Name : Jeff Bridges
Birth Name : Jeffrey Leon Bridges
Date of Birth : 4 December 1949
Place of Birth : Los Angeles, California, USA
Nickname : The Dude
Height : 6' 1" (1.85 m)
Awards : Won 1 Oscar, 1 BAFTA and 1 Golden Globe
Occupation : Actor, singer, producer, composer
Years active : 1969–present
Spouse : Susan Geston (1977–present; 3 children)
BIOGRAPHY
Actor. Born Jeffrey Leon Bridges on December 4, 1949, in Los Angeles, California. Bridges was born into a Hollywood family—his father was famed actor Lloyd Bridges, and their mother, Dorothy, was also an actress—which paved the way for both his and his brother Beau's early acting careers. Jeff made his first big-screen appearance in The Company She Keeps (1951), when he was less than a year old. His mother and brother also made uncredited appearances in the film. He then appeared in his father's television series Sea Hunt (1958) for several episodes, as well as The Lloyd Bridges Show.
Often a discipline problem at school, Jeff's parents sent him to a military academy his freshman year of high school in order to teach him discipline, and take his mind off of girls. Bridges hated every minute of military school, and returned to a public high school to finish out his education. Despite the attempt to make him focus on his studies, Bridges' academics tended to take a backseat to his creative efforts. At the age of 16, he wrote a song which was used in the 1969 film John and Mary. While still a teenager, he also sold two compositions to music producer Quincy Jones.
Upon graduation from University High School, Bridges followed in his brother Beau's footsteps and enlisted in the Coast Guard Reserves with the help of his father's Sea Hunt connections. He then headed to New York, where he studied acting at the famed Herbert Berghof Studio. He appeared in the film Halls of Anger in 1970, followed by a role in The Yin and Yang of Mr. Go that same year.
But the young actor's truly broke into show business in 1971, when he starred in Peter Bogdonavitch's critically acclaimed The Last Picture Show. His role as Duane Jackson, one of two best friends coming to age in a sleepy Texas town, earned Bridges an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. It also led to more serious roles in films such as Fat City (1972) and The Last American Hero (1973). But during this time in his career, Bridges wasn't focused on acclaim or stardom. He was more interested in his experimentation with drugs, spirituality, and his relationships with actress such as Cybil Shepard and Valerie Perrine.
It wasn't until he signed on to the 1973 drama The Iceman Cometh, that Bridges seriously considered making a life of acting. After Bridges turned the film down, he was shamed into doing the picture by friend and director Lamont Johnson. "So I said to myself, maybe I'll do a little experiment," Bridges later recalled. "I hear that if you're a pro you're supposed to do it even if you don't feel like it." Bridges signed on to the film, which rekindled his interest in acting.
Bridges went on to have an illustrious acting career, appearing in popular films such as Heaven's Gate (1980) and TRON (1982), and receiving Oscar nominations for Starman (1984), and Tucker (1988). Later films include The Fisher King (1991) starring Robin Williams, and The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996), featuring Barbra Streisand.
Often a discipline problem at school, Jeff's parents sent him to a military academy his freshman year of high school in order to teach him discipline, and take his mind off of girls. Bridges hated every minute of military school, and returned to a public high school to finish out his education. Despite the attempt to make him focus on his studies, Bridges' academics tended to take a backseat to his creative efforts. At the age of 16, he wrote a song which was used in the 1969 film John and Mary. While still a teenager, he also sold two compositions to music producer Quincy Jones.
Upon graduation from University High School, Bridges followed in his brother Beau's footsteps and enlisted in the Coast Guard Reserves with the help of his father's Sea Hunt connections. He then headed to New York, where he studied acting at the famed Herbert Berghof Studio. He appeared in the film Halls of Anger in 1970, followed by a role in The Yin and Yang of Mr. Go that same year.
But the young actor's truly broke into show business in 1971, when he starred in Peter Bogdonavitch's critically acclaimed The Last Picture Show. His role as Duane Jackson, one of two best friends coming to age in a sleepy Texas town, earned Bridges an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. It also led to more serious roles in films such as Fat City (1972) and The Last American Hero (1973). But during this time in his career, Bridges wasn't focused on acclaim or stardom. He was more interested in his experimentation with drugs, spirituality, and his relationships with actress such as Cybil Shepard and Valerie Perrine.
