The audience rose to its feet Wednesday night when the "Million Dollar Baby" director and star took the stage during an Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences salute to the late director, Don Siegel, "Entertainment Tonight" reported Thursday.

"That standing thing makes me feel a little older than I am ... and I'm old," Eastwood joked.

Eastwood had worked with Siegel on "Dirty Harry," "The Beguiled" and "Escape from Alcatraz."