Jeff Bridges is considered one of his generation’s most adored and prestigious actors.
Bridges have entertained us all for decades with his work in critically acclaimed movies like The Last Picture Show, cult classics like The Big Lebowski, and his Oscar-winning performance in Crazy Heart.
However, the 72-year-old has recently faced some terrifying health challenges. He was given a lymphoma diagnosis in 2020, and in addition to fighting cancer, he also struggled with a severe case of COVID-19.
Thankfully, Bridges is on the mend. In a recent interview, he revealed that he recovered just in time to accompany his daughter down the aisle at her wedding.
Weeks before turning 71 in October 2020, Bridges made his lymphoma diagnosis public. “New s**t has come to light,” he said in the voice of “the Dude” from The Big Lebowski. “.
Despite the seriousness of the condition, the actor said on Twitter, “I feel fortunate to have a great team of doctors and the prognosis is good.”.
In the following months, bridges regularly updated his followers on his health and development. He flaunted a new pet puppy and a shaved head in December 2020.
Additionally, he mentioned that he contracted COVID-19 while undergoing chemotherapy, which, in his words, “kicked [his] ass pretty good.”. He stayed in the hospital for five days because chemotherapy had compromised his immune system.
He wrote, “My dance with COVID makes my cancer look like a piece of cake.
Bridges claim that he experienced “moments of tremendous pain” while going through this ordeal and felt as though he was “getting close to the pearly gates,” but he maintained his positive outlook.
He stated, “This encounter with death has given me a true gift.”. Life is fleeting and lovely. Love is always present and all around us. “.
Bridges, thankfully, started to recover despite his close call with cancer and COVID-19. He declared that his nine by 12-inch tumour had “shrunk down to the size of a marble” and that his cancer was in remission. “.
Bridges set his sights on an extraordinary life moment: walking his daughter down the aisle at her wedding. His health issues were finally “in the rearview”, and he had gained a new appreciation for life.
In a recent interview with The Independent, Bridges stated that his health issues “exacerbated all these feelings of love for my wonderful family,” When his youngest daughter Hayley was getting married, he knew he wanted to be there to walk her down the aisle.
It would be difficult for him to stand up and walk, and he needed oxygen, so doing so would be difficult for him due to his health issues. But with this objective in mind, the committed Bridges made an effort to improve, working with a trainer to decrease the time it took him to walk.
“I could only stand up for 45 seconds, which was my record. How many steps can I take now, good question. He recalled to The Independent, “Now I’m going to walk down the hall – all of this with oxygen, of course.
Thankfully, his perseverance and hard work were rewarded as he danced with Hayley and walked her down the aisle.
Bridges said, “That was excellent.
Fortunately, Bridges has made enough progress toward recovery to resume acting; he currently plays the lead in the FX drama The Old Man, which had its season one premiere in June and has been picked up for a second.