It wasn't until he signed on to the 1973 drama The Iceman Cometh, that Bridges seriously considered making a life of acting. After Bridges turned the film down, he was shamed into doing the picture by friend and director Lamont Johnson. "So I said to myself, maybe I'll do a little experiment," Bridges later recalled. "I hear that if you're a pro you're supposed to do it even if you don't feel like it." Bridges signed on to the film, which rekindled his interest in acting.
Bridges went on to have an illustrious acting career, appearing in popular films such as Heaven's Gate (1980) and TRON (1982), and receiving Oscar nominations for Starman (1984), and Tucker (1988). Later films include The Fisher King (1991) starring Robin Williams, and The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996), featuring Barbra Streisand.
CAREER
In his youth, Bridges, as well as his brother Beau, made occasional appearances on their father's show Sea Hunt (1958–1961) and the CBS anthology series, The Lloyd Bridges Show (1962–1963).
His first major role was in the 1971 movie The Last Picture Show for which he garnered a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was nominated again for the same award for his performance opposite Clint Eastwood in the 1974 film Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. In 1976, he starred as the protagonist Jack Prescott in the first remake of King Kong, opposite Jessica Lange. This film was a huge commercial success, earning back $90 million worldwide, more than triple its $23 million budget, and also winning an Academy Award for special effects.
One of his better known roles was in the 1982 science-fiction cult classic TRON, in which he played Kevin Flynn, a video game programmer, a role he reprised in late 2010 with the sequel TRON: Legacy. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1984 for playing the alien in Starman. He was also acclaimed for his roles in the thriller Against All Odds and the crime drama Jagged Edge. His role in Fearless is recognized by some critics to be one of his best performances.One critic dubbed it a masterpiece; Pauline Kael wrote that he "may be the most natural and least self-conscious screen actor that has ever lived". He also starred as "The Dude" in the Coen Brothers' cult-classic film The Big Lebowski.
In 2000, he received his fourth Academy Award nomination for his role in The Contender. He also starred in the 2005 Terry Gilliam movie Tideland, his second with the director (the first being 1991's The Fisher King). He shaved his trademark mane of hair to play the role of Obadiah Stane in the 2008 Marvel comic book adaptation Iron Man. In July 2008 and July 2009, at the San Diego Comic-Con International, he appeared in a teaser for TRON: Legacy, the sequel to Tron.
In 2010, Bridges won the Academy Award for Best Actor, Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his role as Bad Blake in the film Crazy Heart. Bridges is one of the oldest actors ever to win an Academy Award; he was also one of the youngest actors ever to be nominated. In 2010, he won his Oscar for Crazy Heart at the age of 60; in 1972, he was nominated for The Last Picture Show at age 22.
Bridges' most recent project is True Grit, a collaboration with the Coen brothers in which he stars alongside Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper, and Hailee Steinfeld. The film, and Bridges' performance as Rooster Cogburn, was critically praised.
His first major role was in the 1971 movie The Last Picture Show for which he garnered a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was nominated again for the same award for his performance opposite Clint Eastwood in the 1974 film Thunderbolt and Lightfoot. In 1976, he starred as the protagonist Jack Prescott in the first remake of King Kong, opposite Jessica Lange. This film was a huge commercial success, earning back $90 million worldwide, more than triple its $23 million budget, and also winning an Academy Award for special effects.
One of his better known roles was in the 1982 science-fiction cult classic TRON, in which he played Kevin Flynn, a video game programmer, a role he reprised in late 2010 with the sequel TRON: Legacy. He was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor in 1984 for playing the alien in Starman. He was also acclaimed for his roles in the thriller Against All Odds and the crime drama Jagged Edge. His role in Fearless is recognized by some critics to be one of his best performances.One critic dubbed it a masterpiece; Pauline Kael wrote that he "may be the most natural and least self-conscious screen actor that has ever lived". He also starred as "The Dude" in the Coen Brothers' cult-classic film The Big Lebowski.
