Legendary actor Jeff Bridges announces that he has been diagnosed with lymphoma. The son of famed actor Lloyd Bridges, Jeff Bridges has been a staple of American cinema for over 50 years, starting as a teenager in the action-adventure series Sea Hunt. Since the late 1960s, he's mainly worked in feature films, cultivating a cowboy persona that he's playfully applied not just to Westerns but to nearly every major genre. Despite being nominated for seven Oscars and eventually winning for 2009's Crazy Heart, he's widely known for his iconic role as slacker-stoner Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski in the Coen Brothers' cult comedy The Big Lebowski.
Bridges has been just as prolific in his older age as he was in his youth. The 70-year-old has starred or appeared in seven movies since 2016, working on four just in 2017 alone. Those films include Kingsman: The Golden Circle, Bad Times at the El Royale, and the Western heist film Hell or High Water, which earned him his seventh Oscar nomination for playing Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton.
The actor's output may stagnate from here on out, as Bridges tweeted Monday night that he has started treatment for lymphoma. He continued the Twitter thread by thanking his friends and family for their support and urging his more than 284,000 followers to go out and vote. Though the sad news of the diagnosis comes as a shock to generations of moviegoers who grew up on his amazing performances, Bridges still channeled the levity and humor of his most well-known character. Read a statement from FX, Touchstone Television, Hulu and FXP along with Bridges' thread below:
“Our thoughts go out to Jeff and his family during this challenging time and they have our love and support. We wish him a safe and full recovery. And, as Jeff always says, ‘We are all in this together.’ Jeff, we are all in this together with you.”
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that typically begins in white blood cells, which help fight infections and can be found in the lymph nodes, spleen, and other parts of the body. The majority of cases are classified as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, though Bridges didn't provide any specific details on the diagnosis but said he would keep the public updated on new developments.
Following the announcement, dozens of actors and public figures tweeted their support and prayers to Bridges, including George Takei, Rosie Perez, and Rosanna Arquette. Other users shared images and GIFs of The Dude, explaining how the character has become not just a comedic icon but a way of life that's forged strong friendships among fellow fans of The Big Lebowski. If there's anything to take away from The Dude's philosophy, it's that going with the flow and maintaining a sense of cool in the face of difficulty will lead to good things ahead. Here's to wishing Jeff Bridges a full and speedy recovery.
Source: Jeff Bridges