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The Early Years
Jeff Bridges.Art Zelin/Getty
Born on Dec. 4, 1949, and raised in Los Angeles, it didn’t take Jeff Bridges very long to become a star. In fact, he made his first screen appearance before his 1st birthday, inThe Company She Keeps. During childhood, he made cameos on television alongside his father,actor Lloyd Bridges.
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Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty
After a young Bridges graduated from high school, he moved to New York City to study acting and establish himself on big and small screens. Making his start, Bridges nabbed small parts on shows likeLassiein 1969 and Disney’sThe Most Deadly Game(pictured) in 1970.
03of 23An Auspicious StartBettmann/GettyBut Bridges' biggest break came in 1971, when he played Duane Jackson in the 1971 filmThe Last Picture Show. The role earned him his first Academy Award nomination at just 22 years old.
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An Auspicious Start
Bettmann/Getty
But Bridges' biggest break came in 1971, when he played Duane Jackson in the 1971 filmThe Last Picture Show. The role earned him his first Academy Award nomination at just 22 years old.
04of 23Continued SuccessSilver Screen Collection/GettyA few years after his first Oscar nod, Bridges scored another nomination for best supporting actor in the crime-comedyThunderbolt and Lightfoot, which was released in 1974. In his role as the young lawbreaker Lightfoot, Bridges acted oppositeClint Eastwoodas Thunderbolt and George Kennedy, who played the titular duo’s nemesis.
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Continued Success
Silver Screen Collection/Getty
A few years after his first Oscar nod, Bridges scored another nomination for best supporting actor in the crime-comedyThunderbolt and Lightfoot, which was released in 1974. In his role as the young lawbreaker Lightfoot, Bridges acted oppositeClint Eastwoodas Thunderbolt and George Kennedy, who played the titular duo’s nemesis.
05of 23Western WayFilmPublicityArchive/United Archives/GettyIn 1975, Bridges played the lead role in the cowboy comedyHearts of the West. He shared the screen with Andy Griffith, Blythe Danner and Alan Arkin.
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Western Way
FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives/Getty
In 1975, Bridges played the lead role in the cowboy comedyHearts of the West. He shared the screen with Andy Griffith, Blythe Danner and Alan Arkin.
06of 23All About the ApeFilmPublicityArchive/United Archives/GettyBridges and Jessica Lange took on the monstrous primate King Kong in the 1976 remake of the iconic film.
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All About the Ape
Bridges and Jessica Lange took on the monstrous primate King Kong in the 1976 remake of the iconic film.
07of 23Falling in LoveRon Galella/Ron Galella Collection/GettyBridges met Susan Geston while he was working on the 1975 filmRancho Deluxe. They tied the knot in 1977 and have remained totallyenamored with each otherever since.Susan noted that the key to their bond is the basic affection they’ve always shared. “We love each other, but we really like each other. I was 21 when we met. We were kids. And we still feel like kids,” she said in an interview for her husband’sPEOPLE cover storyin June 2022.
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Falling in Love
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty
Bridges met Susan Geston while he was working on the 1975 filmRancho Deluxe. They tied the knot in 1977 and have remained totallyenamored with each otherever since.
Susan noted that the key to their bond is the basic affection they’ve always shared. “We love each other, but we really like each other. I was 21 when we met. We were kids. And we still feel like kids,” she said in an interview for her husband’sPEOPLE cover storyin June 2022.
08of 23Soul MatesRon Galella/Ron Galella Collection/GettySpeaking toPEOPLE in 2022, Bridges shared the natural ease of his romance with Susan: “We don’t have to do much,” he said. “Just being in the same vicinity feels wonderful.”
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Soul Mates
Speaking toPEOPLE in 2022, Bridges shared the natural ease of his romance with Susan: “We don’t have to do much,” he said. “Just being in the same vicinity feels wonderful.”
09of 23Girl-DadJeff Kravitz/FilmMagicTogether, Susan and Jeff Bridges have three daughters. They welcomed Isabelle in 1981, Jessica in 1983 and Haley in 1985. Their eldest two joined Mom, Dad and their paternal grandmother, Dorothy Bridges, at the 2003 premiere of the actor’s movieSeabiscuit.
