NEED TO KNOW
Todd Bridges was given a say in who Willis’ girlfriend would be on Diff’rent Strokes as his character matured
Bridges chose Janet Jackson after developing a crush on her while she was on Good Times and getting to know her off-screen
The actor tells PEOPLE about meeting her brothers while the two were briefly an item in the early 1980s
Todd Bridges had someone specific in mind when it was time for Willis to have a girlfriend on Diff’rent Strokes.
While appearing on The Patrick LabyorSheaux with Patrick Labyorteaux, the actor recalled getting Janet Jackson on the show after seeing her as Penny on Good Times.
“I was like, ‘That girl is gorgeous. I gotta get her phone number,’ ” Bridges recalls. “She was really shy, and I got her phone number. We used to talk all the time.”
When it was time to cast Willis’ girlfriend, Bridges suggested the actress and budding singer.
“They’re like, ‘Really?’ I’m like, ‘Hire her. I want her or I’ll quit.’ And then they hired her and she became my girlfriend on the show.”
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I made my first appearance on Diff’rent Strokes today in 1980. pic.twitter.com/VXt3DcA0u2
— Janet Jackson (@JanetJackson) December 31, 2023
Janet made guest appearances in 10 episodes of the show from 1980 to 1984 as Charlene DuPrey. Off-screen, Bridges said the two “dated for a little while.”
“It was fun. Janet’s the greatest person ever. We had such fun,” he said.
Bridges said that he was aware of what Janet was facing, trying to carve out her place in the entertainment world as her brothers navigated their careers. That was especially true after meeting her family.
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty
Todd Bridges enjoys conversation with Jermaine Jackson
“When I started going out with her, I had to go to meet all her brothers and stuff. And that wasn’t… for a 16-year-old boy, that is not fun. You know what I mean? You gotta meet the brother and they’re all like, giving you the eye.'”
Nothing was quite like Bridges’ first time meeting Michael Jackson while he was working on Thriller.
“It was crazy. I went to the Havenhurst house that was being rebuilt. They were staying in condos down the street. Havenhurst was being rebuilt. And I remember being back there, we’re looking at something, and then Michael comes driving in and power slides around the car,” he recalled.
Michael Putland/Getty
Michael Jackson in 1983
“And he jumps out and starts singing, ‘Because this is thriller’ inside. And I’m like, ‘What is he doing?’ She’s like, ‘Oh, he’s singing his new album.’ “
Bridges also recalled going for a drive with the pop icon. Laughing, he said, “I’ll tell you something, driving with Michael was scary.”
“The whole time in the car, I’m like, ‘Please don’t kill me.’ I was so afraid driving with Michael, man, because he drove wild.”
Asked about discussions on how the late pop star’s personality in real life differed from his on-stage persona, Bridges said, “When Mike’s on stage, he was different. But in real life, he’s just a normal person.”
“And same conversations, he has his likes, his dislikes, but he was probably the most talented person I ever met in my life.”
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