Jeff Bridges Thanks Wife of 48 Years at Critics' Choice Awards after She Begged Doctors to Save His Life

• Jeff Bridges thanked his wife of 48 years, Susan Geston, as he received Critics' Choice lifetime achievement award.

• Geston stayed with the actor through thick and thin and once begged doctors to save his life when he was "pretty close to dying."

• Bridges fell in love with Geston at first sight when she was working as a waitress.

Famous actor Jeff Bridges recently delivered a touching speech when he won the Critics' Choice lifetime achievement award. His long-time friend and co-star in the film "The Big Lebowski," John Goodman, presented him with the award and thanked him for his years of friendship and loyalty.

After accepting the trophy and embracing Goodman with a big hug, Bridges thanked his family for their love and support throughout the years. He opened his speech by noting that the day was exceptionally memorable since it was also his late father's birthday. He also attributed his success to his dad, Lloyd Bridges.

After crediting his father for supporting him in his career choice, Bridges thanked the rest of his family. He mentioned his mother, saying she was the best actor out of all of them, and he thanked his brother, Beau Bridges, and his sister, Cindy Bridges, for all their support. Lastly, he thanked his loving wife, Susan Geston:

"And I get to be supported by my beautiful, wonderfully talented wife, Sue. We have been married 48 years. Three incredible daughters, Isabelle, Jessie, and Haley."

The actor went on to thank everyone he had worked with throughout the years, comparing them to "little families" that he had the privilege to be a part of. He thanked everyone who helped make his career a success and said he owed them all — even the critics.

How Did Jeff Bridges' Wife Support Him through Thick and Thin?

The award comes after Bridges finally recovered from a lengthy struggle with his health. The actor suffered a double dose of bad news between 2020 and 2021. At first, he was diagnosed with cancer of the lymphatic system, which left him and his entire family shocked.

Since Bridges and Geston started dating, they've been there for each other, offering encouragement and advice whenever the other faltered.

Luckily, the doctors caught the disease relatively early on, and they concocted a rigorous chemotherapy program that proved highly effective. Unfortunately, while he was undergoing treatment, he was infected with COVID-19. After falling ill, his recovery took a huge blow, and his wife worried he might not recover. She shared:

"I said, 'Save his life. No matter what you have to do.'"

Due to chemo's debilitating effects on his immune system, Bridges had minimal defenses left to fight the COVID infection. The virus left him "pretty close to dying," and not even he believed he would survive. Luckily, with Geston's unwavering support and an excellent team of doctors, Bridges recovered, and his cancer also went into remission.

How Did Jeff Bridges Meet the Love of His Life?

Without his wife by his side, Bridges would surely have given up hope while fighting COVID and cancer. Geston's constant love and support made all the difference throughout his ordeal, and he attributed his survival to her presence. However, this enduring companionship is nothing new in the Bridges household.

Since Bridges and Geston started dating, they've been there for each other, offering encouragement and advice whenever the other faltered. They met each other in Montana in 1975 while Bridges was filming one of his early movies, "Rancho Deluxe." At the time, Geston was working as a waitress.

Bridges recalled the moment he first laid eyes on his future wife. He was filming a scene in a hot tub when she walked past, and he caught sight of her. She had recently been in a car accident and sported two black eyes and a broken nose. Bridges gushed that her "beauty and disfigurement" intrigued the actor ceaselessly. He reminisced:

"I couldn't take my eyes off her."

Eventually, after sneaking multiple not-so-subtle glances, Bridges built up enough courage to go up to her and ask her out. To his dismay, she turned him down. He was persistent, though, and after a while, they ran into each other in town. They spent the night dancing, and they have been together ever since.

Despite his fear of losing his freedom, Bridges asked Geston to marry him, and after more than four decades together, he hasn't regretted his choice once. Although they face conflict in their marriage like any other couple, the actor commented that every fight they had over the years has only served to bring them closer.