Jeff Bridges

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Birthday:

4 December 1949, Los Angeles, California, USA

Birth Name:

Jeffrey Leon Bridges

Height:

185 cm

Jeffrey Leon Bridges was born on December 4, 1949 in Los Angeles, California, the son of well-known film and TV star Lloyd Bridges and his long-time wife Dorothy Dean Bridges (née Simpson). He grew up amid the happening Hollywood scene with big brother Beau Bridges. Both boys popped up, without billing, alongside their mother in the film The Company She Keeps (1951), and appeared on occasion with their famous dad on his popular underwater TV series Sea Hunt (1958) while growing up. At age 14, Jeff toured with his father in a stage production of "Anniversary Waltz". The "troublesome teen" years proved just that for Jeff and his parents were compelled at one point to intervene when problems with drugs and marijuana got out of hand.He recovered and began shaping his nascent young adult career appearing on TV as a younger version of his father in the acclaimed TV- movie Silent Night, Lonely Night (1969), and in the strange Burgess Meredith film The Yin and the Yang of Mr. Go (1970). Following fine notices for his portrayal of a white student caught up in the racially-themed Halls of Anger (1970), his career-maker arrived just a year later when he earned a coming-of-age role in the critically-acclaimed ensemble film The Last Picture Show (1971). The Peter Bogdanovich- directed film made stars out off its young leads (Bridges, Timothy Bottoms, Cybill Shepherd) and Oscar winners out of its older cast (Ben Johnson, Cloris Leachman). The part of Duane Jackson, for which Jeff received his first Oscar-nomination (for "best supporting actor"), set the tone for the types of roles Jeff would acquaint himself with his fans -- rambling, reckless, rascally and usually unpredictable).Owning a casual carefree handsomeness and armed with a perpetual grin and sly charm, he started immediately on an intriguing 70s sojourn into offbeat filming. Chief among them were his boxer on his way up opposite a declining Stacy Keach in Fat City (1972); his Civil War-era conman in the western Bad Company (1972); his redneck stock car racer in The Last American Hero (1973); his young student anarchist opposite a stellar veteran cast in Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh (1973); his bank-robbing (also Oscar-nominated) sidekick to Clint Eastwood in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974); his aimless cattle rustler in Rancho Deluxe (1975); his low-level western writer who wants to be a real-life cowboy in Hearts of the West (1975); and his brother of an assassinated President who pursues leads to the crime in Winter Kills (1979). All are simply marvelous characters that should have propelled him to the very top rungs of stardom...but strangely didn't.Perhaps it was his trademark ease and naturalistic approach that made him somewhat under appreciated at that time when Hollywood was run by a Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino-like intensity. Neverthless, Jeff continued to be a scene-stealing favorite into the next decade, notably as the video game programmer in the 1982 science-fiction cult classic TRON (1982), and the struggling musician brother vying with brother Beau Bridges over the attentions of sexy singer Michelle Pfeiffer in The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989). Jeff became a third-time Oscar nominee with his highly intriguing (and strangely sexy) portrayal of a blank-faced alien in Starman (1984), and earned even higher regard as the ever-optimistic inventor Preston Tucker in Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988).Since then Jeff has continued to pour on the Bridges magic on film. Few enjoy such an enduring popularity while maintaining equal respect with the critics. The Fisher King (1991), American Heart (1992), Fearless (1993), The Big Lebowski (1998) (now a cult phenomenon) and The Contender (2000) (which gave him a fourth Oscar nomination) are prime examples. More recently he seized the moment as a bald-pated villain as Robert Downey Jr.'s nemesis in Iron Man (2008) and then, at age 60, he capped his rewarding career by winning the elusive Oscar, plus the Golden Globe and Screen Actor Guild awards (among many others), for his down-and-out country singer Bad Blake in Crazy Heart (2009). Bridges next starred in Tron (2010), reprising one of his more famous roles, and received another Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his role in the Western remake True Grit (2010). In 2014, he co-produced and starred in an adaptation of the Lois Lowry science fiction drama The Giver (2014).Jeff has been married since 1977 to non-professional Susan Geston (they met on the set of Rancho Deluxe (1975)). The couple have three daughters, Isabelle (born 1981), Jessica (born 1983), and Hayley (born 1985). He hobbies as a photographer on and off his film sets, and has been known to play around as a cartoonist and pop musician. His ancestry is English, and smaller amounts of Scots-Irish (Northern Irish), Irish, Swiss-German, and German. Show less «

As far as the lack of hits goes, I think perhaps it's because I've played a lot of different roles and have not created a persona that the p...Show more »

As far as the lack of hits goes, I think perhaps it's because I've played a lot of different roles and have not created a persona that the public can latch on to. I have played everything from psychopathic killers to romantic leading men, and in picking such diverse roles I have avoided typecasting. Show less «

I don't think I ever went down that movie star path. I always enjoy taking a 90-degree turn from the last thing I did.

