See Bruce Dern’s then-and-now transformation as ’70s icon and Laura Dern’s dad turns 90

Bruce initially hoped to become a track star when he was on the track team at New Trier High School.

After graduating, he attended the University of Pennsylvania, however he called it quits after two years, and next, he fully committed to his budding acting career instead.

He studied at the prestigious Actors Studio in New York City, and ended up making his Broadway debut in Sweet Bird of Youth in the ’50s.

In the ’60s, he appeared in Hush…Hush, Sweet Charlotte, Hang ‘Em High and The Outer Limits.

In the ’70s, he was seen in The Cowboys, The King of Marvin Gardens, The Great Gatsby, Posse, Family Plot and more.

Thanks to his role in Coming Home, alongside Jane Fonda, the star was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1978.

He also appeared in The ‘Burbs, Diggstown and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood over the years.

Bruce published his autobiography titled Things I’ve Said, But Probably Shouldn’t Have: An Unrepentant Memoir in 2007.

The actor was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in 2013 for his role in Nebraska.

Despite Bruce’s successful career, the actor is still in disbelief about the level of stardom he’s reached.

Bruce candidly expressed: “The thing that touches me most about the [documentary] — two things, first of all, and coming to Cannes is the first thing because it means there are people here that give a [expletive], and my friends are the only people that give a [expletive]. The thing about all the guys and girls that we got to interview, each one gave a [expletive] about talking or working with me or something else,” per People. 

The star remains humble and likes to keep himself grounded when he thinks back on his career.

He admitted: “I think what I like most about our movie is that I found little things that other people wouldn’t recognize because I’m not a big star. I never became a big star. A big star to me is someone who can do $50 million on a weekend; that’s a movie star. I was never that. I mean, they’ve made a lot, the movies, but nothing like that.”