Jeff Bridges Doubted He’d 'Be Able to Come Back’ to Acting After Cancer

Bridges announced his lymphoma diagnosis in October 2020.

Jeff Bridges admitted in an exclusive interview with People that he wasn’t sure he’d “be able to come back” to acting after his cancer diagnosis and treatment.

In 2020, the Big Lebowski star announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he’d been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. In September 2021, Bridges announced that he was in remission. Last year, the 74-year-old revealed that he’d almost died after contracting COVID-19 during his lymphoma treatment. In April, Bridges announced that his health is currently “great.”

Speaking to People about the second season of his FX action series The Old Man, Bridges admitted there was a period of time during which he was unsure if he’d return to his chosen profession.

"I mean, I didn't think I was…I thought, 'I'm not going to come back. I won't be able to come back,'” Bridges admitted.

"Everybody was watching Jeff,” added Bridges’ Old Man co-star John Lithgow. “I mean, he needed oxygen occasionally," Lithgow admitted. “Early days, we really had to watch him."

"As far as being back into the show again, everybody was so considerate about my condition," Bridges said. However, the star doesn’t recall his return "being particularly difficult. Even the fight scenes after I came back, I can't remember being upset about that."

"He was so relaxed about it,” Lithgow marveled. “He put everybody else at ease. Everyone at first was so watchful and nervous, and just put everyone at ease."

Bridges compared season two to the “bizarre” experience of shooting the first season, which he did with “a nine inch by 12 inch tumor…in my stomach.” He added, jokingly, “I was doing all these fight scenes…That didn't hurt at all."

"But I'm feeling great now,” Bridges clarified. “Fortunately, we have some wonderful stunt coordinators."

Bridges credited The Old Man’s cast and crew with aiding in his effortless return to the screen after his health scare.

"You just do your best and that's all you can do. It's something so great—actors working with actors, being a fraternity, a sorority,” he said. “You're looking out for each other."