newjerseynewsroom.com

BY TOM MURRO

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

THE CELEBRITY MAGNET

I met with Todd Bridges last Wednesday night and my initial feeling was, why on earth would I want to meet with that guy?

Well, the first thing I learned about Todd Bridges is that he is no relation to the Oscar winner, Jeff Bridges.

All jokes aside, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised by how nice and well-spoken Todd actually is.

Bridges has had a roller coaster life. Success and heartache.

Todd Bridges, the man who played Willis Jackson on the TV series "Diff'rent Strokes," offered his own insight into the trials of being a childhood star and shared his story of drug addiction.

He seems very humble, much unlike his fellow "Diff'rent Strokes" co-star Gary Coleman. Todd acts like a guy just happy to be alive, and for good reason.

As an actor of a hit show, the young Bridges was pulling in $30,000 a week. But by age 22 he was out of work. Then Bridges said he began selling drugs.

Specifically, he battled addictions to crystal meth and cocaine. "I hated myself," said the 44-year-old Bridges. "I hated the way I looked in the mirror.

Bridges' autobiography is "Killing Willis: From Diff'rent Strokes to the Mean Streets to the Life I Always Wanted."

NJNR: I see you have a photo there from your wrestling days, are you still wrestling?

Bridges: "Yeah, I gave it up there for a while and now I'm getting back into it."

NJNR: You did some boxing, too, any chance of doing that again?

Bridges: "No. But I did kick Vanilla Ice's ass." (Laughing)

NJNR: How did you come with the idea for the new book?

Bridges: "The media wouldn't tell the real story so I wanted to put it in a book."

NJNR: "You should have named it " Willis gets a second chance"

Bridges: "I hear that!"

NJNR: Corey Haim passed away last week, how are you handling that?

Bridges: "I had tried to get Corey to stop taking drugs and take care himself," I hope he has found peace.

NJNR: Do you still talk to Gary Coleman?

Bridges: "No, I don't talk to him anymore."

NJNR: So what's next for you? Do you have anything else in the works?

Bridges: "Just my book and my TV show other than that I'm just taking it easy."

NJNR: Any plans for Easter?

Bridges: "The plan is to kick back with my kids and enjoy time with them."

NJNR: I'm going to be on the Fox Morning show next week and the producer thought it would be fun if you did a call in.

Well it will be aired here about 8:30 eastern time so that would be 5:30 by you.

Bridges: "5:30?? There ain't no way I'm getting up at 5:30, sorry man." (laughing)

NJNR: Do you blame Hollywood for what happened to you?

Bridges: "Can't blame Hollywood, it's not Hollywood -- those are choices that I made. The media always wants to blame Hollywood: 'Oh, it's because they threw you away,' and all this and that, but I can't blame Hollywood. ... I made some stupid choices; I made some horrible mistakes that cost me."