- Jeff Bridges and his wife, Susan, celebrated their 46th year of marriage in 2023, which is a beautiful achievement!
- For Jeff, it was love at first sight despite Susan being a waitress and having a facial injury.
- Years later, Susan repaid Jeff’s love by staying by his side, even when death threatened to take him.
Jeff Bridges attends a ceremony honoring John Goodman with the 2,604th Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame in Hollywood, California on March 10, 2017. | Source: Getty Images
Jeff Bridges has been in the entertainment industry for over 60 years and has served as an American actor, producer, and singer. While shooting a hot tub scene for 1975’s “Rancho Deluxe” at Montana’s Chico Hot Springs, the star met his future wife, Susan “Sue” Geston.
When he saw the waitress, he couldn’t take his eyes off her with her broken nose and black eye. The actor later learned that the woman had just been in a car accident resulting in her facial injuries. Regardless, he was still enthralled by her appearance.
Jeff and Susan Bridges celebrate during the 82nd Annual Academy Awards held at Kodak Theatre in Hollywood, California on March 7, 2010. | Source: Getty Images
Jeff recalled being riveted by “her beauty and disfigurement.” For him, it was “love at first sight.” Like a fascinated child, he kept sneaking peeks at her while shooting a scene, but each time, she caught him in the act. He confessed:
“I didn’t know what she was, a maid or a waitress; I couldn’t take my eyes off her.”
Jeff and Susan Bridges arrive at the World Premiere of “TRON Legacy” at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California on December 11, 2010. | Source: Getty Images
He thought she was gorgeous, and the contrast between her beauty and disfigurement interested him. After filming, the “The Big Lebowski” star found the courage to approach her and ask for a date.
Susan hilariously refused but noted that it was possible they’d run into each other later because she lived in a small town. As fate would have it, the pair did, and they went out dancing, and the celebrity fell in love.
Susan and Jeff Bridges attend The 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California on January 29, 2017. | Source: Getty Images
The following day, the actor had a meeting with a local real estate agent to see some property, and he invited Susan. They went to a ranch house by the river, and that became their first date. Something told Jeff right then that he was looking at his home with his “future wife.”
Jeff and Susan Bridges attend his’ hand and footprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX in Hollywood, California on January 6, 2017. | Source: Getty Images
The thought worried him, but he realized he couldn’t lose the love of his life, though he was also afraid of knowing she was the one for him! The star was in love, but he was also worried he and Susan wouldn’t have the staying power his parents had. He admitted:
“For a while, I was scared of getting married. It was like it brought me one step closer to death.”
Jeff and Susan Bridges attend “The Giver” premiere at Ziegfeld Theate in New York City on August 11, 2014. | Source: Getty Images
Eventually, Jeff learned to face his fear as part of life and came to terms with it. He admitted his biggest fear was losing his freedom, but after two years of doubt, he finally proposed. He figured he could always get a divorce if things didn’t work out.
However, he didn’t expect to build a deeper bond with his wife, to include children, grandchildren, and other unattainable things without marriage. Although the move was scary for Jeff, his heart was deeply open.
Jeff and Susan Bridges arrives at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards held at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on January 31, 2010. | Source: Getty Images
In 2020, the actor, then 70, had been married to Susan for 43 years, and he revealed that they were different people who went by with mutual respect. They celebrated what made them opposites instead of allowing it to separate them.