Jeff Bridges Admits He Was “At Death’s Door” After COVID And Cancer
Jeff Bridges, 72, is recognised for his roles in “The Big Lebowski,” “TRON: Legacy,” “Iron Man,” and “Seabiscuit” (2003).
The “TRON” actor announced he had lymphoma in 2020. Lymphoma affects the lymph nodes, spleen, thymus gland, and bone marrow. The 72-year-old contracted COVID-19 while getting chemotherapy last year.
Now, Bridges reflects on his health struggles.
Jeff Bridges had lymphoma in 2020. In 2021, the actor contracted COVID-19 during chemotherapy.
“The chemo wipes out your immune system,” Bridges told E! News. I was near death several times.
Bridges thought he was dying during his four-month hospitalisation. He never dreamed he would work on the big screen again or accompany his 36-year-old daughter down the aisle.
“I remember the doctors saying, ‘Jeff, you gotta fight,’” he added. His medical staff, trainers, and family helped him become more positive, fight COVID-19, and go into remission in September 2021.
“I had no idea what they were talking about. I thought, ‘Man, I’m in surrender mode here.’ With a great medical team, great trainers, and my family, everybody brought me back,”
Bridges reported remission in September 2021. The 72-year-old actor now prioritises his wife of 45 years, Susan, their three kids, and three grandchildren after battling cancer and COVID-19.
“Sue and I were looking at each other and we went, ‘How lucky are we?’ I hug that girl and I get recharged. It’s right there, so accessible,” Jeff explained “I’m being conscious of stuff that’s just right in front of me like love and my family and all of the stuff that’s available for me. I’m just really loving this obvious thing that we live with all the time and take for granted.”
He added, “So often things are right on our nose that we don’t appreciate. But it turns out there are many positive sides in my life that came out of that experience.”
Bridges wants to keep highlighting COVID-19’s hazards. On September 15, the actor launched “Up The Antibodies” with AstraZeneca.
“While the option to up my antibodies to protect me from COVID-19 wasn’t around when I was going through cancer treatment, it is now,” he said.. “As soon as I could, I upped my antibodies. And now I’m feeling more confident to get back to doing the things I love.”
Bridges is presently filming the FX thriller “The Old Man” with Amy Brenneman, Alia Shawkat, John Lithgow, Bill Heck, and Leem Lubany.