On December 4, 2022, Jeff Bridges celebrated his 73rd birthday with his beloved wife of 45 years, Susan Geston. Besides having an incredible Hollywood career, the star was also a loving husband and a family man.
The “King Kong” actor was also one of the few celebrities with one of the longest marriages by Hollywood standards. Jeff and Geston have been married since 1977 and have been going strong.
Susan Bridges and Jeff Bridges in June 1977 | Source: Getty Images
The “Masked and Anonymous” actor, born on December 4, 1949, met his wife in Chico Hot Springs outside Livingston, Montana, while filming 1975’s “Rancho Montana.” During one of the scenes, his eyes fell on a beautiful girl with two black eyes and a broken nose.
He was unsure whether she was a waitress or a maid, but he was confident that despite her injuries — from an accident, as he would later learn — she was gorgeous. It was love at first sight for Jeff but a different case for Geston.
Susan Geston and Jeff Bridges at the “Somebody Killed Her Husband” New York premiere on September 25, 1978 | Source: Getty Images
After work, the “The Fisher King” actor gathered the courage to ask her out, and she turned him down twice. “No,” she said, “it’s a small town; maybe we’ll run into each other later.”
Later came sooner than the “Tron: Legacy” star had anticipated, and only a few days after their first meeting, during the wrap party, the two danced the night away and fell in love.
Jeff Bridges and Susan Bridges attend ceremony honoring Jeff Bridges with a hand and footprint held at TCL Chinese Theatre on January 6, 2017 in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
They married on June 5, 1977, and have had a beautiful union for decades, culminating in the arrival of their three daughters; Hayley Roselouise, Isabelle Bridges Boesch, and Jessica Lily. The “Crazy Heart” actor once said:
“We know we’ll experience our stuff, have tough times, but we’re doing it together.”
Jeff Bridges, Hayley Bridges, Susan Geston, and Isabelle Bridges at the Modern Masters award tribute evening held at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on March 1 2003, in Santa Barbara, California | Source: Getty Images
Choosing the right person to spend the rest of his life with served Jeff well over the years. The “Iron Man” actor’s wife was his strength when he encountered two health scares.
Jeff’s Cancer Diagnosis
Jeff and Geston’s marriage had no qualms, especially regarding supporting each other through life’s challenges. One such challenge occurred when the actor got a cancer diagnosis in 2020.
The star announced the devastating news that he had been diagnosed with Lymphoma, a form of blood cancer, on his Twitter on October 20, 2020. His sad message read:
“I have been diagnosed with Lymphoma. Although it is a serious disease, I feel fortunate that I have a great team of doctors, and the prognosis is good.”
He then let his followers know that he would be starting treatment and would update them on the developments. In a similar post on his Instagram, Jeff thanked his family for their love and support, saying he was profoundly grateful.
Geston opened up about the diagnosis, saying they became numb after but immediately began doing what needed to be done. The actor soon started his chemotherapy, and a short while after, they announced that the tumor had begun to shrink.
Jeff would often update his fans and followers on his improvements, noting when he shaved his head, got a puppy, and celebrated his 71st birthday. Through it all, what remained a constant was the support he received from his wife, but unfortunately, he was soon tackling life or death.
How Did Jeff’s Wife Demand That Doctors Save His Life?
All was going well, and Jeff’s health had improved tremendously until a doctor’s report changed everything. In January 2021, a month after starting chemotherapy, the star received a notice from his health provider that he may have been exposed to the COVID-19 virus at the treatment center.
Susan Bridges and Jeff Bridges during Special Screening of Touchstone Pictures’ “Stick It” at El Capitan in Hollywood, California, United States. | Source: Getty Images
He tested positive, and the virus hit him hard due to his weakened immune system because of the chemotherapy. The actor shared that he had no defences and nothing left in his immune system to fight the virus, saying:
“COVID made my cancer look like nothing.”
Jeff Bridges and Susan Bridges during “Seabiscuit” Los Angeles Premiere at Mann’s Bruin in Los Angeles, California, United States. | Source: Getty Images
It was a fight for his life, and Geston was heartbroken, not knowing if her husband would get out alive. The news trickling in from the hospital seemed to carry the unfortunate president of sad news ahead.
After a call from the hospital saying they would put her husband on a ventilator, Geston knew she had to do everything to help him. She started pushing the doctors to do their best.
Jeff Bridges attends a conversation, Q&A and book signing for his new book ‘Jeff Bridges: Pictures Vol. 2’ at NeueHouse Los Angeles on October 15, 2019 in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images
Jeff’s stay at the hospital was challenging, and he could not decide about his healthcare, so his wife and physician had to step up and make the choices for him. Geston recalled:
“I said, ‘Save his life. No matter what you have to do.'”
Eventually, the medical team was able to keep the actor off the ventilator, and their fight for his life finally bore fruit. The “Fearless” star remembered being close to dying with the team screaming at him to keep fighting.
However, he had no fighting spirit left in him. Geston’s husband had surrendered and felt ready to go, and recalling the harrowing incident, he shared:
“I was dancing with my mortality.”
Jeff Bridges is seen at ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live’ on October 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
On the verge of death, his wife fought to ensure he remained alive, and for that, he was grateful. They had overcome not one but two life-threatening illnesses and had done it together, and Geston was there again when he focused on another goal.
How Did Jeff Walk Daughter Down the Aisle after Re-Learning How to Stand with Wife’s Help?
In November 2022, Jeff confessed that having a combination of cancer and COVID-19 “exacerbated” the feelings of love he had for his family – his wife, whom he called “Sue,” their three daughters, and several grandchildren.
“The Vanishing” star was adamant he could walk Hayley, his youngest daughter, down the aisle for her marriage. However, he first had to learn how long he could stand up, with an initial record of 45 seconds.
In her Instagram post, Jeff’s [Bridges] other daughter [Isabelle Bridges Boesch] noted that learning to dance was a big Bridges family tradition.
His second goal was to find out how many steps he could take and walk down the hall with his oxygen. Jeff started working with a trained, and his walks got longer each day until he began believing he could pull it off one day.
The “Tron” star not only walked Hayley down the aisle, but he also got to have a wedding dance with her! The pair slow danced to Ray Charles’s “Ain’t That Love,” with the actor recalling how terrific it was.
His achievements were significant for someone who couldn’t walk without being assisted! However, focusing on his daughter’s summer wedding helped him through his recovery.
Geston confessed that her dream had been to see her husband get out of bed, walk, and live everyday life. She believed the VNA Health care team supported him in reaching his goals.
The star’s wife said watching Jeff walk Hayley down the aisle and dancing with her brought her joy. Not long after he danced with his daughter at her wedding, “The Big Lebowski” actor’s daughter, Isabelle, shared two images of him teaching his granddaughter how to dance!
Jeff Bridges, Susan Geston, Isabelle Bridges, Jessica Bridges, Haley Bridges, and a guest at the 83rd annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2011 | Source: Getty Images
In her Instagram post, Jeff’s other daughter noted that learning to dance was a big Bridges family tradition. Geston’s husband didn’t take anything for granted and knew how lucky he was to be alive, with him stating:
“Love is the deal.”
Having a large family to live for pushed him to stay healthy, and he did all he could to embrace life. Here’s to wishing the happy couple many more years together and Jeff a happy birthday!
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