Jeff Bridges
Jeff Bridges is now in the fifth decade of his acting career – the sixth, if you count a few appearances on his dad’s show Sea Hunt. And though he’s won his share of awards (more nominations than wins, but isn’t it always said that “all of these nominees are winners”?), for many of us he will always be: The Dude.
I don’t know how Bridges feels about being linked to that one unusual role in The Big Lebowski. Consider some of his major films:
- The Last Picture Show (1971 – Nominated, Supporting Actor)
- Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974 – Nominated, Supporting Actor)
- Tron (1982)
- Starman (1984 – Nominated, Best Actor)
- Jagged Edge (1985)
- Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988)
- The Fabulous Baker Boys (1989)
- The Fisher King (1991)
- The Big Lebowski (1998)
- The Contender (2000 – Nominated, Supporting Actor)
- Seabiscuit (2003)
- Crazy Heart (2009 – Best Actor)
- True Grit (2010 – Nominated, Best Actor)
You have to consider Jeff Bridges as an actor’s actor. He takes the role, he makes it his own, he makes it more than it was even intended. He never calls attention to himself, and when you watch him, you don’t think, “Jeff Bridges is playing this part” (*cough* Al Pacino *cough*). He’s smooth. He’s…The Dude.