Betty A. Bridges, actress and mother of Several shots star Todd Bridges who appeared in his son's sitcom, Hill Street Blues, Ally McBeal and many other shows, has died. She was 83 years old.
Bridges died Wednesday in hospice care at Todd's home in Phoenix, his agent Elizabeth Much said.
Over the course of her four-decade-long career, Betty Alice Bridges has appeared in everything from Policewoman, Good times, Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman, Charlie's Angels, Wonder Woman AND Quincy, ME TO Flamingo Road, Louis Count, Dallas, NYPD Blue, emergency room AND Shirts.
The Dallas native has also been seen in films such as A Night at the Roxbury (1998) and Building bridges (2000), a 45-minute documentary about Todd, who as a child actor in Hollywood had to face his fair share of troubles.
Bridges was also a manager and acting coach; he co-founded the Kane Bridge Academy and his students included Nia Long, sisters Reina and Regina King, Sanaa Lathan, Tony O'Dell, Marcus Chong, and Shashawnee Hall.
In addition to Todd, 59, survivors include his other children, Jimmy Bridges and Verda Bridges, also actors, and Zerondrick; 12 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
She was married to talent agent James Bridges Sr. from 1960 until their divorce in 1983.
Bridges played a pivotal role in Todd’s recovery from addiction, and “his tough love and unwavering support highlight the profound impact family and friends have on overcoming life’s most difficult battles,” his family noted.
Donations in her name can be made to the Global Recovery Initiatives Foundation to “celebrate Betty's life and the healing Todd experiences every day.”