Steven Spielberg pulled out.

Last year Eastwood made headlines with a prime-time skit at the Republican Party's pre-election convention, where he endorsed Mitt Romney's doomed campaign and pretended to have a conversation with President Barack Obama, using an empty chair as a prop.