Jeff Bridges

Jeff Bridges is an Academy Award-winning American actor perhaps best known for his role as "The Dude" in The Big Lebowski. He won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrait of a wayward musican in the 2009 film Crazy Heart.
==Biography==
The son of well-known film and TV star Lloyd Bridges and his long-time wife Dorothy Dean Bridges, Jeffrey Leon Bridges was born on December 4, 1949 in Los Angeles, California, and grew up amid the happening Hollywood scene with big brother Beau Bridges. Both boys popped up unbilled 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) (TV), 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- helmed 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. Nevertheless, Jeff continued to be a scene-stealing favorite into the next decade, notably as the video game programmer in the 1982 sci-fi 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 phenom) 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).
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.
==Trivia==
Met his wife, Susan Bridges, in 1975 while filming Rancho Deluxe (1975) - she was working as a maid on a dude ranch.
Son of Lloyd Bridges and Dorothy Dean Bridges, brother of Beau Bridges and Cindy Bridges.
Uncle of Casey Bridges, Jordan Bridges, Dylan Bridges, Emily Bridges and Jamey Geston.
Actor spouses Larry Parks and Betty Garrett were his godparents.
Is a talented guitarist.
Has stated American Heart (1992) and Fearless (1993) as his favorites.
Born at 11:58 PM PST.
Father of Isabelle Annie Bridges (Isabelle Bridges) (born August 6, 1981), Jessica Lily Bridges (born June 14, 1983) and Haley Roselouise Bridges (born October 17, 1985) with Susan Bridges.
Between takes, he shoots still photographs as a hobby.
Has played roles with the first name 'Jack' seven times, and with the surname 'Jackson' four times.
Served in the United States Coast Guard.
Is a big fan of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys.
His performance as Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski in The Big Lebowski(1998) is ranked #90 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).
He is well known for his liberal political views.
Was considered for the part of Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver (1976).
Is mentioned in the song "Jeff Bridges" by Midnight Choir.
Went to Palisades Charter High School in Los Angeles.
He was considered, along with Nick Nolte, for the role of Det. Sonny Crockett on "Miami Vice" (1984). Both were deemed too expensive, and Don Johnson got the part.
Was considered for the part of Jack in Speed (1994/I).
Was considered for the role of Dan Gallagher in Fatal Attraction (1987).
It was during the filming of The Iceman Cometh (1973) that he decided to focus solely on acting, and make it his profession. Up until then, he has said that he "just enjoyed the ride".
Good friends with Nick Nolte and Gary Busey.
Considered for the lead in Year of the Dragon (1985).
Considered for Christopher Walken's role in The Deer Hunter (1978).
Auditioned for the part of 'Cpt. Willard' in Apocalypse Now (1979), as did his good friend Nick Nolte.
His good friend Terry Gilliam wanted him for the part of James Cole in Twelve Monkeys (1995). Bruce Willis got the part because he was a more bankable star.
He was one of many considered for the role of 'John Rambo' in First Blood (1982) when the script was still circulating.
Considered for the lead in The Thing (1982).
He was strongly considered for the lead role of 'Quaid' in Total Recall (1990).
The lead role of 'Jack' in Speed (1994/I) was originally written for him.
He was offered the male lead in Love Story (1970). His brother Beau Bridges was the director's first choice. Both turned it down.
He was considered for the lead in Kinsey (2004).
Turned down the role of 'Hooper' in Jaws (1975).
Offered the part of Bobby Grady in Crimes of Passion (1984).
Considered for the lead in Big (1988).
Close friend and collaborator of directors John Carpenter and Terry Gilliam.
He is a big fan of actors Robert Ryan and Lee Marvin. Favorite movie is Billy Budd (1962).
Fan and friend of Kris Kristofferson. They both appeared in Heaven's Gate (1980), and Kristofferson famously sang "Help Me Make it Through the Night" in Fat City (1972), which starred Bridges.
Bridges and Nick Nolte were considered as possible candidates for the two leads in Heat (1995), roles that famously went to Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.
Director Michael Mann strongly considered Bridges for the lead in Thief (1981), but among other things, he was believed to be too young to be able to pull of the role of a seasoned criminal.
Did some of his education at a military academy.
Was director Taylor Hackford's original choice for the lead role in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), but he had to turn it down due to a busy schedule.
Turned down the lead role of 'Jack Cates' in 48 Hrs. (1982), because he didn't want to do a simple cop movie. The role went to Nick Nolte. Bridges later worked with the director Walter Hill in Wild Bill (1995).
Turned down the lead role of Indiana Jones, one of the most famous movie characters of all time, in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). He does not regret it.
Friend of Tommy Lee Jones and Kurt Russell.
Jon Hamm states Bridges as his favorite actor.
Jacknife (1989) was developed as a vehicle for Bridges. He turned it down, and Robert De Niro took on the lead role.
He was considered for the part of Batman/Bruce Wayne in Batman (1989).
Was in a relationship with Candy Clark in the early 70s. They met on the set of Fat City (1972).
