Legendary actor Jeff Bridges is doing better than ever years after battling cancer and COVID-19.
While talking with EXTRA at the 49th Caplin Award Gala on April 29 where he was honored, Bridges and his wife Susan shared their secret to their long 48-year marriage. And the secret is pretty simple:
“Don’t get a divorce — that’s key.”
As Bridges continued, he also shared the he meets “all those ups and downs” in marriage “as kind of challenges and opportunities.” While Susan also adds that keeping “it fun” is a must.
“Have as much fun as you can,” Bridges agreed, adding that having Susan by his side all these years has made “it all worthwhile.”
For two years, Bridges and Susan endured one of their toughest journeys yet. As he told Entertainment Tonight in 2023, after accepting the lifetime achievement award at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards, he didn’t think he was going to make it to the other side of that journey.
“I was sick for two years — with cancer and COVID — and when I talked about my family … I wanted to, you know, talk about their support during that time,” he told ET. “I didn’t think I was going to make it at all, let alone get going back to work.”
Four years ago, the beloved actor underwent chemotherapy after being diagnosed with lymphoma in 2020 and came down with COVID-19 during those treatments, which only added to the difficult journey he was already on.
#JeffBridges is getting candid about his battle with cancer. pic.twitter.com/gCFjFranHz
— Access Hollywood (@accesshollywood) January 16, 2023
And while Bridges received the good news that his cancer was in remission in 2021, the treatment he underwent left him with several issues, including not being able to stand for more than 45 seconds at a time.
That was a concern for Bridges in more ways than one. Most importantly, because he was scheduled to walk one of his beloved daughters down the aisle during that time.
Using that for motivation, the dad of three dug deep and worked with a personal trainer in order to get his strength back. And his hard work paid off.
By August 2021, Bridges was back on his feet and able to walk his youngest daughter, Hayley Roselouise Bridges, down the aisle. Not only that, but Bridges was able to dance the night away as well.
While talking with ET at the Critics Choice awards, Bridges said it was the beautiful support of his family that eventually got him through and gave him the strength to get to his hit FX series The Old Man.
“We were stopped in the middle of the season and it was very surreal. It was like we had a two-year long weekend ya know? And then we came back to work and, you know, I’d say to Amy Brennamen and [John] Lithgow, and say, ‘I had the weirdest dream guys. I was in the hospital.’ I couldn’t believe it. But their support during those times — and also The Old Man. Doing that show was terrific and I’m so happy we’re going to do another season starting in March.”
Now, Bridges seems to be doing more than okay and we couldn’t be happier for him!