Began his career as an actor in the late 1950s, wrote many shows for TV (including 18 episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents") and received his first feature credit in 1966, as co-writer of "The Appaloosa". Bridges made his directing debut with "The Baby Maker" (1970), a finely observed film about a middle-class couple who hire a hippy to bear their child after the wife discovers she is infertile.Not a prolific director, Bridges wrote the screenplays for all but the last of the eight films he made between 1970 and 1988. He hit his peak with "The China Syndrome" (1979), a suspenseful and potent indictment of both the nuclear power industry and the electronic media starring Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon and Michael Douglas. Bridges also helmed the popular John Travolta vehicle "Urban Cowboy" (1980) which, despite a weak storyline, affectionately captured its Texas milieu. "The Paper Chase" (1973) was a highly praised law-school drama that earned John Houseman an Oscar; "Mike's Murder" (1982) was a muddled, messy thriller; and "Perfect!" (1985) was a superficial flop. Bridges replaced Joyce Chopra as director of what proved to be his last film, the screen adaptation of Jay McInerney's sobering account of a "cocaine yuppie", "Bright Lights, Big City" (1988).
Profession(s):
director, screenwriter, playwright, Actor
Sometimes Credited As:
Family
mother:Celestine Wiggins (survived him)
sister:Mary Ann Wiggins (survived him)
Companion(s)
Jack Larson
, Companion
, ```..best known for playing Jimmy Olsen on "The Adventures of Superman" (1953-57); acted with Bridges in "Johnny Trouble" (1957); together for 35 years; associate producer of Bridges's "Mike's Murder" (1982) and co-producer of "Perfect" (1985); survived him
Writers Guild of America Award Best-Written Drama Written Directly for the Screen "The China Syndrome" 1979
1990 Last film credit, co-writing the screenplay (with Burt Kennedy) of "White Hunter, Black Heart"
1988 Last film as director, "Bright Lights, Big City", replacing Joyce Chopra
1985 First film as producer, "Perfect!", Which he also directed and co-wrote
1970 Film directing debut (also writer), "The Baby Maker"
1969 First film as solo writer, "The Forbin Project"
1966 First feature film as co-writer, "The Appaloosa"
1962 - 1965 Wrote 18 episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents" and 14 TV movies
1957 Film acting debut, "Johnny Trouble"
Wrote episodes of the CBS drama series, "The Paper Chase", based on his earlier film
