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One of Hollywood's most successful actors, five-time Academy Award nominee Jeff Bridges won the Oscar for best actor for his role as washed-out country singer Bad Blake in the music drama "Crazy Heart."
Bridges earned his first Oscar nomination in 1971 for Best Supporting Actor in Peter Bogdanovich's THE LAST PICTURE SHOW co-starring Cybill Shepard.
Three years later he received his second Best Supporting Actor nomination for his role in Michael Cimino's THUNDERBOLT AND LIGHTFOOT.
In 1984, Bridges was a Best Actor nominee for STARMAN. That performance also earned him a Golden Globe nomination. In 2001, he was honored with another Golden Globe nomination and his fourth Oscar nomination for his role in THE CONTENDER, Rod Lurie's political thriller co-starring Gary Oldman and Joan Allen, in which Bridges played the President of the United States.
In his onstage acceptance speech, Bridges thanked his movie star parents -- actors Lloyd and Dorothy Bridges:
"Thank you, Mom and Dad, for turning me on to such a groovy profession. Oh, my dad and my mom, they loved show biz so much. I remember my mom, getting all of us kids to entertain at her parties. You know, my dad sitting me on his bed and teaching me all of the basics of acting."
"This is honoring them as much as it is me," Bridges said of his departed parents.
In his backstage interview, Jeff Bridges with Oscar in hand assessed his career from the perspective of "The Dude" perhaps his signature character from "The Big Lebowski."
Q. You were talking about sitting on the bed, your dad giving you all the pointers of being an actor. From that day to this moment, what kind of ride has this been? And did you ever see this happening?
A. Well, you know, ups and downs, what does the Dude say? Strikes and gutters, man. That's about it. That's about it.
Q. What part of Bad Blake do you most identify with personally, and also, will you and Colin Farrell please form a country band?
A. The music, that's what I most identified with Bad. I have been writing music, playing music since I was a kid. Unlike Bad, I have you know, I didn't think he had great parents. Certainly didn't have he had four, probably, great wives that he got rid of, you know.
But I have a very strong marriage, you know. Bad didn't have that. There's a lot of stuff he didn't have. But the music, I don't know about forming a country band. Sounds like a good idea. I'll talk with those guys, maybe.
Q. One of the fascinating things about the Oscars in recent years, including this year, is that some of the acting, the key acting categories, are won by people in pictures that are not in the Best Picture category. Very odd, but interesting. And I am curious if you have any insight into that and what it means to be able to elevate the profile of a picture like Crazy Heart with this kind of triumph.
A. Well, that's the exciting thing to me, because this award brings some attention to that great movie. I was kind of surprised. We got 10 nominees and Crazy Heart didn't make it. Oh, God. But, of course, Scott, you know, but... bitch, bitch, bitch, right. I mean, God.
Did I answer your question? Say that again. Yeah, yeah. That's, in a way, that's one aspect of what these awards are all about to bring attention to all these great movies that we made, you know. And so I'm all for this ten Best Pictures. I think that's wonderful. And I hope a lot of people can see Crazy Heart because of this.
Q. What are you going to do with this newfound power? Any projects you've been associated with or that you're going to sprinkle this stardust on?
A. Yeah. Well, certainly, the music, that's going to bloom for me. That's something that I've been doing for a long time. And this is going to help me continue that. But also, you know, there's upsides and downsides of things.
The downsides, you lose some of your anonymity, and for an actor, that's kind of tough. But the upside is, you know, hopefully, this award will help bring peace and understanding and prosperity to our world, you know. I think, because, really, movies are more than just entertainment, they are connecting us, you know.
And music is the same way. We have, you know, a movie about music here, but music and movies are a common link for all of us. And I am hoping that this will kind of raise my profile, and I am all about getting us, you know, getting us all together, getting the world healthy.
Sometimes I'll think of movies as a great example for the way the world can work. You have all these, you know, different opinions, and all these different ways we can work together. And we can make the most beautiful movie we can make, and we have the opportunity to make this the most beautiful world too. So I hope that furthers that idea.
Q. As we see tonight, for a lot of your career you've been defined by one movie, The Big Lebowski. Will this put that to rest?
A. I'm digging the Dude. You know, I love him. That's wonderful. You know, the success that he's had. I was a little disappointed, when it first came out, it didn't do much. But now we have Lebowski fests and all kinds of things.
Q. Everybody said tonight that you're a successful man in every area. Now you are the Best Actor of the year. What would you say is your personal key for success?
A. Oh, well, first thing that pops into my mind is my wife, my support, you know. She holds that kite string. Lets me go way out there, and then it's so sweet being reeled back in. I love coming home. She pointed out the other day, we've been apart 11 of the last 14 months. So I went, whoo, really far out there. But my wife and my girls, I guess the girls are the tail of the kite, keep me centered like that. My girl, my daughters.
Sandra Bullock - 82nd Academy Awards Oscar for Best Actress
First-time nominee Sandra Bullock won the Oscar for Best Actress at the 82nd annual Academy Awards for her portrayal of Leigh Anne Tuohy in The Blind Side. In her own humble and self-depracating style, Bullock delivered one of the most memorable acceptance speeches. Bullock was full of thankfulness while paying homage to parents in general and her mother in particular.
Columbia Celebrates Kathryn Bigelow, Its Big Oscar Winner
You knew it was unavoidable: Colleges claiming Oscar winners the day after the glamorous event. And who can blame them? Why else would they have a 'Famous Alumni' section on Wikipedia?
'Avatar' vs. 'The Hurt Locker'?
I am personally afraid that 'Avatar,' which has made so much splashy money, will win in what may well be a box office bonanza vote. But James Cameron's science fiction 3-D work, which has astonished so many, is certainly not 'the best' picture. So, I am hoping a woman director, Kathryn Bigelow, will make history by winning best picture with The Hurt Locker
Will Oscar Lose Its 'Crazy Heart' for Jeff Bridges
Jeff Bridges is vying against George Clooney (Up in the Air), Colin Firth (A Single Man), Morgan Freeman (Invictus) and Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker). To the millions who tune in to the Oscars on March 7, these terrific performances. Every one deserves an award. But this is Jeff Bridge's year. The same goes for Sandra Bullock. Here's why
Oscar Nominations and Nominees
Oscarcast Challenged By More Nominations
Widening the Academy Awards field to 10 contenders for 2009 was hailed and criticized on various fronts, with some seeing the expanded roster as a crass, grade-inflating attempt to provide more populist appeal -- thus boosting the audience's rooting interest and, presumably, the kudocast's ratings.
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82nd Academy Awards Oscar Winners: Will Oscar Lose Its 'Crazy Heart' for Jeff Bridges