American character actor, a stalwart presence in both Westerns and comedies, particularly notable for his collaborations with director Preston Sturges. Despite being frequently billed as "Alan" Bridge, he was born Alfred Morton Bridge in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1891, not 1890, as incorrectly stated on his tombstone. Raised by his mother, Loie, and her second husband, Wilmer Shinn, a butcher, Bridge and his sister, future actress Loie Bridge, grew up in a household filled with artistic and theatrical endeavors.
Following his service as a corporal in the U.S. Army infantry during World War I, Bridge joined a theatrical troupe that included several of his relatives. The 1920 census revealed him on tour in Kansas City, Missouri, where he honed his craft and explored various creative pursuits. In 1930, he sold a script to a short film, Her Hired Husband, marking the beginning of his writing career. This success was soon followed by the sale of a B-Western script, God's Country and the Man, in which he made his film debut as an actor in 1931.
For the next quarter century, Bridge achieved the remarkable feat of maintaining a dual career in both B-Westerns and bigger dramatic and comedy features. His work with director Preston Sturges likely represents his most enduring contribution to Hollywood history, with ten films to his credit. Bridge's acting career continued to flourish, with frequent appearances on television until his passing in 1957 at the age of 66.