Turned down the role of "Snake Plissken" in Escape from New York (1981). The role went to Kurt Russell. Strangely Bridges was also considered for the lead in The Thing (1982) A role also played by Kurt Russell.
Was set to star in Tequila Sunrise (1988) with Nick Nolte, but when Nolte dropped out, so did he. Mel Gibson and Kurt Russell starred in the film.
Turned down a part in The California Kid (1974) (TV).
Turned down the part of 'Zachariah' in Zachariah (1971) to work on The Last Picture Show (1971).
The first actor to be nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in a film that also starred Clint Eastwood. Bridges was nominated for Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974).
Is only the third actor in Oscar history to be nominated for an award for playing a part that had already won a previous actor an award. John Wayne won Best Actor for playing Rooster Cogburn in True Grit (1969), the same role that earned Bridges a nomination. Previously, Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro both won Oscars for playing Vito Corleone in The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather: Part II (1974). Gérard Depardieu was nominated for playing the title role in Cyrano de Bergerac (1990), the same role that had won an Oscar for José Ferrer forty years earlier. Bridges and Depardieu are the only actors who were nominated for a direct remake of an earlier Oscar-winning film﻿.
==Movie Listing==
Year	Movie 	Character
1950	The Company She Keeps 	Infant (uncredited)
1969	Silent Night, Lonely Night 	John Young
1970	Halls of Anger 	Doug
1971	Last Picture Show 	Duane Jackson
1971	The Yin and Yang of Mr. Go 	Nero Finnighan
1972	Fat City 	Ernie
1972	Bad Company 	Jake Rumsey
1973	Lolly-Madonna XXX 	Zack Feather
1973	Last American Hero 	Robert Glenn "Junior" Johnson
1973	The Iceman Cometh 	Don Parritt
1974	Thunderbolt and Lightfoot 	Lightfoot
1975	Rancho Deluxe 	Jack McKee
1975	Hearts of the West 	Lewis Tater
1976	Stay Hungry 	Craig Blake
1976	King Kong 	Jack Prescott
1979	Winter Kills 	Nick Kegan
1979	The American Success Company 	Harry Flowers
1980	Heaven's Gate 	John L. Bridges
1981	Cutter's Way 	Richard Bone
1982	Tron 	Kevin Flynn
1982	Kiss Me Goodbye 	Dr. Rupert Baines
1982	The Last Unicorn 	Prince Lír
1984	Against All Odds 	Terry Brogan
1984	Starman 	Starman/Scott Hayden
1985	Jagged Edge 	Jack Forrester
1986	8 Million Ways to Die 	Matthew "Matt" Scudder
1986	The Morning After 	Turner Kendall
1987	Nadine 	Vernon Hightower
1988	Tucker: The Man and His Dream 	Preston Tucker
1989	See You in the Morning 	Larry Livingstone
1989	The Fabulous Baker Boys 	Jack Baker
1990	Texasville 	Duane Jackson
1991	The Fisher King 	Jack Lucas
1992	American Heart 	Jack Kelson
1993	The Vanishing 	Barney Cousins
1993	Fearless 	Max Klein
1994	Blown Away 	Jimmy Dove/Liam McGivney
1995	Wild Bill 	James Butler 'Wild Bill' Hickok
1996	White Squall 	Captain Christopher 'Skipper' Sheldon
1996	The Mirror Has Two Faces 	Gregory Larkin
1996	Hidden in America 	Vincent
1998	Big Lebowski 	Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski
1999	Arlington Road 	Michael Faraday
1999	The Muse 	Jack Warrick
1999	Simpatico 	Lyle Carter
2000	The Contender 	President Jackson Evans
2001	Scenes of the Crime 	Jimmy Berg
2001	K-PAX 	Dr. Mark Powell
2002	Lost in La Mancha 	Narrator
2003	Masked and Anonymous 	Tom Friend
2003	Seabiscuit 	Charles S. Howard
2004	The Door in the Floor 	Ted Cole
2005	The Amateurs 	Andy
2005	Tideland 	Noah
2006	Stick It 	Burt Vickerman
2007	Surf's Up 	Ezekiel 'Big Z' Topanga/Geek
2008	A Dog Year 	Jon Katz
2008	Iron Man 	Obadiah Stane / Iron Monger
2008	How to Lose Friends & Alienate People	Clayton Harding
2009	The Open Road 	Kyle
2009	Crazy Heart 	Bad Blake
2009	The Men Who Stare at Goats 	Bill Django
2010	Tron Legacy 	Clu 2.0
2010	True Grit (2010) 	Rooster Cogburn
==External Links==
*Genealogy of Jeff Bridges
Category:Actors
Category:Best Actor Oscar
Category:Producers
Category:1949 births
Category:Best Drama Actor Golden Globe (film) winners
Category:Golden Globe winners
Category:Screen Actors Guild Award winners
Category:Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Screen Actors Guild Award winners
Category:Academy Award winners
Category:Best Actor Academy Award winners