UPDATED June 10, 2022: Nearly two years after announcing he has non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that begins in the lymph system, actor Jeff Bridges tells Entertainment Weekly that his cancer is in remission and he is “feeling good.”  

However, the health battle that really challenged him, he says, was COVID-19.

“Cancer-wise, yeah remission, and COVID, you know, that made my cancer look like nothing, that COVID,” Bridged, perhaps best-known as The Dude, shared with EW. “I did my chemo for the cancer and that stripped me of all my immune system, so then I got COVID on top of that, and it wiped me out.”

Bridges, 72, is currently starring in the series The Old Man, which debuts June 16 on FX on Hulu and is based on a novel about a CIA agent by Thomas Perry. They started the project three years ago but were delayed because of the pandemic and Bridge’s chemotherapy.

To read a collection of Cancer Health articles on Bridges’s type of cancer, click #Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and #Lymphoma.

Update: January 15, 2021 Jeff Bridges announced that his treatment plan is achieving success. “I go in for a CAT scan to see if my new protocol is shrinking my tumor," he wrote on his website on January 6th. “Turns out it’s working beautifully. The thing has drastically shrunk. I come home elated with the news.” He also provided thoughts about the state of the U.S. and his mentor Rozzell Syke’s mantra (”Be Love“) and posted a video of himself singing the song, ”Same Boat".  

December 15, 2020: Nearly two months after revealing his diagnosis, the actor has provided an update on his website along with a picture of himself reclining outdoors and smiling: “Feeling good. Shaved my head. Got a puppy - Monty.” He also revealed that he celebrated is 71st birthday and shared his thoughts on music, battling hunger in children and enjoying life. 

The story originally appeared on October 20, 2020: 

On Monday night, Academy Award–winning actor Jeff Bridges announced on Twitter that he has lymphoma, a type of cancer that begins in the lymphatic system and occurs when white blood cells of the immune system grow out of control, NPR reports.

“As the Dude would say..New S**T has come to light,” Bridges tweeted, referencing the iconic character he played in the 1998 film The Big Lebowski. “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.”

Bridges informed the public that he was starting treatment and would keep everyone updated on his recovery. The 70-year-old actor didn’t provide additional details about his diagnosis, such as the type of lymphoma, the stage of his cancer or the treatment he would be undergoing, but he did thank his family, friends and fans for their support. He also encouraged everyone to vote.

“Thank you for prayers and well wishes,” he wrote. “And while I have you, please remember to go vote. Because we are all in this together. Vote.org. Love, Jeff.”

Bridges, who has been acting since the 1950s and has been nominated for seven Academy Awards, is currently in production on the drama series The Old Man, which is slated to premiere on FX and Hulu in 2021.

Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, the show follows Dan Chase—played by Bridges—a man who absconded from the CIA decades ago and has been living off the grid since, according to Variety. When an assassin arrives and attempts to kill Chase, he must reconcile with his past to ensure his future.

“Our thoughts go out to Jeff and his family during this challenging time, and they have our love and support,” said Touchstone Pictures and FX Productions in a joint statement. “We wish him a safe and full recovery. And, as Jeff always says, ‘We are all in this together.’ Jeff, we are all in this together with you.”

For related coverage, read “Cancer In the Time of COVID-19, And Progress in Myeloma and Lymphoma” and “Lymphoma Stage at Diagnosis May Predict When and Where New Cancer Forms.”