profile image

Al Bridge

Feb 25, 1891 - Dec 27, 1957 (66 years old) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Al Bridge was an American character actor, a fixture both in Westerns and in the comedies of Preston Sturges.

Although frequently billed as Alan Bridge, he was born Alfred Morton Bridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1891 (not as Alford Bridge in 1890, as his tombstone erroneously states).

Following service as a corporal in the U.S. Army infantry in the first World War, Bridge joined a theatrical troupe. He dabbled in writing and in 1930 sold a script to a short film, Her Hired Husband (1930). He followed this with a B-Western script, God's Country and the Man (1931), in which he made his film debut as an actor.

For the next quarter century, he managed the atypical achievement of maintaining a career in both B-Westerns and in bigger dramatic and comedy features. Ten films for director Preston Sturges represent probably his most familiar contribution to Hollywood history. Bridge also appeared frequently on television until his death in 1957 at 66.

Known For

poster
It's a Wonderful Life
Sheriff (uncredited)
poster
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington
Senator Dwight (uncredited)
poster
Million Dollar Legs
Secret Emissary #3 (uncredited)
poster
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Cheap Charlie (uncredited)
poster
The Face Behind the Mask
Flop House Manager (uncredited)
poster
The Awful Truth
Motor Cop (uncredited)
poster
A Night at the Opera
Immigration Inspector (uncredited)
poster
Dead End
Policeman in Drina's Apartment (Uncredited)

Credits