Actor Jeff Bridges won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 28th Critics Choice Awards.
Behind all successful people, there are those who unconditionally believe in them. Actor Jeff Bridges won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 28th Critics Choice Awards. His long-time friend and co-star in the film The Big Lebowski, John Goodman, presented the award to him. Bridges accepted the trophy and embraced his friend Goodman. In his speech, Bridges thanked his family for their love and support, reported PEOPLE.
He said the day was exceptionally memorable since it was also his late father's birthday. He said, "No, he's the reason that I'm up here." Bridges said his family has been "so supportive," also highlighting that his mom Dorothy is the "best actor of the bunch." He also thanked his siblings Beau, and Cindy, and his wife Susan Geston.
Bridges said, "And I get to be supported by my beautiful, wonderfully talented wife, Sue. We have been married for 48 years. Three incredible daughters, Isabelle, Jessie, and Haley."
"Family — that's kinda what it all comes down to," he later added. The actor further thanked everyone he had worked with throughout the years, comparing them to "little families" that he had the privilege to be a part of. He said he owed it all to everyone who helped make his career a success, including the critics.
The award comes after Bridges' long-fought and won battle with cancer of the lymphatic system. At the time, Geston shared with PEOPLE, "we were kind of numb. We just immediately went through the steps of doing what needed to be done." Luckily, the doctors detected the disease relatively early on, and they concocted a rigorous chemotherapy program that proved to be highly effective.
"They got a cocktail that worked, and oh man, it worked fast. The thing just imploded," Bridges said. But their ordeal was not over, while he was undergoing treatment, he was infected with COVID-19. After falling ill, his recovery took a huge blow, and his wife worried he might not recover.
The chemotherapy affected his immune system and Bridges had minimal defenses left to fight the COVID infection. The doctors kept telling me, "I was pretty close to dying.' Jeff, you've got to fight. You're not fighting.' I was in surrender mode. I was ready to go. I was dancing with my mortality", Bridges added. For Geston, seeing her husband in pain was a heartbreaking experience. She said, "We didn't know if he would recover." She recalls getting a call from the hospital that they may have to put him on a ventilator. "I said, 'Save his life. No matter what you have to do.' " Luckily, with Geston's unwavering support and an excellent team of doctors, Bridges recovered, and his cancer also went into remission.
They have been each other's pillars of support for the last 48 years. They met each other in Montana in 1975 while Bridges was filming for Rancho Deluxe. At the time, Geston was working as a waitress. He said, "I couldn't take my eyes off her." He eventually mustered the courage to ask her out and now they have been together in sickness and in health!
References:
https://people.com/movies/critics-choice-2023-jeff-bridges-lifetime-achievement-award/
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Frazer Harrison
