Background
Bridges was born February 3, 1936 in Paris, Arkansas.
director screenwriter film producer
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. 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.
In 1990, Bridges was diagnosed with intestinal cancer.
He died of kidney failure and was pronounced dead at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center on June 6, 1993. He was 57 years old. He was buried at Oakwood Cemetery in his hometown of Paris, Arkansas.
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.