Jeff Bridges Considered Turning Down 'The Big Lebowski'

Jeff Bridges has had himself a career with so many memorable roles, but if you were going to pick just one as his most iconic, you’d probably choose the Dude in The Big Lebowski. However, get this: As he told Conan O’Brien on Conan, he had reservations when the Coen brothers sent him their script.

“I’ll tell you what, on that one, it was tough,” Bridges admitted. “I read the script; I loved the script, but I’m playing this pothead guy, not that I have anything against potheads.” O’Brien quipped: “Yeah, let’s just get that out there — Jeff Bridges has nothing against potheads.”

The Hell or High Water star is the son of the late, great Lloyd Bridges. Obviously growing up the child of a well-known actor had an impact on him, and that’s what gave him pause. “I know there’s kind of a downside to being the kid of a famous person; there’s a lot of baggage,” he shared. “I thought, You know, I don’t know how my girls — I had three young girls at the time — how they were going to feel. How they were going to get teased or how they would feel about that.”

Fortunately, we can thank one of his daughters for talking some sense into him. The Oscar winner continued, “My middle girl, Jessie, said, ‘Dad, you’re an actor; it’s pretend. We know that when you kiss other women in the films, we know that you still love Mom, so go for it. Go do it.’”

Speaking for all of us, O’Brien said, “I’m glad that she said yes.” “Me too,” Bridges responded.

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