Jeff Bridges to receive DeMille Award

LOS ANGELES — Jeff Bridges may have once been considered as one of Hollywood’s most underappreciated actors, but next month’s Golden Globe Awards will showcase his life and illustrious career next month by bestowing him one of its highest honours.

Bridges will receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award during the 76th annual awards ceremony on Jan. 6, 2019, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced Monday. The actor been praised for starring in films including “Crazy Heart,” “True Grit,” “Hell or High Water” and “The Big Lebowski,” which became a cult classic thanks to his nonchalant, knit-sweater wearing character Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski.

HFPA President Meher Tatna said in a statement the Golden Globe winner has “captured hearts and minds” of audiences worldwide.

Bridges, 69, won a Globe in 2010 for best actor for his role in “Crazy Heart,” when he remarked at the time during his acceptance speech about “chipping away” at his underappreciated status. He went on to win an Academy Award that year, and also received previous Globe nominations for his performances in “Starman,” “The Fisher King,” “Contender” and “Hell or High Water.”

The DeMille Award is given annually to an “individual who has made an incredible impact on the world of entertainment.” Past recipients include Oprah Winfrey, Morgan Freeman, Meryl Streep and Jodie Foster.