Jeff Bridges now says he is in ‘great’ health, three years after he nearly died when he caught COVID-19 during his cancer battle.
The 74-year-old contracted COVID-19 in January 2021, while his immune system was weakened by the chemotherapy he was receiving for non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
He later revealed that he went into ‘surrender mode,’ feeling that he was ‘dancing with my mortality’ and ‘ready to go.’
However, he roused himself to battle his illness and eventually recovered with the help of convalescent plasma treatment, which involves using blood from people who have already recuperated from COVID-19.
Now he’s revealed that his brush with death was a ‘learning experience,’ telling Page Six: ‘It’s amazing the way the mind can forget all that stuff.’
Jeff Bridges is now in ‘great’ health, three years after he nearly died when he caught COVID-19 during his cancer battle; he made the remarks Monday at the Chaplin Award gala (pictured)
Jeff began chemotherapy in 2020, and initially the treatment appeared to be a success – until he caught COVID-19; pictured in December 2019 shortly before his health downturn
After the harrowing process of recovering from his joint illnesses, he now prefers not to dwell, saying: ‘I don’t think too much about the past.’
He made the remarks at Lincoln Center on Monday, when he was being honored with the Chaplin Award at a star-studded gala.
Jeff began chemotherapy for his cancer in 2020, and initially the treatment appeared to be a galloping success – until he caught COVID-19.
‘I had no defenses. That’s what chemo does – it strips you of all your immune system. I had nothing to fight it. COVID made my cancer look like nothing,’ he told People.
He spent five grueling months in the hospital suffering from both illnesses at once and enduring such terrible pain that he nearly gave up.
‘I was pretty close to dying. The doctors kept telling me: “Jeff, you’ve got to fight. You’re not fighting,”‘ the The Wrestler star confessed. ‘I was in surrender mode. I was ready to go. I was dancing with my mortality.’
However the convalescent plasma treatment was able to start him on the road to recovery, which began with ‘baby steps.’
After a long process that included three weekly sessions of physical therapy, Jeff beat COVID-19 and drove his cancer into remission.
Jeff was even able to find a bright side in the ordeal – it deepened his gratitude for his family, including his wife of nearly 44 years Susan Geston, whom he is pictured with Monday
Jeff was even able to find a bright side in the ordeal – it deepened his gratitude for his family, including his wife of nearly 44 years Susan Geston.
Susan and Jeff, who married in 1977, have three daughters – Isabelle, 42, Jessica, 40, and Haley, 38 – as well as three grandchildren.
Jeff mused of his illness: ‘Who would say: “I’d love some cancer and give me a dose of COVID?” But my ability to receive all the love and give it was just heightened. Everything was turned up in the most beautiful way.’
In total, his period of illness lasted for approximately a year and a half, which he described later to Deadline as ‘a bizarre dream.’
His cancer, plus the COVID-19 lockdowns, forced a 15-month pause in the production of his FX show The Old Man, co-starring John Lithgow and Amy Brenneman.
Amy recalled that when he returned to work on the show, he would casually discuss his health crisis by saying: ‘It was weird but it was interesting.’
