Jeff Bridges became immortal with his role as "Dude" in "The Big Lebowski". But in real life, the actor has recently been struggling with massive health problems - first cancer, then Covid-19. Now he reveals how he is doing at the moment.
In October 2020, Jeff Bridges was shocked to have lymphoma. In January 2021 he then became infected with the corona virus. According to his own statement, the actor is doing better today. "I'm feeling good," the 72-year-old told Entertainment Tonight at the premiere of his new drama series The Old Man.
"Cancer-wise, yes, remission. And Covid... you know, it made my cancer look like nothing, this Covid. I did my chemo for the cancer. It destroyed my whole immune system - and then I got Covid. And that blew my mind."
Bridges had already spoken about his struggle for survival in an interview with "People" magazine at the end of May. "I was very close to death. The doctors kept telling me, 'Jeff, you have to fight. You don't fight.' I was in surrender mode. I was ready to go. I was dancing with my mortality," he said.
But thanks to plasma therapy, things went uphill again for the actor. Every day brought him some hope and strength, he explained. "I started taking baby steps," Bridges said. A physiotherapist worked with him three times a week after the acute infection to help him recover. Now he is in the best of health - and apparently bursting with energy again.
So Bridges has now completed the series "The Old Man" after a two-year break. He plays the role of CIA agent Dan Chase in hiding. The actor also served as executive producer.
"The Old Man" is based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Thomas Perry and will start on June 16 on US broadcaster FX and in the Hulu stream. In Germany, the series will appear on Disney.
Born in 1949, Bridges began his career in the late 1960s. A role for which he is still admired by many fans and which earned him cult status, he played in the 1998 film "The Big Lebowski". In the strip of the brothers Joel and Ethan Coen he embodied the title character Jeffrey Lebowski aka "The Dude".
