Jeff Bridges Fell in Love with a Waitress Who Initially Turned Him Down & They’ve Now Been Together for 47 Years

According to the actor and producer, who also starred in 1984’s “Starman,” 2009’s “Crazy Heart,” and 2010’s “True Grit,” meeting his future wife was “love at first sight.” At the time, he was filming the 1975 movie in Paradise Valley, Montana, where Susan worked as a waitress.

She was working to support herself through college, and when he saw her he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Despite her “Two black eyes and a broken nose,” he found her beautiful, saying, “That damage juxtaposed to the beauty just had me.”

Jeff imagined saving her from an abusive boyfriend but later learned she’d gotten the bruises from being in a car accident. When he finally mustered the courage to ask her out, she refused. Yet, at that very moment, the film’s makeup artist snapped their photo, capturing their first exchange.

Fifteen years later, the actor received these images in the mail. The photographer assumed Jeff was asking Susan out, and that rejection became the first words he ever spoke to his future wife.

Years later, Jeff still keeps that picture in his wallet as a memento of their first meeting. See, Susan eventually changed her mind, saying they might see each other around, as Paradise Valley was a small town.

They later met at a dance hall, where they danced and fell in love. Two years after their initial meeting, on June 5, Susan and Jeff married and went on to welcome three daughters: Isabelle, Jessica, and Hayley.

By 2020, the duo were grandparents to a boy and a girl: Grace and Ben. Like all couples, they faced obstacles, especially when Jeff was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness.

Jeff’s Wife Stood by Him Through Thick and Thin

The couple’s biggest trial came when Jeff was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer affecting the lymphatic system. His fight against cancer was further complicated when he also contracted COVID-19 while undergoing chemotherapy (chemo).

Susan recalled, “We were kind of numb. We just immediately went through the steps of doing what needed to be done.” Jeff began with chemo infusions before transitioning to oral treatment.

The treatment appeared effective as Jeff’s tumor began shrinking quickly. He stated, “They got a cocktail that worked, and oh man, it worked fast. The thing just imploded.” In January 2021, about a month after starting chemo, things worsened for the actor when he was exposed to COVID-19 at the treatment center.

At the time, the vaccine wasn’t yet available, and he tested positive. The virus severely affected him due to his weakened immune system from chemo. “I had no defenses. That’s what chemo does — it strips you of all your immune system. I had nothing to fight it,” he explained.

Jeff further admitted, “COVID made my cancer look like nothing.” He wasn’t the only one who struggled with his diagnosis, his wife, devastated by his pain, said, “We didn’t know if he would recover.”

When the hospital called her to inform her that her husband might need to go on a ventilator, she instructed them, “‘Save his life. No matter what you have to do.’” Fortunately, the medical team managed to avoid placing him on a ventilator.

But, it was a challenging road, and Jeff had to contribute to his recovery. He recalled, “I was pretty close to dying. The doctors kept telling me, ‘Jeff, you’ve got to fight. You’re not fighting.’” The star admitted, “I was in surrender mode. I was ready to go. I was dancing with my mortality.”

Having cancer and contracting the virus triggered a range of emotions for Jeff. He shared, “Fear wasn’t a real strong one. It was mainly kind of the feeling of getting with the programme, you know.”

Susan’s husband had a profound realization while ill, saying, “I know I don’t want to die because one of the things that the illness brought to my attention is how much I love being alive…” He reflected that battling both COVID-19 and cancer “exacerbated all these feelings of love for my wonderful family.”

Determined to walk his youngest daughter, Hayley, down the aisle, he set a goal to improve his stamina, starting with his ability to stand, with 45 seconds being his initial time. He then worked on gradually increasing his walking distance.

His next goal was to walk down the hallway with his oxygen tank and with the help of a trainer, he made progress daily. He remembered, “Finally, one day I said, ‘Maybe I can do it, you know.’”

The actor joyfully revealed, “And it turns out I not only got to walk her down the aisle, but I got to do the wedding dance [to Ray Charles’s ‘Ain’t That Love’]. That was terrific.”

After a year and a half of illness, he recovered and now treasures his time with family.

Jeff and Susan enjoy spending time with their children, grandchildren, and dog Monty. They look forward to the future, with Susan saying, “It’s all like a bad dream now. And now’s the good dream part.”

The Oscar winner cherishes his family, calling them his life’s greatest joy, noting how fast “precious” time goes. He advises, “To spend it with people you love, there’s nothing richer than that.”

Jeff and Susan have been together for over four decades, with a few secrets to their lasting bond.

How Have Jeff and Susan Lasted So Long?

By June 5, 2024, Susan and Jeff had celebrated 47 years of marriage! Jeff shared that mutual respect is one of the keys to their long-lasting relationship.

He added, “We are quite different as people, and we celebrate that rather than making it drive us apart.”

Another secret, he maintained, is that he “respect[s] her wisdom, and I’m sure the girls do too.”

When talking about having his wife in his life, the actor considered himself “blessed.” Their eldest child, Isabelle, also commented on her parents’ inspiring relationship.

Reflecting on her parents’ union and what keeps them going, she shared, “They love each other, but they like each other, they spend time together.” She noted how they “make an effort to ask each other questions about what the other is interested in.”

Marrying Jeff Bridges also brought Susan into the acting world and the entertainment industry. In the past, the Fargo, North Dakota-born actress starred in 1989’s “Cold Feet” and 1999’s “Extra.” She’s also set to serve as an executive producer for an upcoming television movie called “Now What?”

Jeff and Susan continue to captivate as a couple, appearing together at various events that reflect their warmth and mutual admiration.

In January 2023, the couple attended the AARP Annual Movies for Grownups Awards at the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, an event dedicated to honoring films that appeal to mature audiences.

By April, they looked radiant together at the Los Angeles No Kid Hungry Dinner, an intimate charity event held at a private residence in Los Angeles, underscoring their dedication to giving back.

The following April, Susan proudly joined Jeff at Lincoln Center in New York City, where he was honored at the 49th Chaplin Award Gala. It was a memorable night celebrating his legacy in the entertainment industry.

In September 2024, the couple attended the Season 2 premiere of FX’s “The Old Man” at the Hammer Museum. Standing side by side, they celebrated Jeff’s latest work with the same warmth and pride they’ve shared for years.

From a chance encounter at a Montana ranch to a life woven with family and resilience, Jeff and Susan prove that love can weather any storm, standing strong even through life’s toughest battles.