Betty A. Bridges, who guested on dozen of popular TV series during a 40-year career ranging from Good Times and Charlie’s Angels to Lou Grant and Hill Street Blues to ER and 2 Broke Girls and later was a prominent acting coach, died August 27. She was 83.
She died at the Phoenix home of her son, Diff’rent Strokes and reality TV star Todd Bridges, where she had been in hospice care. Rep Elizabeth Much confirmed her death to Deadline, but no cause was given.
Born on August 1, 1941, Betty Bridges got her screen start guesting on such 1970s TV shows as Police Woman, Charlie’s Angels and Norman Lear’s Good Times and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. She continued to work consistently for much of the next four decades, mostly in TV. She made guest appearances in popular series including Wonder Woman; What’s Happening!!; Quincy, M.E.; CHiPs; Lou Grant; Diff’rent Strokes; Hill Street Blues; Dallas; Beverly Hills, 90210; Ally McBeal, The Practice, NYPD Blue, Scrubs and 2 Broke Girls.
Along the way, Bridges also appeared on the big screen in A Night at the Roxbury, Rooster, The Concrete Jungle and others. She also appeared in the 2000 short film Building Bridges, written and directed by her sons Todd and Jimmy Bridges, the latter also a veteran actor.
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She became a prominent Hollywood manager and acting coach and co-founded Kane Bridge Academy, an acting school where she was a popular teacher. She worked mainly with children, particularly minorities, and eventually ran her acting school out of her Los Angeles home, often letting neighborhood children take classes for free. Her students included Nia Long, Tony O’Dell, Sanaa Lathan, Marcus Chong, Shashawnee Hall and sisters Regina and Reina King, the family said.
Betty Bridges played a crucial role in Todd’s recovery from addiction. Her family said her tough love and unwavering support highlighted the profound impact of family and friends in overcoming life’s toughest battles.
Along with son Todd and his wife Bettijo Bridges, she is survived by son Jimmy Bridges, daughter Verda Bridges Prpich, adopted son Zerondrick Hubbard and grandchildren Penny Bae Bridges, Brooke Marie Bridges, Raei Bridges, Mikai Emanuel Bridges, Paxton Isaiah Bridges, Radd Prpich, Bo Bridges, Spencir Bridges, Attalie Anne, Piper Hirschi, Modette Hirschi and Rockwell Hirschi.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation.