Actress and mentor Betty A. Bridges (Building Bridges, Days of Our Lives) passed away on August 27, 2024, according to Deadline. At 83, she had a 40-year career appearing in popular television series such as Charlie’s Angels, 2 Broke Girls, ER, Lou Grant, Hill Street Blues and Good Times.
Bridges was born on August 1, 1941. Per Deadline, Bridges got her start in Hollywood in the 1970s by appearing on television shows like Police Woman, Charlie’s Angels, Good Times and Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. Her work for the next four decades consisted mainly of television appearances. Bridges starred in series like Wonder Woman, What’s Happening!!, Beverly Hills, 90210, CHiPs, The Practice, NYPD Blue, Scrubs, Moonlight, Sister, Sister, TV 101, Dallas, Paper Dolls and Flamingo Road.
While Bridges’ career was mainly focused on television, she did appear in movies such as The Concrete Jungle, Rooster, A Night at the Roxbury, Black Ball, Frankie D and The Hustle. Her sons Todd Bridges (Everybody Hates Chris, Diff’rent Strokes) and Jimmy Bridges (The Runner, The Swiss Nomad) wrote and directed Building Bridges, a short film in which she starred via Deadline.
Bridges used her acting knowledge to co-found an acting school, Kane Bridge Academy, according to Deadline. She became an acting coach and Hollywood manager, focusing on teaching minority children. Bridges also ran an acting school out of her home in Los Angeles, mentoring neighborhood kids at no cost. Deadline reported that some of her students included “Nia Long, Tony O’Dell, Sanaa Lathan, Marcus Chong, Shashawnee Hall and sisters Regina and Reina King.”
According to Deadline, Rep. Elizabeth Much confirmed Bridges’ death but did not report specific cause of death. Bridges was receiving hospice care at her son Todd’s home, where she passed away. Deadline reported that Bridges maintained a key role in Todd’s addiction recovery journey, where “her tough love and unwavering support highlighted the profound impact of family and friends in overcoming life’s toughest battles.”
Following Bridges’ passing, the family has requested donations to the Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation be made in her memory via Deadline.