What is Todd Bridges' Net Worth?
Todd Bridges is an American actor with a net worth of $250,000. He gained fame for his role as Willis Jackson on the sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes" from 1978 to 1986. Bridges also had a recurring role on the sitcom "Everybody Hates Chris." He appeared in the 2012 Nigerian movie "Turning Point," and was a commentator on the cable television series "World's Dumbest" for four years.

Early Life and Career Beginnings
Todd Bridges was born in 1965 in San Francisco, California to James Sr., a talent agent, and Betty Alice Pryor, an actress and director. He has an older brother named Jimmy, who also pursued acting.
In 1975, Bridges made his television debut with a guest appearance on the ABC sitcom "Barney Miller." He also had roles in the television movies "The Orphan and the Dude" and "Katherine." In 1976, he portrayed Little Walter in an episode of the crime drama anthology series "Police Story."

Television Breakthroughs
1977 was a breakthrough year for Bridges on television. Along with appearances in iconic shows like "Little House on the Prairie" and "The Waltons," he played Bud Harvey in the landmark miniseries "Roots" and appeared in the television movie "A Killing Affair." Bridges also had a main role on the "Barney Miller" spinoff, "Fish," where he played one of the racially mixed children of a foster couple.
In 1978, Bridges gained widespread recognition for his role as Willis Jackson on the sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes." The show, which also featured Gary Coleman as his on-screen brother Arnold, was a huge hit and ran for eight seasons until 1986. Bridges' catchphrase, "What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" became iconic. The success of the show led to the spinoff series "The Facts of Life."

Year | TV Show/Film |
---|---|
1975 | Barney Miller (Guest appearance) |
1976 | Police Story (Little Walter) |
1977 | Little House on the Prairie (Guest appearance) |
1978-1986 | Diff'rent Strokes (Willis Jackson) |
Further Television Career
During his time on "Diff'rent Strokes," Bridges continued to make appearances in other TV shows. He appeared in the television movie "The Return of Mod Squad" and had cameo appearances as Willis Jackson in a few crossover episodes of the NBC sitcom "Hello, Larry." In the 80s and 90s, he made guest appearances in various shows and appeared in television films.
In the 2000s, Bridges had roles in the TV movie "The Darkling" and the FX sitcom "Son of the Beach." He also had a recurring role as Monk on the sitcom "Everybody Hates Chris." Bridges became a commentator on the TruTV series "World's Dumbest" and appeared as a contestant on several reality competition shows.

Film Career
Bridges began his film career with a small role in the 1989 comedy "She's Out of Control." He went on to appear in various films, including "The Sounds of Silence," "Homeboy," "Gangstaz," "The Climb," "Dumb Luck," and "Curse of the Maya." One of his notable film roles was in the 2012 Nigerian drama "Turning Point."
Legal and Drug Problems
Bridges had a troubled past and faced legal issues related to drug abuse. He struggled with crack cocaine and methamphetamine addiction, which led to drug dealing. Bridges was arrested for cocaine possession and felony assault. In 1989, he faced attempted murder charges related to a Los Angeles-area drug dealer but was ultimately acquitted. Additionally, he was arrested in 1992 for possessing methamphetamine and a loaded gun.

Personal Life and Memoir
Bridges has a son named Spencir with his ex-wife Dori, who is also an actor. He also has a daughter from a previous relationship. In 2008, Bridges published a memoir titled "Killing Willis: From 'Diff'rent Strokes' to the Mean Streets to the Life I Always Wanted." The memoir delves into Bridges' difficult childhood, including experiences of sexual abuse and drug addiction, and his efforts to move beyond his television persona.
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