(Photo courtesy of Sarah Moran)An illustrious professional history that includes multiple movies and television shows could seem satisfactory enough for the general population, but actor Jeff Bridges breaks the mold by joining the music enterprise.
Surprisingly enough, the highly acclaimed star originally resisted a career in the entertainment industry.
A “product of nepotism,” Bridges said that his father, actor Lloyd Bridges, continuously encouraged him to pursue acting.
After devoting more than 30 years of acting, Bridges said that he finds it difficult to choose a favorite film.
“Actors say that their roles are like their own children and that they can’t have a favorite," Bridges said. "There are a few that come to mind that are dear to my heart. I love family ones, such as ‘The Fabulous Baker Boys’ with my brother and ‘Blown Away’ with my father. I also enjoyed ‘The Big Lebowski’ and ‘Tucker: The Man and His Dream.’”
Technology has dramatically increased since the conception of Bridges’s profession. He noted that it was quite an experience to be in “Tron: Legacy” after nearly three decades since the release of “Tron.”
Bridges starred as Kevin Flynn in the original “Tron” film. His character had a son, Sam Flynn, in “Tron: Legacy.” Garrett Hedlund, a graduate of a high school in the Valley, played Flynn’s son in the sequel.
Bridges said that many of the technological innovations talked about in “Tron” became possible in “Tron: Legacy.” Bridges was scanned into a computer with different instruments to replicate Kevin Flynn’s more youthful appearance in “Tron.”
“I was a little over critical, (but) they pulled it off pretty well," he joked. "It was helpful that it didn’t have to look exactly like me."
Fans of the talented star can expect to see Bridges at the cinemas within a few months. Bridges plays Roy Pulsipher in “R.I.P.D.,” an action film about undead police officers. It is based on the comic book "Rest in Peace Department." “R.I.P.D.” will be released toward the end of June.
In addition, he plays Master Gregory in “The Seventh Son,” a dark film about the clash between supernatural forces and humans. “The Seventh Son” is based on The Wardstone Chronicles by Joseph Delaney. It is set to hit theaters in mid- October.
When Bridges expressed a passion for music, his father told him that it could be manifested on-screen. Sure enough, Bridges won an Academy Award for his role as country singer Bad Blake in “Crazy Heart.” Bridges role in the movie led to his self-titled album produced by T-Bone Burnett in 2011.
Jeff Bridges & The Abiders became another musical project. Bridges credited his friend Chris Pelonis, a guitarist and acoustic engineer, to finding excellent musicians to work with. He expected the search to be a long and harrowing process but was pleasantly surprised. “The first (musicians) that showed up were the cream of the crop,” Bridges added.
Bridges partakes in relatively peaceful hobbies when he is not occupied with work. He said he likes picking flowers with his wife, creating arrangements and enjoying ceramics.
Bridges also serves as a national spokesperson for Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign. The goal of the campaign is to end the hunger children suffer daily in America.
Catch Jeff Bridges & The Abiders on Thursday at the Tom and Janet Ikeda Theater in the Mesa Arts Center. The show will feature songs from “Crazy Heart” as well as cover songs beginning at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase on the Mesa Arts Center website.
Reach the reporter at lrogoff@asu.edu