A large part of acting is just pretending. You get to work with these other great make-believers, all making believe as hard as they can. Wh...Show more »

A large part of acting is just pretending. You get to work with these other great make-believers, all making believe as hard as they can. What I learned most from my father wasn't anything he said; it was just the way he behaved. He loved his work so much that, whenever he came on set, he brought that with him, and other people rose to it. Show less «

Basically, one of the hardest things about being an actor is getting your first break. I'm a product of nepotism. The doors were open to me....Show more »

Basically, one of the hardest things about being an actor is getting your first break. I'm a product of nepotism. The doors were open to me. I'd done several movies before I decided what I wanted to do. There was a certain amount of guilt and worry about whether I really had what it takes. I thought I'd spare my girls that. Show less «

My father [Lloyd Bridges] encouraged his kids to go into showbiz, not because he wanted to live vicariously through them, but because he dug...Show more »

My father [Lloyd Bridges] encouraged his kids to go into showbiz, not because he wanted to live vicariously through them, but because he dug it so much. Growing up there was like a mild competition with my father and my brother, not so much maybe in reality, but in my own mind. Show less «

Most cynics are really crushed romantics: they've been hurt, they're sensitive, and their cynicism is a shell that's protecting this tiny, d...Show more »

Most cynics are really crushed romantics: they've been hurt, they're sensitive, and their cynicism is a shell that's protecting this tiny, dear part in them that's still alive. Show less «

When you start to engage with your creative processes, it shakes up all your impulses, and they all kind of inform one another.

I kind of rebelled against it. I resisted it. I didn't know what I wanted to do when I was a kid and was reluctant to go into, y'know, Dad's...Show more »

I kind of rebelled against it. I resisted it. I didn't know what I wanted to do when I was a kid and was reluctant to go into, y'know, Dad's line of business. Show less «

I had years of partying, and I was kind of surprised and happy I survived it all. Now, being a parent, I look back on it thinking, Oh God, t...Show more »

I had years of partying, and I was kind of surprised and happy I survived it all. Now, being a parent, I look back on it thinking, Oh God, the things you did! Show less «

(on working with Kevin Spacey on K-PAX (2001) and their similarities in working] I've been a big fan of his work -- The Usual Suspects (1995...Show more »

(on working with Kevin Spacey on K-PAX (2001) and their similarities in working] I've been a big fan of his work -- The Usual Suspects (1995), American Beauty (1999), L.A. Confidential (1997). He's a really good actor and he turns out to be a wonderful guy as well. We approach acting in the same way in that we both enjoy the process. We both like rehearsals and we understand the value of them. There are some actors who don't like to engage with other actors; they just like to relate to each other between "Action!" and "Cut!" But I've always felt that getting to know the people you're working with can inform and enrich the work. The closer you get, even if you're playing opposites, the better the work. Some actors are afraid of leaving it all off-camera or getting the characters confused, but I don't see it that way. I often feel that the actual movie is like the skin sloughed off the snake; it's the by-product of the real valuable stuff, which is the real-life experience of doing it. Show less «

[on his father, actor Lloyd Bridges] My father, unlike his father, was very supportive of all his kids getting involved in movies and acting...Show more »

[on his father, actor Lloyd Bridges] My father, unlike his father, was very supportive of all his kids getting involved in movies and acting in general. He loved what he did and wanted to turn his kids onto it. He thought it was a great way of meeting people, being creative, and traveling around the world and doing what you love to do. Show less «

I went from high school -- bang! -- into the movies. I did spend a few weeks in acting classes in New York when my father was there doing "C...Show more »

I went from high school -- bang! -- into the movies. I did spend a few weeks in acting classes in New York when my father was there doing "Cactus Flower". But most of my training really came from my parents and my brother [Beau Bridges]. Show less «

For a long while I wasn't sure I was going to make acting my main focus professionally. I was interested in music, painting and other creati...Show more »

For a long while I wasn't sure I was going to make acting my main focus professionally. I was interested in music, painting and other creative pursuits. I did the movies with a little more capricious an attitude; I wasn't so seriously minded as a total professional. Then came The Iceman Cometh (1973) We had eight weeks of rehearsals and then we shot for two weeks. So it was almost the reverse of how most movies are made. During those eight weeks, I was sitting around with these great actors and this great director, just shooting the breeze and, of course, going over the material. I was also getting to know how other actors of that caliber work on things like this. It was very enlightening. After that experience, I decided, "Hey, I can do this. And I can do this for the rest of my life in a professional way". Show less «

