Actor Jeff Bridges, after a challenging bout with lymphoma, returns to television with new perspectives and revelations about filming while ill, Entertainment Weekly reported.
In 2020, the entertainment world reeled from the news that Jeff Bridges was diagnosed with lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the lymphatic system.
Despite the severity of his condition, Bridges faced his treatment head-on. By September 2021, he joyfully announced that his cancer was in remission, marking a significant victory in his health journey.
Throughout his treatment, Bridges remained committed to his work. While filming the first season of FX's "The Old Man", he was grappling with a large tumor in his abdomen. Remarkably, this tumor, despite its substantial size of 9 inches by 12 inches, caused him no pain, a fact that Bridges himself found surprising.
"The 9\" x 12\" mass has shrunk down to the size of a marble," Bridges revealed recently, indicating a successful response to his treatment over the intervening months.
The challenges of Bridges' illness have not only been physical. Known for his passion for photography, the actor admitted that his sickness had impacted this hobby significantly. "I went through this illness, and since then I haven't picked up my camera as much as I used to," he shared, reflecting on the changes the disease brought to his interests.
On-screen, Bridges brings this depth of life experience to his character, Dan Chase, in "The Old Man." Echoing his real-life circumstances, Dan Chase's narrative embraces the qualities of age and survival, themes that are deeply relatable to Bridges at this point in his career. "I’m an old man, I don’t have to play it. I bring that to the party without any trouble," Bridges commented, highlighting the blur between his personal and professional lives.
Filming intense fight scenes for the show, especially during the first season while managing a large tumor, presented a unique set of challenges and insights for Bridges. He described the experience as bizarre, given his physical condition during the high-action sequences.
Bridges' co-star, John Lithgow, shares a common background with him, both being second-generation actors with similar upbringings. This connection has fostered a genuine off-screen friendship, enhancing their on-screen chemistry. Their fathers, also actors, provided a foundational parallel that enriched their interaction and approach to their roles.
The actors’ camaraderie extended into their preparation and performance, sometimes leading to unexpectedly intimate moments being overheard by the crew. "I remember we had this long scene in a car, and we were doing what we’re talking about here. And our mics are on and this happens, this is kind of a classic thing that happens in movies: You don’t realize that everybody in this crew is hearing everything you’re saying to each other," Bridges shared, illustrating the candid and open nature of their relationship.
Lithgow has been profoundly affected by Bridges' determination and resilience. "No, I never worry about Jeff. I always knew he wouldn’t be here if he didn’t know he could do this.
And it’s been one of the great and extremely moving sort of backstage dramas of these four years. His courage and persistence and his unbelievable philosophical nature, the way — nobody could’ve survived what he’s been through and going back to work the way he’s gone back to work. It’s been incredibly inspiring," Lithgow expressed, admiring Bridges' tenacity.
"The Old Man," the story of which continues with the character Chase and Harper attempting to rescue Chase's kidnapped daughter Emily, promises further depth and character development in its second season.
Set to premiere on September 12, the second season will launch with the release of two episodes, continuing the thrilling narrative and complex character dynamics introduced in its debut season.