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Girl-Dad
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Together, Susan and Jeff Bridges have three daughters. They welcomed Isabelle in 1981, Jessica in 1983 and Haley in 1985. Their eldest two joined Mom, Dad and their paternal grandmother, Dorothy Bridges, at the 2003 premiere of the actor’s movieSeabiscuit.
10of 23Unbreakable BondBettmann/GettyLike father, like son! Lloyd Bridges showed his support at the Hollywood premiere of his son’s filmStarmanin 1984. Jeff’s starring performance earned him an Oscar nomination for best actor.In 2014, the younger Bridges opened up to PEOPLE abouthis late father’s influenceon him as an entertainer. “He taught me the basics of acting, but what I really got from him was the joy he experienced while working,” said Jeff, whose mother, Dorothy, was also in show business.
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Unbreakable Bond
Like father, like son! Lloyd Bridges showed his support at the Hollywood premiere of his son’s filmStarmanin 1984. Jeff’s starring performance earned him an Oscar nomination for best actor.
In 2014, the younger Bridges opened up to PEOPLE abouthis late father’s influenceon him as an entertainer. “He taught me the basics of acting, but what I really got from him was the joy he experienced while working,” said Jeff, whose mother, Dorothy, was also in show business.
11of 23Globe TrottingRon Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/GettyJeff and Susan Bridges attended the 49th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 1991, where he was nominated for his performance inThe Fisher King. The actor ultimately lost out to his costar in the movie, Robin Williams.
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Globe Trotting
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty
Jeff and Susan Bridges attended the 49th Annual Golden Globe Awards in 1991, where he was nominated for his performance inThe Fisher King. The actor ultimately lost out to his costar in the movie, Robin Williams.
12of 23Family BusinessMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer/GettyLloyd Bridges might have played his son’s uncle in the 1994 war thrillerBlown Away, but looking back, Jeff remembers that his dad was no less a role model during production.“I remember when he came on the set, in a genuine way he was just joyful – it was contagious. It would go through the community,” hetold PEOPLE in 2014, remember his father, who died in 1998. “With joy comes relaxation about the way things are, and with that comes getting out of your own way. And you end up with some good work.”
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Family Business
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Getty
Lloyd Bridges might have played his son’s uncle in the 1994 war thrillerBlown Away, but looking back, Jeff remembers that his dad was no less a role model during production.
“I remember when he came on the set, in a genuine way he was just joyful – it was contagious. It would go through the community,” hetold PEOPLE in 2014, remember his father, who died in 1998. “With joy comes relaxation about the way things are, and with that comes getting out of your own way. And you end up with some good work.”
13of 23Sidewalk StardomRon Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/GettyBridges was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994, and his dad was there to beam with pride beside him.
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Sidewalk Stardom
Bridges was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1994, and his dad was there to beam with pride beside him.
14of 23Dancing On SetLawrence Schwartzwald/Sygma/GettyIn 1996, Bridges starred alongside Barbra Streisand in the rom-comThe Mirror Has Two Faces.
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Dancing On Set
Lawrence Schwartzwald/Sygma/Getty
In 1996, Bridges starred alongside Barbra Streisand in the rom-comThe Mirror Has Two Faces.
15of 23The Big OneMichael Ochs Archives/GettyOne of Bridges' most memorable roles is certainly his part in 1998’sThe Big Lebowski, in which he starred as Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski alongside a star-studded cast, including John Goodman, who played the Dude’s bowling partner Walter.Over the years the movie has become a cult classic with significant influence in pop culture and beyond. Among other ways the film hastaken on a life of its own,The Big Lebowskiinspired a religion called “Dudeism” (or “The Church of the Latter-Day Dude”), had an entire festival devoted to it in 2002 and was even once referenced in a Texas Supreme Court.
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The Big One
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
One of Bridges' most memorable roles is certainly his part in 1998’sThe Big Lebowski, in which he starred as Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski alongside a star-studded cast, including John Goodman, who played the Dude’s bowling partner Walter.
