Jeff Bridges dedicates Crazy Heart Oscar to parents
Jeff Bridges (pictured with wife Susan Geston) dedicates best actor Academy award for Crazy Heart at fifth time of asking to his late parents
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By Jack Clark. |  |
Monday, 08, Mar 2010 05:10
By Matthew Champion.
Jeff Bridges last night dedicated his best actor Academy award for Crazy Heart at the fifth time of asking to his late parents, both actors themselves.
The 60-year-old had been nominated four times without winning, his first nod coming for The Last Picture Show in 1971.
Taking to the stage to accept his award at the Kodak Theatre last night, Bridges dedicated the award to his parents Lloyd and Dorothy Bridges.
"Thank you mom and dad for turning me on to such a groovy profession," he said.
"This is honouring them as much as it is me."
In Crazy Heart Bridges plays Bad Blake, a soaked and faded country star battling his inner demons and weighing up one final shot at the big-time.
Bridges almost turned down the role after being concerned at the lack of music in the movie, but the involvement of musician T-Bone Burnett reignited his interest and he signed on to go on and perform his own songs.
He beat off competition from George Clooney (Up in the Air), Morgan Freeman (Invictus), Colin Firth (A Single Man) and Jeremy Renner (The Hurt Locker) to claim the prize.
After his first fruitless Oscar nomination in 1971 for The Last Picture Show Bridges received a second nomination for best supporting actor for 1974's Thunderbolt and Lightfoot.
In 1984 he received a best actor nomination for Starman, while 2000's The Contender saw him pick up a third best supporting actor nod.
He is arguably best known for his iconic turn as The Dude in 1998 The Big Lebowsk from the Coen Brothers.
Bridges, who starred in 2008's Iron Man, can next be seen in Tron Legacy, the sequel to the 1982 Disney film he also starred in.