Actor Jeff Bridges explained the “treasure” he discovered when he was on the verge of death
Actor Jeff Bridges, photographed at the D23 event organized by Disney last year at Anaheim, in the US state of California, photo: Rodin Eckenroth / Getty Images / Profimedia
Jeff Bridges, the American actor known for his interpretations in films such as “The Big Lebowski”, “The Fabulous Bake Boys” and “True Grit”, spoke about the experience that brought him to a step of death when he became seriously ill during cancer treatment, reports The Independent.
The 75-year-old actor now announced in October 2020 that he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of cancer of the lymphatic system, after doctors discovered a “30 per 23 centimeters” tumor.
The actor was undergoing treatment with chemotherapy, which improved the prognosis, but very much weakened the immune system – so that when he was diagnosed with Covid in January 2021, he would seriously ill and spent five weeks in intensive care.
In a new interview given to The Times, Bridges said that the approach to death changed the perspective on life.
“Even the things you are trying to avoid-cancer, death, whatever-there is a treasure hides,” he said.
“You get to discover things that you can only understand in that situation: how much you love and love, how will you give up, understand death, all those spiritual aspects we sometimes play,” he explained.
“When you really get to that point … Wow is intense,” he said.
Bridges previously said that the fight with the disease made to learn things that would never have ever discovered
Earlier this year, the Bridges family lost its home in Malibu in California vegetation fires, but the actor states that the chain of disastrous events faced in recent years has not made it worthy.
In an interview with The Independent newspaper in 2022, Bridges said that the perspective won after confrontation with death was a “gift”.
“I learned things in those moments that I would not have learned in any other way,” he said.
Explaining what he learned, he added: “Ah, to feel, brother. To feel everything as it comes to me. That was the clear idea: to feel every thing, no matter how small. And by 'feeling' I mean, you know, to truly get into what is happening, in a rich, deep way.”
Bridges also said that the experience takes deep and more love for the family of his wife, Sue, three adult daughters and more grandchildren.
