James Bridges
Quick Facts
Biography
James Bridges (February 3, 1936 – June 6, 1993) was an American screenwriter, film director, producer and actor.
Biography
Bridges was born February 3, 1936 in Paris, Arkansas. He got his start as a writer for Alfred Hitchcock Presents after catching the attention of Norman Lloyd, a producer for the series. One of his episodes, An Unlocked Window, earned him a 1966 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America for Best Episode in a TV Series.
Bridges went on to write and direct a number of notable films, including The Baby Maker, The Paper Chase, September 30, 1955, The China Syndrome, Urban Cowboy, Mike's Murder, Perfect, and Bright Lights, Big City. Bridges was a mentor to actress Debra Winger.
Personal life
From 1958 till Bridges' death in 1993, his life partner was actor Jack Larson, best known for his portrayal of Jimmy Olsen in the TV series Adventures of Superman.
Death and legacy
In 1990, Bridges was diagnosed with intestinal cancer. He died of kidney failure and was pronounced dead at the UCLA Medical Center on June 6, 1993. He was 57 years old. He was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in his hometown of Paris, Arkansas. Bridges was survived by his partner Jack Larson, his mother Celestine Wiggins and his sister Mary Ann Wiggins.
The James Bridges Theater at University of California, Los Angeles was named in his honor in November 1999. Bridges was a faculty member there early in his career.
Filmography
Film | ||||||
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Year | Title | Stars | Credited as | Notes | ||
Director | Writer | Producer | ||||
1966 | The Appaloosa | Marlon Brando, Anjanette Comer, John Saxon | Yes | Bridges co-wrote the screenplay with Roland Kibbee. Based on the 1963 novel by Robert MacLeod. Directed by Sidney J. Furie. | ||
1970 | Colossus: The Forbin Project | Eric Braeden, Susan Clark, Gordon Pinsent | Yes | Based on, Colossus, the 1966 novel by D.F. Jones. Directed by Joseph Sargent. | ||
1970 | The Baby Maker | Barbara Hershey, Collin Wilcox, Sam Groom | Yes | Yes | Written and directed by Bridges. Jack Larson, Bridges life partner, was a producer on this film. | |
1972 | Limbo | Kate Jackson, Katherine Justice, Stuart Margolin | Yes | Bridges co-wrote the screenplay with Joan Micklin Silver, the writer of the original story. Directed by Mark Robson. | ||
1973 | The Paper Chase | Timothy Bottoms, Lindsay Wagner, John Houseman | Yes | Yes | Based on a novel by John Jay Osborn, Jr. | |
1977 | September 30, 1955 | Richard Thomas, Susan Tyrrell, Deborah Benson | Yes | Yes | Written and directed by Bridges. | |
1979 | The China Syndrome | Jane Fonda, Jack Lemmon, Michael Douglas | Yes | Yes | Bridges shares writing credit with Mike Gray and T.S. Cook. | |
1980 | Urban Cowboy | John Travolta, Debra Winger, Scott Glenn | Yes | Yes | Bridges co-wrote the screenplay with Aaron Latham, the writer of the article that the story is based on. | |
1984 | Mike's Murder | Debra Winger, Mark Keyloun, Darrell Larson | Yes | Yes | Written and directed by Bridges. Jack Larson was the associate producer on this film. | |
1985 | Perfect | John Travolta, Jamie Lee Curtis, Ramey Ellis | Yes | Yes | Yes | Bridges co-wrote the screenplay with Aaron Latham, the writer of the original story. Jack Larson, was Bridges co-producer on this film. |
1986 | Palimos ng pag-ibig | Vilma Santos, Dina Bonnevie, Edu Manzano | Yes | Filipino film based on Bridges' 1970 film, The Baby Maker. Adapted from Brigges' original story by Nerissa Cabral. Directed by Eddie Garcia. This film was later adapted into a 2007 Filipino television series of the same name. | ||
