Not to be overly dramatic, but 2020 has been the worst year in modern history. It’s the real-life equivalent of KC Green’s “this is fine” cartoon. We’re all just that dog drinking coffee in a burning building, you know?
Our collective annus horribilis continues with the breaking news that Jeff Bridges is battling cancer. The beloved actor–the Dude himself!–announced his diagnosis in a series of tweets on Monday afternoon.
“As the Dude would say… New s**t has come to light,” Bridges began.
“I have been diagnosed with lymphoma. Although it is a serious disease, I feel fortunate that I have a great team of doctors and the prognosis is good,” Bridges continued. “I’m starting treatment and will keep you posted on my recovery.”
He followed up the first tweet with a message of thanks–and a reminder to vote.
“I’m profoundly grateful for the love and support from my family and friends. Thank you for your prayers and well wishes,” Bridges tweeted. “And, while I have you, please remember to go vote. Because we are all in this together.”
A huge outpouring of support on social media followed Bridges’ announcement. His friends, colleagues, and costars rushed to offer messages of love and hope for the actor during his cancer battle.
“Jeff, my god, I love you,” wrote Aaron Paul, who played Bridges’ character’s son in the 2001 film K-PAX. “Sending you so much love and light my friend. Love to you and the family.”
Barbra Streisand wrote on Instagram, “You have such a joyful spirit that I know you will overcome this temporary blip. Sending you lots of love and light.”
“We’ll be here reflectin all the light you’ve shown us back onto ya, sir. Godspeed to a full recovery,” Westworld actor Jimmi Simpson tweeted.
James Woods, who costarred in Against All Odds, wrote that Bridges is “absolutely loved by every person who has ever crossed his path. In my heart I know he’ll beat this thing, Against All Odds.”
The 70-year-old actor has almost a hundred credits on IMDb, but his best-loved role is still The Big Lebowski. Did you know that he’s been nominated for an Academy Award 7 times? He finally won in 2010 for Crazy Heart. Currently, he’s filming a TV series called The Old Man, described as “A former CIA officer, living off the grid finds himself on the run from people who want to kill him.”
He’s been married to Susan Geston since 1977, and claims that it was love at first sight when he met the former waitress. They are the proud parents of three children. Bridges and his daughter Isabelle recently wrote a children’s book together called Daddy Daughter Day, with some of the proceeds going to fight hunger. In fact, Bridges is known for his philanthropy and kindness, as well as being an all-around good dude, and I swear if anything happens to him….
“Time goes so fast, and it’s so precious,” Bridges said in an interview earlier this month with People Magazine. “To spend it with people you love, there’s nothing richer than that.”
