{"product_id":"killing-willis-from-diffrent-strokes-to-the-mean-streets-to-the-life-i-always-wanted-paperback","title":"Killing Willis: From Diff'rent Strokes to the Mean Streets to the Life I Always Wanted - Paperback","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eTodd Bridges\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe former child star--best known as Willis Jackson on \u003ci\u003eDiff'rent Strokes\u003c\/i\u003e--shares the shocking but inspirational details of his struggles with addiction, brushes with the law, and fierce fight to carve a path through the darkness and find his true identity. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFor 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 \u003ci\u003eLittle House on the Prairie, The Waltons, \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eRoots, \u003c\/i\u003eBridges burst to the national forefront on the hit sitcom \u003ci\u003eDiff'rent Strokes \u003c\/i\u003eas the subject of the popular catchphrase, \"What'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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eNow, for the first time, Bridges opens up about his life before and after \u003ci\u003eDiff'rent Strokes: \u003c\/i\u003ethe incredible reversals of fortune brought on by fame and the precipitous--and very public--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--separate from Willis Jackson--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. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eTodd Bridges has lived a life of remarkable twists and turns--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.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eTodd Bridges\u003c\/b\u003e was born in San Francisco, California in 1965. He became the first African-American child actor to have a recurring role on a successful TV series, \u003ci\u003eThe Waltons\u003c\/i\u003e. He also appeared on \u003ci\u003eLittle House on the Prairie\u003c\/i\u003e, and in the landmark miniseries \u003ci\u003eRoots\u003c\/i\u003e. He was a regular on the \u003ci\u003eBarney Miller\u003c\/i\u003e spinoff \u003ci\u003eFish, \u003c\/i\u003e before landing his best-known role as Willis on \u003ci\u003eDiff'rent Strokes. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBridges has a brother and sister who are both actors, Jimmy Bridges and Verda Bridges. His father, James Bridges, Sr., became one of the first prominent black Hollywood agents, while his mother, Betty A. Bridges, was also an actress and later became one of Hollywood's greatest managers and acting coaches. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eToday, Todd is a working actor, director, and producer and he and his brother James Jr., have partnered to establish their own production company, Little Bridge Productions. Todd is married and has a son, Spencir, and a daughter, Bo. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSarah Tomlinson is a Los Angeles- and Brooklyn-based writer. Her writing has appeared in publications including \u003ci\u003eMarie Claire\u003c\/i\u003e, the\u003ci\u003e Los Angeles Times\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003e The Boston Globe\u003c\/i\u003e, Salon.com, and Vol1Brooklyn.com. She has ghostwritten nine books, including two uncredited \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestsellers. Visit her online at SarahTomlinson.com and follow her alter ego, Duchess of Rock (@DuchessofRock), on Twitter.\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 288\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1 x 8.3 x 5.5 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e March 08, 2011\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47564825035005,"sku":"9781439148990","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0817\/3414\/0157\/files\/Q0NiejNCSWFrd3ZoSFBHV01OZHQzdz09.webp?v=1779533611","url":"https:\/\/booktolia.com\/products\/killing-willis-from-diffrent-strokes-to-the-mean-streets-to-the-life-i-always-wanted-paperback","provider":"booktolia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}