Lloyd Bridges.

The son of a movie theater owner, Lloyd Vernet Bridges Jr. was born on January 15, 1913 in San Leandro, California, to Harriet Evelyn Brown and Lloyd Vernet Bridges Sr. He grew up in various Northern California towns and attended Petaluma High School, graduating in 1930. His father wanted him to become a lawyer, but Bridges’ interest in acting was sparked while he was a student at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he majored in Political Science and was a member of Alpha Sigma Epsilon fraternity.

Bridges made his first films in 1936 and went under contract to Columbia Pictures in 1941. He appeared in three Best Picture nominees: Here Comes Mr. Jordan 1941, The Talk of the Town 1942, and High Noon 1952. Allegations of Communist Party involvement threatened his career in the early 1950s, but he cooperated with the House Un-American Activities Committee and resumed working. He transitioned to television and became a small-screen star by starring in the underwater adventure series Sea Hunt 1958. Later in his career, he gained a new generation of fans with spoofy portrayals in Airplane! 1980 and Hot Shots! 1991, and their sequels.

Bridges married Dorothy Dean Bridges, a UCLA classmate who appeared opposite him in a play called March Hares, on October 15, 1938. They remained married for nearly 60 years until his death. The couple had three children: Beau Bridges, Jeff Bridges, and Cindy Bridges. Their second-born son, Garrett Myles Bridges, died of sudden infant death syndrome in 1948 at the age of two months. Bridges served in the United States Coast Guard during World War II.

Lloyd Bridges is remembered for his role as scuba diver Mike Nelson in the syndicated series Sea Hunt. His comedic performances in Airplane! and Hot Shots! brought him a new generation of fans. He received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Television on February 1, 1994. His sons Beau and Jeff Bridges continue his acting legacy. The 1989 episode of Seinfeld titled The Burning was dedicated to his memory.