Jeff Bridges Says Battling Cancer Ended Up Being a 'Wonderful' Thing

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is looking on the bright side of his cancer diagnosis.

The Big Lebowski star, 74, gave an update on his health three years after announcing his lymphoma was in remission.

“I’m feeling good,” Bridges told Entertainment Tonight on the red carpet at the Country Music Awards in Nashville on Wednesday, November 20. “Glad to have that in the rearview mirror.”

The actor continued, “Funny to say it but it was wonderful in a way. You’re given gifts during times like that, that you can only get when you’re going through times like that. It exacerbates all the love that you feel for being alive and all the people that you love, your family. And then you get all that [love] coming back.”

Related: Summer House’s Jesse Solomon Opens Up About Testicular Cancer JourneySee which celebs triumphed over the disease — photos

“It’s some strong stuff,” Bridges concluded.

In October 2020, the Oscar winner announced via X that he had been diagnosed with lymphoma and was beginning treatment.

“As the Dude would say.. New S**T has come to light,” he said at the time of his bout with the “serious” illness. “I feel fortunate that I have a great team of doctors and the prognosis is good.”

Prashant Gupta/FX

Later that month, he gave fans another update on his progress, sharing a photo from his hospital room.

“I want to thank you all for reaching out during this time, it feels good getting all the well wishes and love,” he wrote in the October 2020 Instagram post. “This cancer thing is bringing on feelings of preciousness, and gratitude, and good old fashion love, and lots of it, big time. I’m feeling so much of it comin’ my way, and man, I appreciate it. It’s contagious, all this love, like some kind of positive virus.”

He concluded at the time, “This cancer is making me appreciate my mortality, appreciate impermanence. I’m realizing, if I have s— to share, now’s the time.”

Related: Jeff Bridges Through the Years: ‘The Big Lebowski,’ ‘Crazy Heart’ and MoreJeff Bridges made his screen debut as a baby and went on to land his iconic role as “The Dude” in 1998’s The Big Lebowski. Jeff is one of four children of the late actor Lloyd Bridges and late actress and writer, Dorothy Bridges. He has a close relationship with his older brother Beau, who […]

A year later, Bridges shared that his cancer was in remission.

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“Lots has gone down since my last installment,” the True Grit star wrote in a handwritten note shared via his website in September 2021. “My cancer is in remission — the 9″ x 12″ mass has shrunk down to the size of a marble.”

Related: CMA Awards 2024: Complete List of Nominees and WinnersTheo Wargo/Getty Images The 2024 CMA Awards are honoring the best of country music. The ceremony is being held at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, on Wednesday, November 20, with returning hosts Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning sharing their duties with their new cohost, Lainey Wilson. Ahead of the show, Morgan Wallen led the pack […]

Bridges also noted that he also suffered from COVID-19 while undergoing cancer treatment. “Covid kicked my ass pretty good, but I’m double vaccinated and feeling much better now,” he wrote. “I heard that the vaccine can help folks with [long-term COVID]. Maybe that’s the cause of my quick improvement.”

Bridges presented the Entertainer of the Year award at the CMAs Wednesday night, however, winner was not in attendance.

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