Jeff Bridges Was Riveted by Wife’s Beauty despite Her Facial Injuries – She’s a ‘Diamond’ to Him

Although Academy Award-winning actor Jeff Bridges admitted he was not "real good" at romance, he and his wife, Susan Geston, have been married for over four decades.

Born in December 1949, Jeff Bridges is a multi-awarded actor best known for working in "The Big Lebowski" and "Hell or High Water." He might not be "real good" at romance, as he admits, but his relationship with Susan Geston is one of a kind.

Bridges revealed buying clothes for his wife was not his style. He knows Geston deserves much more, but he rubs her back at night and carries her picture everywhere. "That's kind of romantic, isn't it?" he said. The truth is their love story is very romantic.

Jeff Bridges’ First Date with His Better Half

Most relationships in Hollywood are pretty similar – two actors work on a project together, fall in love, and tie the knot. Bridges and Geston's case was different, though.

They met in 1975 while he was filming "Rancho Deluxe" in Paradise Valley, a small town in Montana. Geston was not an actress but a waitress at a place called Chico Hot Springs, and as soon as Bridges saw her, he couldn't take his eyes off her.

The actor confessed it was love at first sight. Geston was undoubtedly gorgeous, but she also had two black eyes and a broken nose, which Bridges later learned resulted from a car accident. Bridges admitted, "Something about her beauty and disfigurement kept me riveted. Every time I snuck a peek, she'd catch me."

Luckily for the couple, some captured the exact moment that Bridges approached Geston and asked him out. Till this day, the actor still has the picture of his wife with her bruised face.

When Bridges finished working, he asked her out, and she said no. He tried to convince her, but Geston kept refusing his request. She eventually told him it was a small town, so they could probably run into each other later. Geston showed up at their wrap party where she and Bridges danced all night and fell in love.

Their official first date was out of the ordinary. Bridges had a meeting scheduled with a real estate agent the day after dancing with Geston, so he asked her to come along.

While walking around the ranch house, he kept thinking he was looking at a home with his future wife. "Oh, no, let me out of here," Bridges thought, mainly because he was afraid of marriage.

Marriage did close one door but opened many possibilities.

Bridges’ Fears about Marriage and Eventual Learnings

Even though Bridges recognized he was crazy in love with Geston, he felt cornered. He was unwilling to let the love of his life slip through his fingers, but he was also afraid to acknowledge she was "the one."

In part, his famous parents ("Seinfeld" actor Lloyd Bridges and actress and poet Dorothy Bridges) were to blame. The "Iron Man" star confessed he came from "such great parents" that he was unsure if he or Geston had it in them.

After about three years of living together in Los Angeles, Geston was offered a job in Montana, but before even considering the job, she gave the actor an ultimatum. She said she knew he loved her and that she was ready to have a family, but if he was skeptical about starting this chapter, she was ready to find it with someone else.

Just the thought of Geston leaving haunted Bridges. During an interview with Jimmy Kimmel, he said, "I had this image in my mind. I had a handful of sand, and I had a diamond in there, and that's Su, and I can't let that thing go."

After that, his fear of losing his freedom left and was cushioned by the idea of divorcing if things didn't work out. The actor made sure to act quickly and married his wife five days after proposing.

Geston and Bridges tied the knot in 1977, and they have been together ever since. The actor admitted marriage did close one door but opened many possibilities, including:

"Children, grandchildren, deeper intimacy with your wife, and so many other things that would not be available to you without marriage."

While getting married was frightening, Bridges eventually felt he deeply opened his heart. The movie star has also learned a lot from Geston, especially because she points out ways he "defeats himself."

Geston taught him to look at challenging situations differently and not worry too much about new projects he gets involved with. Bridges confessed their relationship was the most precious thing for them.

Inside the Couple’s “Ancient War” and Relationship

Although Geston and Bridges have been married for more than 40 years, their relationship still faces challenges. The actor admitted they had an "ancient war" that goes: "You just don't get me; you don't know me; you don't understand."

Bridges said he didn't entirely know his wife and never will. The same happens with Geston – she will never know her husband completely. However, they realize with each battle that the lack of knowledge about each other is what they have in common.

The fact that doctors had a favorable prognosis made everything less somber.

After being in a relationship for so long, Bridges and Geston understood that conflicts were impossible to avoid. Luckily, they've found solace, knowing that they'll go through them together and will end up loving each other even more.

The couple has been asked about the secret to keeping a marriage going in showbiz, and Bridges said it was not getting divorced. He added that the significant challenges in marriage were opportunities to know each other, become more intimate, and see what makes one another tick.

However, figuring out how to face fights between one another was not the only aspect that brought the couple closer. When their eldest daughter, Isabelle, was four, she came down with encephalitis, but Bridges was out of town shooting a movie.

His wife was left alone caring for a sick child, their then two-year-old Jessie, while also pregnant with Haley. The actor was in awe of the strength Geston showed during this stressful time. His appreciation for his wife only got deeper and made being married to her even more worth it.

Meeting the Couple’s Three Children

Geston and Bridges share three daughters, Isabelle, Jessica, and Haley. Over the years, the girls have made frequent appearances on red-carpet events next to their parents, and Bridges pointed out that he was grateful for his family.

When he was diagnosed with lymphoma in October 2020, his three daughters and wife were very supportive. Their love lifted his spirits, and the fact that doctors had a favorable prognosis made everything less somber.

Bridges' daughters have successful careers, too. Born in August 1981, Isabelle briefly pursued an acting career at 19 by taking a role in 1989's "Termini Station." That was her first and only acting credit. Isabelle married Brandon Boesch in 2007 and is raising two children.

Jessica joined the brood in June 1983. Instead of pursuing an acting career like her father, she became a singer-songwriter. It is unclear if she is still making music – the last time she posted on Instagram was in February 2020.

Bridges and Geston's youngest daughter, Haley, was born in October 1985. She is a famous interior designer in Santa Barbara, California, and married Justin Shane in September 2021.

After a rollercoaster of figuring out the best way to lead their marriage, Geston and Bridges will be celebrating 46 years of their ever-lasting love.