Oscar winning actor and all around good guy Jeff Bridges took to social media to announce that he’s been diagnosed with lymphoma.
“I have been diagnosed with Lymphoma,” Bridges tweeted. “Although it is a serious disease, I feel fortunate that I have a great team of doctors and the prognosis is good. I’m starting treatment and will keep you posted on my recovery.” Bridges thanked his fans for “prayers and well wishes,” and encouraged everyone to get out the vote.
I’m profoundly grateful for the love and support from my family and friends.
Thank you for your prayers and well wishes. And, while I have you, please remember to go vote. Because we are all in this together. https://t.co/6sAU4MYixl
Love, Jeff
— Jeff Bridges (@TheJeffBridges) October 20, 2020
Bridges is currently at work on The Old Man, an action-adventure series from FX. “Our thoughts go out to Jeff and his family during this challenging time and they have our love and support,” the show said in a statement. “We wish him a safe and full recovery. Jeff, we are all in this together with you.”
Bridges is one of his generation’s most iconic actors, winning an Oscar for his role in Crazy Heart, helping jumpstart the MCU in Iron Man, shoving the scifi genre into the future with Tron and turning in memorably gorgeous work in The Fisher King. But of course, he’s best known for his leading role in The Big Lebowski, one of the most beloved and enduring characters in American movies. Maybe no actor’s persona has melded with a onscreen character as seamlessly and thoroughly as Bridges has with The Dude.
It’s not clear what kind of lymphoma Bridges has. Hodgkins lymphoma spreads through the lymph nodes in an orderly fashion, while non-Hodgkins lymphoma is more chaotic.