Betty A. Bridges, Veteran Actress, Dead At 83
Actress Betty A. Bridges has died at the age of 83. The news was confirmed to Deadline by her Rep Elizabeth Much that the veteran talent passed away at the son of her home Todd Bridges in Phoenix on Tuesday (Aug. 27). According to the outlet, she had lived there in hospice care.
Todd Brides, also an actor, shared tributes to his mother on social media. In one post to Instagram, he uploaded an image on Thursday of his mother smiling, with the years 1941-2024 written across the bottom. Comments offering support poured in from friends, followers, fans, and the likes of Lenny Kravitz, Melissa Gilbert, and Tyrone Burton.
A second upload, leading with the same photo, compiled various pictures of his mother in video format, and soundtracked by Everly Fair’s “I Love You Always Forever (Acoustic).”
Betty A. Bridges worked in the industry for more than four decades. Per IMDb, her acting credits date back to 1974. A number of notable guest spots include a spot on Good Times, where she portrayed Charlene, a wife seeking a nude portrait from leading character J.J. as a gift for her husband, a recurring role as Bina on Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, and most recently, 2 Broke Girls in 2014.
In her career, she also appeared in films including A Night at the Roxbury and The Colony, as well as Building Bridges, a 1990 short film that explored her son’s struggles after his time on Diff’rent Strokes. According to Deadline, she was an important factor in Todd’s recovery from addiction.
Outside of acting, Betty Bridges worked as a prominent Hollywood manager and acting coach and co-founded the Kane Bridge Academy acting school where she also taught. Her students included Nia Long, Tony O’Dell, Sanaa Lathan, Marcus Chong, Shashawnee Hall, and sisters Regina and Reina King, the family relayed to the outlet.
Actor Todd Bridges and mother Betty Bridges attend 33rd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on September 13, 1981 at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium in Pasadena, California.
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Betty Bridges is survived by Todd and his wife Bettijo Bridges, 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.
VIBE sends our condolences to the family, friends, and fans, of Betty A. Bridges.
