Jeff Bridges credits his parents with preparing him for fame.
The Oscar-winner grew up in showbusiness as the son of late stars Lloyd and Dorothy Bridges.
And he credits much of his career longevity to their guidance.
“My mum and dad were great examples,” he told America’s People magazine.
“How my father dealt with fame – it didn’t seem that unusual to me. He was such a lover of showbiz, loved [doing interviews], loved signing autographs.”
The 64-year-old actor now has dozens of movie roles on his credits list, most recently producing and starring in Phillip Noyce sci-fi drama The Giver.
But The Big Lebowski star says the most valuable lesson he learned from his father was to find happiness in Hollywood that wasn’t based on the superficial.
“He taught me the basics of acting, but what I really got from him was the joy he experienced while working,” he explained.
Jeff and his father also shared the joy of appearing on screen together.
The men co-starred in Stephen Hopkins’ 1994 crime drama Blown Away, and he’ll never forget the memories they made on that film.
“I remember when he came on the set, in a genuine way he was just joyful – it was contagious. It would go through the community,” Jeff recalled.
“With joy comes relaxation about the way things are, and with that comes getting out of your own way. And you end up with some good work.”
The Giver was released in the US Friday, and co-stars Meryl Streep, Alexander Skarsg
