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Killing Willis : from Diff'rent strokes to the mean streets to the life I always wanted / Todd Bridges with Sarah Tomlinson.

Bridges, Todd, 1965- (Author). Tomlinson, Sarah. (Added Author).

Summary:

"For Todd Bridges early stardom was no protection from painful childhood events that paved the road to his own personal hell. One of the first African-American child actors on shows like Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons, and Roots, Bridges burst to the national forefront on the hit sitcom Diff<U+2019>rent Strokes as the subject of the popular catchphrase, "What<U+2019>chu Talkin About Willis?" When the show ended, Bridges was overwhelmed by the off-camera traumas he had faced. Turning to drugs as an escape, he soon lost control. Now, for the first time, Bridges opens up about his life before and after Diff<U+2019>rent Strokes: the incredible reversals of fortune brought on by fame and the precipitous<U+2014>and very public<U+2014>descent that followed; the persecution from police; the drug addiction that nearly consumed him; the criminal charges that almost earned him a life sentence; and his successful legal defense led by Johnnie Cochran. Through it all, Bridges never relented in his quest to fight his way back from the abyss, establish his own identity<U+2014>separate from Willis Jackson<U+2014>and offer his ordeal as a positive example for those struggling to overcome similar challenges. His triumphant story of recovery and redemption is recounted here as well. Todd Bridges has lived a life of remarkable twists and turns<U+2014>from the greatest heights to the lowest lows imaginable. In this shocking but ultimately hopeful memoir, he proves that what he was really talking about was survival." -- from publisher's website.

Record details

  • ISBN: 1439148988
  • ISBN: 9781439148983
  • Physical Description: x, 275 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 25 cm
  • Edition: 1st Touchstone edition
  • Publisher: New York : Simon & Schuster, 2010.

Content descriptions

Formatted Contents Note:
Preface: Everybody's got a special kind of story -- Suicide by cop -- "I want to be just like him when I grow up" -- Sky's the limit! -- Hollywood teen -- Everything changes -- There's only stars in the sky -- What's an officer like you doing in a uniform like that? -- Life after Willis -- Billy the kid -- Life in the hood -- The fall -- Justice and its aftermath -- Methamphetamine blues -- Back on the chain gang -- Seventh heaven.
Subject:
Bridges, Todd, 1965-
Television actors and actresses > United States > Biography.
Genre:
Autobiographies.

Available copies

  • 9 of 9 copies available at NC Cardinal.
  • 1 of 1 copy available at Brown Library System. (Show)

Holds

  • 0 current holds with 9 total copies.
Sort by distance from:
Show Only Available Copies
Location Call Number / Copy Notes Barcode Shelving Location Status Due Date
George H. & Laura E. Brown Library B Bri (Text) 30308100891663 Adult Biography Available -
Hampton B. Allen Library B BRIDGES B (Text) 18198000385742 Adult Biography Available -
Jacksonville Main Library BIO BRIDGES (Text) 36015000665865 Adult Biography Available -
Leath Memorial Library B BRIDGES B (Text) 58198000722945 Adult Biography Available -
Selma Public Library B BRIDGES (Text) 38950610065460 Adult Biography Available -
Sneads Ferry Branch Library BIO BRIDGES (Text) 36015001202247 Adult Biography Available -
Swansboro Branch Library BIO BRIDGES (Text) 36015000894382 Adult Biography Available -
Thomasville Public Library B Bridges (Text) 25908005694794 Adult Biography Available -
Weldon Memorial Library B BRIDGES LWEL (Text) 01011700073508 Adult Biography Available -

Accessibility Features

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24510. ‡aKilling Willis : ‡bfrom Diff'rent strokes to the mean streets to the life I always wanted / ‡cTodd Bridges with Sarah Tomlinson.
250 . ‡a1st Touchstone edition
264 1. ‡aNew York : ‡bSimon & Schuster, ‡c2010.
300 . ‡ax, 275 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : ‡billustrations ; ‡c25 cm
336 . ‡atext ‡btxt ‡2rdacontent
337 . ‡aunmediated ‡bn ‡2rdamedia
338 . ‡avolume ‡bnc ‡2rdacarrier
5050 . ‡aPreface: Everybody's got a special kind of story -- Suicide by cop -- "I want to be just like him when I grow up" -- Sky's the limit! -- Hollywood teen -- Everything changes -- There's only stars in the sky -- What's an officer like you doing in a uniform like that? -- Life after Willis -- Billy the kid -- Life in the hood -- The fall -- Justice and its aftermath -- Methamphetamine blues -- Back on the chain gang -- Seventh heaven.
5200 . ‡a"For Todd Bridges early stardom was no protection from painful childhood events that paved the road to his own personal hell. One of the first African-American child actors on shows like Little House on the Prairie, The Waltons, and Roots, Bridges burst to the national forefront on the hit sitcom Diff<U+2019>rent Strokes as the subject of the popular catchphrase, "What<U+2019>chu Talkin About Willis?" When the show ended, Bridges was overwhelmed by the off-camera traumas he had faced. Turning to drugs as an escape, he soon lost control. Now, for the first time, Bridges opens up about his life before and after Diff<U+2019>rent Strokes: the incredible reversals of fortune brought on by fame and the precipitous<U+2014>and very public<U+2014>descent that followed; the persecution from police; the drug addiction that nearly consumed him; the criminal charges that almost earned him a life sentence; and his successful legal defense led by Johnnie Cochran. Through it all, Bridges never relented in his quest to fight his way back from the abyss, establish his own identity<U+2014>separate from Willis Jackson<U+2014>and offer his ordeal as a positive example for those struggling to overcome similar challenges. His triumphant story of recovery and redemption is recounted here as well. Todd Bridges has lived a life of remarkable twists and turns<U+2014>from the greatest heights to the lowest lows imaginable. In this shocking but ultimately hopeful memoir, he proves that what he was really talking about was survival." -- from publisher's website.
60010. ‡aBridges, Todd, ‡d1965- ‡0(CARDINAL)688517
650 0. ‡aTelevision actors and actresses ‡zUnited States ‡vBiography. ‡0(CARDINAL)344101
655 7. ‡aAutobiographies. ‡2lcgft ‡0(CARDINAL)334997
7001 . ‡aTomlinson, Sarah. ‡0(CARDINAL)365802
902 . ‡aMARCIVE 201809
902 . ‡aMARCIVE 201909
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