1988 | Bright Lights, Big City | Michael J. Fox, Kiefer Sutherland, Phoebe Cates | Yes | Novel and screenplay by Jay McInerney. Jack Larson was the associate producer on the film. | ||
1990 | White Hunter Black Heart | Clint Eastwood, Jeff Fahey, Charlotte Cornwell | Yes | Bridges wrote the screenplay with Burt Kennedy and Peter Viertel, the writer of the original novel. Directed by Clint Eastwood. | ||
Television | ||||||
Year | Title | Stars | Credited as | Notes | ||
Director | Writer | Producer | ||||
1963 | The Great Adventure (TV Series) | Ruby Dee, Brock Peters, Ossie Davis | Yes | One Episode:
| ||
1963- 1965 | The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (TV Series) | Alfred Hitchcock and various. | Yes | Sixteen Episodes:
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1969 | The Flim-Flam Man (TV Movie) | Forrest Tucker, Don Scardino, James Gregory | Yes | Directed by Alan Rafkin. | ||
1972 | When Michael Calls (TV Movie) | Ben Gazzara, Elizabeth Ashley, Michael Douglas | Yes | Based on the 1967 novel by John Farris and directed by Philip Leacock. | ||
1973 | Carola (TV Movie) | Michael Sacks, Leslie Caron, Douglas Anderson | Yes | Adapted from Jean Renoir's play of the same name. Directed by Norman Lloyd. | ||
1985 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents (TV Series) | Annette O'Toole, Bruce Davison, Owen Bush | Yes | Written and directed by Fred Walton, based on Bridges' teleplay of the same name for The Alfred Hitchcock Hour. One Episode:
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1978- 1986 | The Paper Chase (TV Series) | John Houseman, James Stephens, Tom Fitzsimmons | Yes | Based on the 1970 novel by John Jay Osborn, Jr. Bridges is credited as creator on all 58 episodes and wrote two episodes:
| ||
2007 | SineSerye (TV Series) | Kristine Hermosa, Diether Ocampo, Rica Peralejo | Yes | Based on the 1986 film, which was adapted by Nerissa Cabral from Bridges' 1970 film, The Baby Maker. One Episode:
| ||
As an Actor | ||||||
Year | Title | Director | Writer | Role | Notes | |
1957 | Invasion of the Saucer Men | Edward L. Cahn | Robert J. Gurney Jr., Al Martin | Bobby | Based on Paul W. Fairman's 1955 short story, The Cosmic Frame. | |
1957 | Johnny Trouble | John H. Auer | Charles O'Neil, David Lord | Ike | Based on the story, Prodigal's Mother, by Ben Ames Williams and starring Ethel Barrymore. Bridges met his life partner, Jack Larson, when they were both acting in this film. | |
1957- 1958 | Dragnet (TV Series) | Jack Webb | Michael Cramoy | Unnamed | Created by and starring Jack Webb. Two episodes:
| |
1958 | Mackenzie's Raiders (TV Series) | Walter Doniger | Barney Slater | Private Lewis | The series is based on the book, The Mackenzie Raid, by Russell Reeder. One episode:
| |
1958 | Flight (TV Series) | Jean Yarbrough | Laurence Heath | Unnamed | One episode:
| |
1958 | Shirley Temple's Storybook (TV Series) | Paul Bogart | Norman Lessing | Unnamed | Based on the 1820 short story by Washington Irving. One episode:
| |
1958 | Joy Ride | Edward Bernds | Christopher Knopf | Dirk | Based on a story by J.B. Gilford. | |
1964 | Tarzan And Jane Regained... Sort Of | Andy Warhol | Uncredited | Lord of the forest | A comedy starring Irving Blum, Brooke Hayward and Bridges. Naomi Levine plays Jane and Taylor Mead plays Tarzan. Warhol is also in the film. | |
1968 | Faces | John Cassavetes | John Cassavetes | Extra | A drama starring John Marley, Gena Rowlands and Lynn Carlin. |