In 2000, he received his fourth Academy Award nomination for his role in The Contender. He also starred in the 2005 Terry Gilliam movie Tideland, his second with the director (the first being 1991's The Fisher King). He shaved his trademark mane of hair to play the role of Obadiah Stane in the 2008 Marvel comic book adaptation Iron Man. In July 2008 and July 2009, at the San Diego Comic-Con International, he appeared in a teaser for TRON: Legacy, the sequel to Tron.
In 2010, Bridges won the Academy Award for Best Actor, Golden Globe for Best Actor in a Drama, and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his role as Bad Blake in the film Crazy Heart. Bridges is one of the oldest actors ever to win an Academy Award; he was also one of the youngest actors ever to be nominated. In 2010, he won his Oscar for Crazy Heart at the age of 60; in 1972, he was nominated for The Last Picture Show at age 22.
Bridges' most recent project is True Grit, a collaboration with the Coen brothers in which he stars alongside Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper, and Hailee Steinfeld. The film, and Bridges' performance as Rooster Cogburn, was critically praised.
Humanitarian Work
In 1984, Bridges and other entertainment industry leaders founded the End Hunger Network, which has a long record of innovative and impactful initiatives aimed at encouraging, stimulating and supporting action to end childhood hunger. He embraces President Obama's initiative to End Childhood Hunger by 2015. He has teamed up with the Zen Peacemakers who operate a non-traditional soup kitchen that builds a cross-class community and provides food and wellness offerings with dignity. In November 2010, Bridges became spokesman for the No Kid Hungry Campaign of the organization Share our Strength. Its goal is to present and undertake a state-by-state strategy to end childhood hunger in the United States by 2015.
MOVIES & AWARDS
The Company She Keeps (1950)
Silent Night, Lonely Night (1969)
Halls of Anger (1970)
The Last Picture Show (1970)
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
The Yin & Yang of Mr. Go (1971)
Fat City (1972)
Bad Company (1972)
Lolly-Madonna XXX (1973)
The Last American Hero (1973)
The Iceman Cometh (1973)
Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Rancho Deluxe (1975)
Hearts of the West (1975)
Stay Hungry (1976)
King Kong (1976)
Winter Kills (1979)
The American Success Company (1979)
Heaven's Gate (1980)
Cutter's Way (1981)
Tron (1982)
Kiss Me Goodbye (1982)
The Last Unicorn (1982)
Against All Odds (1984)
Starman (1984)
Saturn Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama
Jagged Edge (1985)
8 Million Ways to Die (1986)
The Morning After (1986)
Nadine (1987)
Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)
See You in the Morning (1989)
The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
Texasville (1990)
The Fisher King (1991)
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actor
American Heart (1982)
Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead
The Vanishing (1993)
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actor
Fearless (1993)
Blown Away (1994)
Wild Bill (1995)
White Squall (1996)
The Mirror Has Two Faces (1996)
Hidden in America (1996)
The Big Lebowski (1998)
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Arlington Road (1999)
The Muse (1999)
Simpatico (1999)
The Contender (2000)
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Scenes of the Crime (2001)
K-PAX (2001)
Lost in La Mancha (2002)
Masked and Anonymous (2003)
Seabiscuit (2003)
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
The Door in the Floor (2004)
Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead
The Amateurs (2005)
Tideland (2005)
Stick It (2006)
Surf's Up (2007)
A Dog Year (2008)
Nominated—Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Miniseries or a Movie
Iron Man (2008)
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Villain
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008)
The Open Road (2009)
Crazy Heart (2009)
Academy Award for Best Actor
Alliance of Women Film Journalists Eda Award for Best Actor
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Denver Film Critics Award for Best Actor
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama
Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead
Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor
Nominated—London Film Critics Circle Award for Actor of the Year
Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor - Motion Picture Drama
Nominated—St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009)
Tron: Legacy (2010)
True Grit (2010)
Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor
Nominated—London Film Critics Circle Award for Actor of the Year
Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated—St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Utah Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
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