Academy Award-nominated American actor and musician Jeff Bridges was born on December 4, 1949 in Los Angeles, California. He is the son of well-known TV star Lloyd Bridges and Dorothy Dean Bridges. His first appearance on film was with his brother, uncredited in the 1951 film The Company She Keeps. He was also given minor roles, appearing with his father in two episodes of the series Sea Hunt. He was in numerous television shows, like The Lloyd Bridges Show and The Loner, before landing a role in the TV movie Silent Night, Lonely Night in 1969. This was followed by The Yin and Yang of Mr. Go and Halls of Anger in 1970.
Jeff Bridges’ breakthrough role was that of Duane Jackson in the 1971 The Last Picture Show. For his performance, he earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was once again nominated for playing alongside Clint Eastwood in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot in 1974. He subsequently appeared in Rancho Deluxe and Hearts of the West, both in 1975. During the 1980s, Jeff Bridges was cast as Harry in The American Success Company and Heaven’s Gate. His next big role was that of Kevin Flynn in the sci-fi flick Tron. His next Academy Award-nominated role was that of the alien in the 1984 Starman. That same year, he was given applause for his portrayal of Terry Brogan in Against All Odds. In 1985, Bridges was acclaimed in the drama Jagged Edge. He then appeared in several more films like The Morning After in 1986, Nadine in 1987, Tucker: The Man and His Dream in 1988, and Cold Feet in 1989.
Bridges was given critical acclaim for his performance in 1993’s Fearless, said to be one of his best movies. This was followed by roles in Blown Away, and the television movie Hidden in America, before he landed a role in the Coen brothers’ classic The Big Lebowski in 1998. In 2000, he was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of the character President Jackson Evans in The Contender. He was also in 2003’s Sea Biscuit and provided the voice for the character Big Z in the 2005 animated movie Surf’s Up. Jeff Bridges also played the role of Obadiah Stone in 2008 Marvel film Iron Man.
