Jeff Bridges career has spanned eight decades. Son of Lloyd and brother of Beau, he has been the recipient of various accolades including an Academy Award, two Golden Globes and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Known for his naturalistic acting style, the Hollywood star has most recently enjoyed success playing a former CIA operative in the FX television series 'The Old Man' (2022). Here we take a look at ten of the much loved actors best films.

The Last Picture Show (1971)

Bridges received a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for his role in Peter Bogdanovich's adaptation of Larry McMurtry's coming-of-age novel. Set in a small town in Texas in the early 1950s, Bridges and Timothy Bottoms play Duane Jackson and Sonny Crawford, two young friends and high-school seniors contemplating what life holds for them ahead of their graduation.

Casting the actor in his first major role, Bogdanovich recalled, “The part he played, Duane, was a real shithead. Jeff was so inherently likable, I thought it would be a very interesting contrast, that he was a very likable person, but playing someone who is not likable at all.”

Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974)

Michael Cimino's debut feature stars Clint Eastwood as legendary bank robber in hiding Thunderbolt who teams up with young drifter Lightfoot (Jeff Bridges) to attempt a daring heist with a pair of old gang members in Red Leary (George Kennedy) and Eddie Goody (Geoffrey Lewis).

Eastwood had originally been slated to direct but Cimino had impressed him enough that he handed over the directorial reins to the young screenwriter. Eastwood did not like to do any more than three takes on any given shot, according to Bridges. "I would always go to Mike and say 'I think I can do one more. I got an idea.' And Mike would say 'I gotta ask Clint.' Clint would say, 'Give the kid a shot'. It worked. Bridges received a second Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

TRON (1982)

Stephen Lisberger's groundbreaking science fiction adventure movie was unlike anything seen before when it opened in theaters in the summer of 1982. One of the first films to make extensive use of a new technology called computer-generated imagery, 'TRON' was considered a huge risk for Disney Studios. Disney at the time were not the multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate giant they have become today and were in fact in decline, producing few animated features and only moderately successful live-action films.

Shot in 70mm and in black and white (the footage later went to Korea where every frame was hand-painted) 'TRON' required Bridges and his fellow actors to wear a hockey hat and a body suit with a dance belt which the actor was able to see the funny side of years later when he recalled that “sitting down … that’s etched in my memory and other places unfortunately.”.

'TRON' received positive reviews and was moderately successful at the box office, having to compete with 'E.T.', 'Poltergeist', 'Blade Runner' and 'Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan' but it's influence was significant with former Pixar chief John Lasseter saying “Without Tron there would be no Toy Story.”.

Starman (1984)

Bridges received his first Best Actor Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of an alien space traveller in John Carpenter's romantic science fiction drama. Looking back on the movie for its Blu-ray release in 2018, Bridges commented "I think a line from Starman really hits home to me and has given me a lot of renewed faith in our species. Toward the end of the movie where Charlie Martin-Smith comes to me and he is for the first time — he is so wonderful in the film, too. The way he reacts to me is so, so right, you know what I mean? I mean, he was in such awe of this being. And I say to him: 'You know what I like most about you people is that when things are at their worst, you are at your best.' I think that’s a wonderful thought to be left with. When I think about that line, it encourages me to rise up to meet certain challenges. Because times are certainly kind of the worst these days, I think, whether it’s the climate or other situations".

Jagged Edge (1985)

One of the best thrillers of the 1980s, 'Jagged Edge' stars Bridges as Jack Forrester who, after being accused of killing his wife, hires reluctant defense attorney Teddy Barnes (Glenn Close) to defend him. Barnes remains uncertain of Forrester's innocence even after the couple began an affair and the slick screenplay by Joe Eszterhas has enough twists and turns to keep the audience guessing right until the very end.

Like Teddy Barnes, you want to believe in her clients innocence but Bridges performance is assured enough to keep us in perpetual doubt. He is in turns charming, menacing, aloof and vulnerable and it's this uncertainty that allows the movie to work as effectively as it does.

The Fisher King (1991)

Terry Gilliam's fantasy comedy-drama stars Bridges as Jack Lucas, a radio shock jock whose life has spiralled into alcoholism and depression after his insensitive on-air comments lead to a mass shooting.

The Big Lebowski (1998)

Joel and Ethan Coen's Chandleresque crime comedy stars Bridges as Jeffrey "The Dude" Lebowski, a Los Angeles slacker and bowling enthusiast who becomes embroiled in a kidnapping plot after being mistaken for a millionaire also named Jeffrey Lebowski (David Huddleston). With the assistance of his bowling buddies Walter (John Goodman} and Donny (Steve Buscemi), "The Dude" is drawn into a neo-noir world of deadly intrigue.

Bridges excels in a career redefining performance and the stellar supporting cast includes terrific performances not just from Goodman and Buscemi but also Julianne Moore, Philip Seymour Hoffman, John Turturro and Sam Elliott. The movie opened to mixed reviews and performed modestly at the box-office but has since received a more positive critical reception and become a cult classic.

When interviewed about the film, Bridges said “I’m so happy to be in that movie, I pretty much dug it all, man. There’s an aspect of the Dude I aspired to — he’s authentic, isn’t he? He’s who he is, and that’s about it. He’s a lovely cat". When asked how he’d feel if The Dude would turn out to be the role he’d be most remembered for the actors response was “I’d be fucking delighted”. The Dude abides.

Iron Man (2008)

iron man

Crazy Heart (2009)

crazy heart

Hell or High Water (2016)

hell or high water