Trivia

Is a talented guitarist.

Served in the United States Coast Guard, like his father, Lloyd (during WWII), and his older brother, Beau.

Met his wife, Susan Bridges, while filming Rancho Deluxe (1975) - she was working as a maid on a dude ranch.

Was thought to have turned down the lead role in Indiana Jones, one of the most famous movie characters of all time, in Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). But he said this wasn't true in an interview with Howard Stern, as he was only considered for, not offered, the role.

Friends with Tommy Lee Jones and Kurt Russell.

His role in The Big Lebowski (1998) was written with him in mind.

Between takes, he shoots still photographs as a hobby.

His brother, Garrett Myles, died of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) on August 3, 1948.

Is described as being an extremely laid-back guy.

Refers to the art of acting as using his "pretend-muscle".

Before asking out wife-to-be Susan Geston while shooting Rancho Deluxe (1975) on location in Montana, Jeff snapped a photo of her just before having his proposal abruptly declined. Thereafter, the happily married man carried the photo as a reminder of that brush-off.

Diagnosed with lymphoma in October 2020.

His performance as Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski in The Big Lebowski (1998) is ranked #90 on Premiere magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

National Spokesperson and Founder of, "No Kid Hungry" (2010-2011)

Good friends with Nick Nolte, Christopher Walken and Gary Busey.

In 2010, both he and Colin Firth were nominated for the Academy Award in the category 'Best Leading Actor' (for Crazy Heart (2009) and A Single Man (2009) respectively). Bridges won the award. The next year, both men were again contending in the same category (for True Grit (2010) and The King's Speech (2010) respectively), with Firth winning this time.

One of his hobbies (other than his music) is ceramics.

He turned down the films Pretty Woman (1990) and Ghost (1990).

Childhood crush was actress Tuesday Weld.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7065 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on July 11, 1994.

He was considered for the role of Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver (1976). Paul Schrader wrote the role with him in mind before Robert De Niro was cast.

Became a grandfather for the first time at age 61 when his daughter Isabelle Bridges gave birth to a daughter Grace on March 31, 2011.

Jon Hamm states Bridges as his favorite actor.

Did some of his education at a military academy.

As of 2017, has appeared in four films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: The Last Picture Show (1971), Seabiscuit (2003), True Grit (2010) and Hell or High Water (2016). He was nominated for his performances in most of these films except Seabiscuit.

In 2011, he took a year off from acting to focus on recording, promoting and touring for his self-titled album.

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.

Was director Taylor Hackford's original choice for the lead role in An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), which he had to turn down due to a busy schedule.

Has stated American Heart (1992) and Fearless (1993) as his favorites.

He has appeared in three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: The Last Picture Show (1971), The Big Lebowski (1998) and Iron Man (2008).

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).

Close friend and collaborator of directors John Carpenter and Terry Gilliam.

Is a huge fan of Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys.

He was considered for the lead role in The Thing (1982), which went to Kurt Russell.

Has played roles with the first name 'Jack' seven times, and with the surname 'Jackson' four times.

The longest he has gone without an Academy Award nomination is 16 years, between Starman (1984) and The Contender (2000).

His good friend, Terry Gilliam, wanted him for the role of James Cole in 12 Monkeys (1995). Bruce Willis got the role because he was a more bankable star.

Is only the fifth actor in Oscar history to be nominated for an award for playing a role 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 and Peter O'Toole earned a Best Actor Nomination for -Goodbye, Mr. Chips (1969) the same role for which Robert Donat had won the Best Actor prize three decades prior. Also, the academy acknowledged both Charles Laughton and Robert Shaw for their portrayals of King Henry VIII: Laughton in an award winning performance in The Private Life of Henry VIII (1933) and Shaw in A Man for All Seasons (1966). Bridges, O'Toole and Depardieu were nominated for a direct remake of an earlier Oscar-winning film while De Niro earned his Statuette for a sequel and Shaw was nominated for a completely different story revolving around his shared character.

Became a father for the third time at age 35 when his wife Susan Bridges gave birth to their daughter Haley Roselouise Bridges on October 17, 1985.

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.

Son of Lloyd Bridges and Dorothy Dean Bridges, brother of Beau Bridges and Cindy Bridges.

He was considered for the lead role in Big (1988), which went to Tom Hanks.

He was offered the male lead in Love Story (1970). His brother Beau Bridges was the director's first choice. Both turned down the role.

Enjoys cigars, and smokes a couple every day.

He was considered for Christopher Walken's role in The Deer Hunter (1978).

He was one of many considered for the role of John Rambo in First Blood (1982) when the screenplay was still circulating.

An avid photographer, Jeff owns a Japanese Widelux 35mm camera that he uses to produce some of his popular photographic books, also taking it on location to capture the activity of co-stars and crew on the set during the shoots.

Jeff's father was from a family that had long lived in the United States (since the 1600s on many lines), and had English, and some Scots-Irish (Northern Irish), ancestry. Jeff's maternal grandfather was an English immigrant (born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England), while Jeff's maternal grandmother had Irish, Swiss-German, and German ancestry.

Has only ever played villains three times. He was CLU 2 in Tron: Legacy (2010) and Obadiah Stane in Iron Man (2008). Also played a killer in "The Vanishing" with Kiefer Sutherland (1993).

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.