Over the years the movie has become a cult classic with significant influence in pop culture and beyond. Among other ways the film hastaken on a life of its own,The Big Lebowskiinspired a religion called “Dudeism” (or “The Church of the Latter-Day Dude”), had an entire festival devoted to it in 2002 and was even once referenced in a Texas Supreme Court.
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Behind the Camera
Mark Sullivan/WireImage
Ever since he was in high school, Bridges has had a knack for photography. He brought his flair for photos to the sets of several of his films, includingThe Big Lebowski, a fact which John Goodman fondly recalledtwo decades later.
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Winner, Winner
Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Since his big win, Bridges has been nominated for two more Oscars, for his performances in 2010’sTrue Gritand the 2016 westernHell or High Water.
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Making Music
Paul Drinkwater/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
Music is another one of Bridges' passions that he has pursued in tandem with his acting career. He sang two songs while voicing Prince Lír in the 1982 animated filmThe Last Unicorn, and in 2000 he released a debut album calledBe Here Soon.He also covered Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” for theCrazy Heartsoundtrack.
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Red Carpet Couple
ANGELA WEISS/AFP/Getty
20of 23Going for GoldSteve Granitz/WireImageBridges was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2019 Golden Globes, making him a two-time winner at the ceremony. He won an acting award in 2010, forCrazy Heart.
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Going for Gold
Steve Granitz/WireImage
Bridges was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2019 Golden Globes, making him a two-time winner at the ceremony. He won an acting award in 2010, forCrazy Heart.
21of 23More PagesTibrina Hobson/GettyIn 2019, the jack-of-all-trades released a second edition of photos calledJeff Bridges: Pictures Vol. 2.
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More Pages
Tibrina Hobson/Getty
In 2019, the jack-of-all-trades released a second edition of photos calledJeff Bridges: Pictures Vol. 2.
22of 23A Health JourneyJeff LipskyIn October 2020, Bridges revealed to the world that he had beendiagnosed with lymphoma. The actor and his wifetold PEOPLEthat after he received the diagnosis, he immediately started chemotherapy.Luckily, the treatment worked and his tumorbegan to shrink,but after a month of chemo, Bridges tested positive for COVID-19. Since vaccines weren’t yet available, the virus put him in serious danger.“I had no defenses. That’s what chemo does — it strips you of all your immune system. I had nothing to fight it,” he said, speaking to PEOPLE in 2022. “COVID made my cancer look like nothing.“Luckily, with the encouragement of his doctors and the support of his loved ones, Bridges was kept off a ventilator and survived the virus' attack. Later that year, he shared that his cancerwas in remission.
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A Health Journey
Jeff Lipsky
In October 2020, Bridges revealed to the world that he had beendiagnosed with lymphoma. The actor and his wifetold PEOPLEthat after he received the diagnosis, he immediately started chemotherapy.
Luckily, the treatment worked and his tumorbegan to shrink,but after a month of chemo, Bridges tested positive for COVID-19. Since vaccines weren’t yet available, the virus put him in serious danger.
“I had no defenses. That’s what chemo does — it strips you of all your immune system. I had nothing to fight it,” he said, speaking to PEOPLE in 2022. “COVID made my cancer look like nothing.”
Luckily, with the encouragement of his doctors and the support of his loved ones, Bridges was kept off a ventilator and survived the virus' attack. Later that year, he shared that his cancerwas in remission.
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With Honors
Kevin Winter/Getty
In his speech, Bridges shared that he was wearing his late father’s cuff links since the award show fell on his dad’s birthday.
“I wouldn’t be up here without my dad,“said Bridges. “No, he’s the reason that I’m up here. I can remember him loving showbiz so much, loving acting so much, and as a kid I said, ‘You know, Dad, I’m not sure I wanna be an actor.’ He goes, ‘What are you talkin’ about?' I said, ‘I wanna do painting maybe, music.’ He said, ‘Jeff, don’t be ridiculous. Being an actor, they’re gonna call on you to do all of those things you’re interested in. And besides that, you’re gonna get to tell all these wonderful stories from all these different perspectives of people that are alive. This is a wonderful profession.’ "
“He’s so right,“The Old Manactor continued. “I’m so glad I listened to the old man!”
source: people.com