When I was offered the part of The Dude in The Big Lebowski (1998), I went through a big thing in my head worrying if this was going to be a...Show more »

When I was offered the part of The Dude in The Big Lebowski (1998), I went through a big thing in my head worrying if this was going to be a bad example for my girls. The guy was kind of an anti-hero, a pot-smoking, slacker kind of guy, and I was really racking my brain about it. I always want to feel free to play any role, a despicable guy or a good guy -- the full range of human experience. But this one was really giving me problems. So I assembled the family and told them my problem. After a long pause, my middle girl said, "Dad, you're an actor. We know that it's all pretend what you do. We know that when you kiss some lady on the screen that you still love Mom. We know you're an actor". So I had their permission, their blessing, to go play a character like The Dude. That was great that they understood that. And I count on the audiences to understand that what I do in my personal life and what I do on the screen are not some kind of example for them to base their lives on. Hopefully, when people see a movie, they know it's a movie. Show less «

I'm very proud of The Last Picture Show (1971). It was absolutely thrilling when I got that part. Peter Bogdanovich was just great, and the ...Show more »

I'm very proud of The Last Picture Show (1971). It was absolutely thrilling when I got that part. Peter Bogdanovich was just great, and the whole ensemble was too - Cloris Leachman and Ellen Burstyn and Tim Bottoms and Cybill. When we were doing it, we all had the feeling that we were doing something unique and special. For me, that film stands alone. It's not like any other movie I can think of. It just hangs there by itself. It's still and slow and quiet. Show less «

I'm glad I survived the '60s. They were dangerous. Fun, too. Everything in your life teaches you something.

I've been involved with two big flop Westerns [Heaven's Gate (1980) and Wild Bill (1995)]. I don't know if Americans still care about Wester...Show more »

I've been involved with two big flop Westerns [Heaven's Gate (1980) and Wild Bill (1995)]. I don't know if Americans still care about Westerns. I hope they do. There are some wonderful ones still to be made. - 2001. Show less «

Acting is tough some times. It can be a complicated case. A lot of ins, a lot of outs, a lot of what-have-yous, a lot of strands to keep in ...Show more »

Acting is tough some times. It can be a complicated case. A lot of ins, a lot of outs, a lot of what-have-yous, a lot of strands to keep in your head, man. But, you know, you manage. Show less «

[on Heaven's Gate (1980)] I remember going to the New York premiere. I'm not sure he (Michael Cimino) had seen the movie complete; he was sc...Show more »

[on Heaven's Gate (1980)] I remember going to the New York premiere. I'm not sure he (Michael Cimino) had seen the movie complete; he was scrambling to put it together. Afterward we heard that terrible stuttering applause, and it was that sinking feeling. We tried to tell ourselves, "Well, maybe they liked it so much that they are stunned into silence." Show less «

Probably 150 less movies are going to be made next year (2010), and that's very concerning to all actors. It's hard enough finding a great s...Show more »

Probably 150 less movies are going to be made next year (2010), and that's very concerning to all actors. It's hard enough finding a great script, but now it's going to be tougher. -- on how the economy is affecting the film industry. Show less «

To get a good script at any age is kind of a rare thing. The movie-going audience is mainly young guys, and (producers) want to target them....Show more »

To get a good script at any age is kind of a rare thing. The movie-going audience is mainly young guys, and (producers) want to target them. It kind of makes sense from their standpoint, but an interesting story is an interesting story. I remember being a younger guy liking to see movies with older folks in them, so that never deterred me. -- on ageism in the film industry. Show less «

The hardest thing about acting is getting a foot in the door and that was all handled by my dad. The fact is, I'm a product of nepotism. And...Show more »

The hardest thing about acting is getting a foot in the door and that was all handled by my dad. The fact is, I'm a product of nepotism. And that took some getting used to. Life will supply you with gutters. Having a famous father. Feeling that stench of nepotism. That's a gutter right there. Show less «

[on what advice he'd give to himself as a young actor starting out] Have fun. Don't take it too seriously. Don't mistake this for reality. B...Show more »

[on what advice he'd give to himself as a young actor starting out] Have fun. Don't take it too seriously. Don't mistake this for reality. Be sincere, but don't get too serious. But that's a life direction too, it doesn't just apply to movies. Show less «

(On The Big Lebowski (1998) It's kind of a masterpiece, man. It's like The Godfather (1972) - I see it on the tube and I think I'm just goin...Show more »

(On The Big Lebowski (1998) It's kind of a masterpiece, man. It's like The Godfather (1972) - I see it on the tube and I think I'm just going to watch a couple of scenes, but I end up watching the whole thing. Show less «

