Steve Bridges
{{Short description|American impressionist (1963–2012)}}
{{Infobox comedian
|image = Bridgesbush.jpg
|caption = Bridges (right) and George W. Bush at the White House Correspondents' Dinner
|birth_date = {{Birth date|1963|5|22}}
|birth_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S.Noland, Claire (March 4, 2012). [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/03/steve-bridges-george-w-bush-impersonator.html "George W. Bush impersonator Steve Bridges dies at 48"]. Los Angeles Times
|death_date = {{death date and age|2012|3|3|1963|5|22}}
|death_place = Los Angeles County, California, U.S.
|nationality = American
|genre = Stand-up, impressionist
|influences =
|influenced =
|spouse =
|alma_mater=Biola University}}
Stephen Lynn Bridges (May 22, 1963 – March 3, 2012) was an American comedian who was known for his impressions of politicians, television characters and broadcasters including Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Barney Fife, Homer Simpson, Tom Brokaw, Paul Harvey, and Rush Limbaugh.[http://www.stevebridges.com/biography.html "Biography"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061106152158/http://www.stevebridges.com/biography.html |date=2006-11-06 }}. SteveBridges.com Retrieved May 23, 2015.
Biography
Bridges graduated from Biola University in 1986.{{cite web |last=Bartlo |first=Jenna |date=15 March 2012 |title=Alumnus Steve Bridges' Legacy Remembered |url=http://now.biola.edu/news/article/2012/mar/15/alumnus-steve-bridges-legacy-remembered/ |accessdate=1 August 2014 |website=Biola University}}
His portrayal of George W. Bush led to Bridges being cast as the president in episodes of both JAG and its spin-off, NCIS. In 2006, he appeared alongside then-President Bush at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner, mimicking the president by voicing the president's "inner thoughts" during Bush's speech.{{cite web|title='Double-You' Bush delights media|website=BBC News|date=30 April 2012|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4959380.stm}}
He controversially did an impression of Barack Obama whilst in blackface.{{Citation |title=Video {{!}} The man who offended Obama |url=https://www.ndtv.com/video/news/news/the-man-who-offended-obama-223663 |access-date=2024-02-10}}
Death
On March 3, 2012, Bridges was found dead by his maid in his Los Angeles home after he failed to return a call the day before. According to his agent, Bridges had just returned from performing in Hong Kong and went to bed complaining that he felt "super-jetlagged".{{cite news|title=Bush impersonator dies at 48|publisher=CNN|date=4 March 2012|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/04/bush-impersonator-dies-at-48/|access-date=1 August 2014|archive-date=20 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190120165536/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/04/bush-impersonator-dies-at-48/|url-status=dead}} His death was ruled an accident, with the probable cause "upper airway anaphylaxis" from a severe allergic reaction.{{Cite web |date=2012-06-16 |title=Steve Bridges as President(s) Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton |url=http://www.stevebridges.com/ |access-date=2023-12-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616024400/http://www.stevebridges.com/ |archive-date=2012-06-16 }}
Filmography
{{No sources|section|date=February 2024}}
- Nurses (1994) as Torrance
- The District (2000)
- ER (2001) as Leone
- Lange Flate Ballær 2 (2008) as General of the U.S. Navy
=As George W. Bush=
- JAG episode "Dangerous Game" (2002)
- The Nick Cannon Show episode "Nick Takes Over a Wedding" (2002)
- NCIS episode "Yankee White" (2003)
- Whoopi episode "The Vast Right Wing Conspiracy" (2003)
- George Lopez (2003)
- Comedy Central Roast of Jeff Foxworthy (2005)
- Merry F#%$in' Christmas (2005)
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
- White House Correspondents Dinner (2006)
- Blue Collar Comedy Tour: One For the Road ("Yankee Doody Dandy" segment)
- The View (May 29, 2006)
- Larry King Live (2006)
- Lange Flate Ballær II (2008) (Norwegian movie)
- I Love the New Millennium (2008)
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name}}
- [http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/merry_f_in_christmas/performers/steve_bridges.jhtml Comedy Central Bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204040432/http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/merry_f_in_christmas/performers/steve_bridges.jhtml |date=2012-02-04 }}
- {{YouTube|id=t4N93jLVPIA|title=Steve Bridges - As George W. Bush with George W. Bush!}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070607183706/http://www.bigspeak.com/steve-bridges.html Steve Bridges Profile Page] - Video clip, speaking topics
- [http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/03/steve-bridges-george-w-bush-impersonator.html "George W. Bush impersonator Steve Bridges dies at 48"]
{{Authority control}}{{US-comedian-stub}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Bridges, Steve}}
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male comedians
Category:Comedians from Dallas
Category:American impressionists (entertainers)
Category:Biola University alumni
Category:Male actors from Dallas
Category:Respiratory disease deaths in California
Category:Deaths from anaphylaxis