Before he was 'The Dude', Jeff Bridges served in the US Coast Guard Reserve

Jeff Bridges stands out as one of the most gifted individuals of his generation, showcasing his talent not only in acting, but also in music, writing and photography. His creativity is unsurprising, considering his lineage. Alongside his Hollywood career, Bridges demonstrated a commitment to serving his country by enlisting in the US Coast Guard Reserve shortly after graduating from high school.

Jeff Bridges came from a Hollywood family

Born on December 4, 1949, in Los Angeles, California, Jeff Bridges is the son of actors Lloyd and Dorothy Bridges. One of four siblings, he entered the film world early on, debuting in The Company She Keeps (1951) before his first birthday. Alongside his elder brother, Beau, he also shared the screen with his father in The Lloyd Bridges Show (1962-63) and Sea Hunt (1958-61).

During his teenage years, Bridges was sent to military school to address discipline issues. While he's reported to have found the experience challenging, it proved effective in correcting his behavior, as he returned to public school without further incidents. Despite this, academic pursuits held little appeal for him, with his interests leaning more toward more creative pathways.

Enlisting in the US Coast Guard Reserve

Following his high school graduation and a short theater tour with his father, Jeff Bridges enlisted in the US Coast Guard Reserve. While this, at first, might seem an odd choice for someone looking to advance their acting career, it isn't all that surprising when you learn that Lloyd Bridges served with the Coast Guard Auxiliary during the Second World War , meaning it's very likely that his son was following in his footsteps.

Serving in the Reserve from 1967-75, he was able to balance his military duties with his acting studies. He joined as a boatswain mate and was stationed at the US Coast Guard Reserve Center in San Luis Obispo, California.

While proud to serve, Bridges wasn't all that fond of the tasks he was assigned, such as repainting buoys and twilight watches, nor was he particularly happy with the cramped sleeping quarters. That being said, he looks back on the experience with a glass-half-full attitude, saying, "All the tough times make great memories when you look back."

While serving with the Coast Guard Reserve, Bridges continued to score acting roles, becoming one of the youngest-ever Academy Award nominees for his portrayal of Duane Jackson in The Last Picture Show (1971), followed by another nomination for his role in Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974), in which he starred alongside Clint Eastwood .

When he officially left the military in 1975, Bridges had risen to the rank of petty officer second class. Several decades later, in 2011, he; his brother, Beau; and their father were honored by the US Navy Memorial Foundation with the Lone Sailor Award.

Jeff Bridges' acting career has spanned decades

It's hard to think of a time when Jeff Bridges wasn't gracing the big screen. Following his exit from the US Coast Guard, he opted to pursue acting full-time and kicked things off by starring in the Academy Award-winning remake of King Kong (1976).

Bridges' next big role came with the 1982 sci-fi film Tron , starring as Kevin Flynn, a role he later reprised in the 2010 sequel. He followed this up with Starman (1984), which secured him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. While these were very popular films, the one critics argue is Bridges' best was Fearless (1993), which saw him star opposite Isabella Rossellini and Rosie Perez.

The same year the actor received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame , he also shared the big screen with Forrest Whitacker and Tommy Lee Jones in Blown Away (1994). Four years later, he appeared in The Big Lebowski (1998), arguably the most famous of his roles - so much so that he's even become known by his character's nickname, "The Dude."

As the 1990s gave way to the 2000s, Bridges continued to act in award-winning and popular films, such as The Contender (2001), Iron Man (2008), Crazy Heart (2009) and True Grit (2010). The latter two saw him up against fellow actor Colin Firth for Best Actor at two separate Academy Awards ceremonies. Each wound up going away with a win - Bridges in 2010 and Firth in 2011.

Pursuing other creative avenues in his personal life

As aforementioned, Bridges showed an interest early on in creative avenues outside of acting. One of these was music, with his mother pushing him to learn the piano when he was a child. Having since learned other instruments, the actor's released three studio albums. He's also published a book, 2013's The Dude and the Zen Master , about his Buddhist beliefs, and he continues to dabble in amateur photography.

In terms of his activism, Bridges is a known advocate for environmental causes. He also founded the No Kid Hungry network in 1984, a non-profit organization that aims to feed hungry children across the world.

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Now in his 70s, Jeff Bridges shows no sign of slowing down, despite having recently battled non-Hodgkins lymphoma. His latest acting feature was the FX series The Old Man (2022-present), in which he stars as Dan Chase, a Vietnam veteran and former CIA agent living off the grid.