[on Crazy Heart (2009)] This one was kind of a challenge - I find I'm most challenged by things I really care about, because I really want t...Show more »

[on Crazy Heart (2009)] This one was kind of a challenge - I find I'm most challenged by things I really care about, because I really want to do them well. It causes quite a bit of anxiety. But that very thing you're afraid of is kind of like a blessing in disguise. If you didn't have that fear, you wouldn't have the other side - courage and bravery, positive emotions. As an actor, you get used to those fears, and you're almost happy when they show up. It makes you learn your lines and prepare. Then when it's finally time to pull the trigger on the thing, you relax and let it come out. Show less «

I like to think of myself as a character actor, though there's some redundancy in that... I'm very pleased with my career, the stories I've ...Show more »

I like to think of myself as a character actor, though there's some redundancy in that... I'm very pleased with my career, the stories I've told. I consider myself very lucky as to how it all came down. I don't really care about having more fame than I have. [2010] Show less «

[on incorporating digitized images of deceased actors in current films] I don't know quite how I feel about that. I guess it's progress. You...Show more »

[on incorporating digitized images of deceased actors in current films] I don't know quite how I feel about that. I guess it's progress. You can't slow that thing down. I imagine they'll soon be able to - if they don't do this already - take a little De Niro, a little Brando, a little Bridges and just a drop of Julie Andrews and shake that up. It's gonna get weird. Show less «

[on releasing his first album of songs] People like to put things in a box - and they do that with their own lives too, they limit things - ...Show more »

[on releasing his first album of songs] People like to put things in a box - and they do that with their own lives too, they limit things - but it's all art to me. To me, all art is truth. People try to define things and make it easier for their mind to digest things, I guess. But music has been part of my life since I was a kid. Music meant more to me when I was young, but I went into acting because of family and because because it was the path of least resistance. Show less «

On Michelle Pfeiffer: I bet her a thousand dollars after that movie (The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)) came out that she'd be offered a record...Show more »

On Michelle Pfeiffer: I bet her a thousand dollars after that movie (The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)) came out that she'd be offered a recording deal, and she still owes me. Show less «

On Michelle Pfeiffer: She's a wonderful combination of beauty, mystery and funk. The funk factor is her ordinariness, the surfer girl from O...Show more »

On Michelle Pfeiffer: She's a wonderful combination of beauty, mystery and funk. The funk factor is her ordinariness, the surfer girl from Orange County. These elements are mixed with her courage to do things she is frightened of and the talent to make us believe. Show less «

[remembering director Michael Cimino] In 1973, Mike Cimino cast me as Lightfoot in the first movie he directed - Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (...Show more »

[remembering director Michael Cimino] In 1973, Mike Cimino cast me as Lightfoot in the first movie he directed - Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974). I was just starting out, just a kid. I remember being up in Montana wondering why he had picked me. I didn't feeling anything like the character I had been hired to play. I felt inadequate, undeserving, confused. The day before shooting began I confessed this all to Mike. This was Mike's first movie, one he had written as well. He'd been given this opportunity by Clint Eastwood, the movie's producer and star. I felt sorry for Mike. This was a big break for him, and here he was the day before his movie was to start shooting, and this frightened young actor who had a major roll in it was telling him he didn't know if he could do it. After not too long a pause, Mike looked at me, and said, "You know that game Tag?" "Yeah," I said. "Well... You're it," Mike told me. He went on to say that this guy, Lightfoot, was no one other than me, that I couldn't make a mistake, or a false move, even if I wanted to. I've never forgotten that bit of direction that that young director gave me on his first movie, that gift of confidence. I'll often bring it to mind when that feeling of inadequateness, that feeling of not deserving what I've been given comes to me. I'll remember to enjoy the game, this game of 'Tag.' A few years later, after Mike won an Academy Award for directing The Deer Hunter (1978), he cast me again in another movie. Now he was an award winner, and along with Coppola, Bogdanovich, & Scorsese, a 'Hollywood Darling', encouraged to make whatever movie he wanted to make. Heaven's Gate (1980) is what he had in mind. A movie about a particularly fascinating time in American History when Cattle Barons, sanctioned by the United States government, waged war on emigrants - the Johnson County Wars. I was cast to play John Bridges, a character Mike loosely based on one of my relatives. The many months of shooting in Montana were a one of a kind movie making experience. When "Heaven's Gate" came out, many critics called it a flop, a disaster. Well...that's just their opinion, man. To me, and many others, it's a masterpiece, and grows in beauty each time it's seen. Michael Cimino was a splendid filmmaker. Getting to work with him was a great pleasure and honor, and a real stroke of luck, a blessing. I'll miss you, Mike. Thanks for tagging me, man. [4th July 2016] Show less «