Jeff Bridges, Cindy Bridges and actor Beau Bridges attend the premiere of “Jeff Bridges: The Dude Abides” on January 8, 2011 in Beverly Hills, California.Photo:Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic
Jeff Bridgesis known to legions ofThe Big Lebowskifans as “The Dude,” but to his family, he’s known as “little brother” and “big brother.” Jeff is the middle child of three: older brother Beau Bridges is an actor, and younger sister Lucinda Bridges is an artist.
“My mom was wonderful at bringing the family together," Beau told PEOPLE, adding that he and Jeff live about an hour and a half away from each other and try to get together once a month. “And nowmy wife Wendy does the same.”
Here’s everything to know about Jeff Bridges' siblings.
They were born into an artistic Hollywood family and pursued creative careers
Lloyd and Dorothy Bridges at Premiere of ‘Cleopatra’.Bettmann
Bettmann
Both Lloyd and Dorothy studied acting in college. Lloyd pursued it as a career immediately after graduating, moving to New York and struggling for years before being cast in a Broadway show, and then subsequently signed to a studio contract with Columbia Pictures.
It wasn’t long before Lloyd started including his family in his projects. On his breakthrough hitSea Hunt,Lloyd brought his children and wife on the series, and they all appeared onThe Lloyd Bridges Showfrom 1962-1963. Both Beau and Jeff followed in their father’s footsteps. Beau has appeared on shows likeThe FugitiveandBonanza,and in movies likeNorma RaeandThe Hotel New Hampshire.Jeff rose to prominence in films likeThe Last Picture Show, TronandStarman.Cindy became a visual artist, graduating from UC Santa Barbara with degrees in art and creative writing,according to her LinkedIn.
The family would have “salon night” at home
Lloyd Bridges and Cindy Bridges on ‘The Lloyd Bridges Show’.Hulton Archive/Getty
Hulton Archive/Getty
When the kids were young, Lloyd and Dorothy would host creative friends for “salon night” for an evening of parlor games and performances. Regular guests would be Jeff’s godparents Larry Parks (star ofThe Jolson Story) and Betty Garrett (ofAll in the Family). Cindy recalled during one such gathering that composer Meredith Willson played songs from a show he was working on at the time, which would becomeThe Music Man.
“Mom would orchestrate the evenings, encouraging those who were unfamiliar or timid with ‘on the spot’ fun,” Cindy toldThe Worcester Telegram and Gazettein May 2023. “Midst it all, she would clean up, have us in bed, often with a song or a story, and off to school the next morning with a favorite sack lunch. This was her performance art. She was the hub of our family wheel.”
Beau and Jeff have acted together
Beau Bridges and Jeff Bridges at the ARP Luncheon IHO on August 1, 2014 in Beverly Hills, CA.Shutterstock
Shutterstock
In 1989, the brothers appeared as the eponymous duo in the movieThe Fabulous Baker Boys,about brothers who have a tired jazz band and hire a singer (Michelle Pfeiffer) to liven up the act.
The movie has a 97% onRotten Tomatoes, with the “critics consensus” on the film being, “Its story is nothing special, butThe Fabulous Baker Boysglows beneath luminous performances from its perfectly cast stars.”
They’ve also worked with their dad throughout the years
Jeff Bridges, Lloyd Bridges and Beau Bridges.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty
Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty
Jeff and Lloyd appeared together in the 1994 filmBlown Away.“I remember when he came on the set, in a genuine way he was just joyful — it was contagious,” Jeff told PEOPLE in 2014 of working on that movie. “It would go through the community. With joy comes relaxation about the way things are, and with that comes getting out of your own way. And you end up with some good work.”
Beau and Lloyd starred in the seriesHearts of the Westfrom 1993 to 1994. “I really loved making that series. My dad and I had a lot of scenes together,” he told PEOPLE. “He was a regular in it with me. And so for that reason, it was really wonderful to work with my teacher, my mentor.”
Cindy followed in her mother’s footsteps
Isabelle Bridges, Susan Bridges, Jeff Bridges, Lloyd Bridges, Cindy Bridges and Dorothy Dean Bridges.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty
Despite Lloyd encouraging Cindy to continue acting, she decided not to pursue it as a career.
“I loved acting and we did it as play at home,” she toldThe Worcester Telegram and Gazette. “My dad would throw me in stuff. And I had fun. I did summer theater back east. But it just never bit me like a bug … I too much wanted to be a homemaker. I really loved it. I love to cook. I love raising kids. I love animals.”
“My mother was my example,” she continued. “So ever since I was a very little girl, I knew what I wanted more than anything was to have a family and to have children.”
Beau still follows his father’s example, decades after his death
Beau Bridges and Lloyd Bridges attend the Century City premiere of ‘Home Alone 2: Lost in New York’ on November 13th, 1992.Vinnie Zuffante/Getty
Vinnie Zuffante/Getty
Speaking to PEOPLE in August 2023, Beau reflected on the lessons he learned from his father, who died in 1998, and how he follows that advice to this day. “The word we heard a lot growing up was respect,” he said. “You need to respect all the people that you’re working with, everybody that’s involved in making the film. You need to respect yourself. You need to respect your fellow man.”
He went on to describe how his dad lived with humility. “We weren’t really a ‘Hollywood' family,” Beau said. “My dad was a successful actor, but I don’t think he would’ve said that about himself. And it frustrated me. But he wanted us to really live a life of service. He had friends from all walks of life. He and my mom appreciated diversity of all kinds, and that inspired us.”
Jeff says he wouldn’t be an actor without his father’s guidance
Lloyd Bridges and Jeff Bridges attend Jeff Bridges' Hollywood Walk Of Fame ceremony in Los Angeles, California on July 11, 1994.Vinnie Zuffante/Getty
When Jeff received theCritics Choice Lifetime Achievement Award, the ceremony was on Jan. 15, 2023 — which would have been his late father’s 110th birthday. To mark the occasion, Jeff said in his speech, he was wearing his father’s cufflinks to honor him.
“He’s the reason that I’m up here,” Jeff said in his speech. “I can remember him loving showbiz so much, loving acting so much, and as a kid I said, ‘You know, Dad, I’m not sure I wanna be an actor.’ He goes, ‘What are you talkin’ about?' I said, ‘I wanna do painting maybe, music.’ He said, ‘Jeff, don’t be ridiculous. Being an actor, they’re gonna call on you to do all of those things you’re interested in. And besides that, you’re gonna get to tell all these wonderful stories from all these different perspectives of people that are alive. This is a wonderful profession.’ "
Cindy encouraged their mother to fulfill a lifelong dream
Beau Bridges, Lucinda Bridges, Jeff Bridges, and Dorothy Bridges at Barnes & Noble to promote her book ‘You Caught Me Kissing a Love Story’ on January 27, 2005..Shutterstock
Every year on Valentine’s Day, Dorothy wrote a love poem to her husband, a tradition she continued after his passing. At Cindy’s encouragement, Dorothy collected them into a book,You Caught Me Kissing: A Love Story,published in 2005.
source: people.com
