Steve Bridges, a comedian and actor known for his impersonation of George W. Bush and other political figures, was found dead Saturday in his Los Angeles home. He was 48. According to the Los Angeles Times, Bridges had just recently come back to L.A. after a trip to China where he had been performing. Bridges "appeared to have died of natural causes, but an autopsy is scheduled. The Los Angeles County coroner's office said foul play was not suspected."
"His passing comes as a shock to all of us," reads a note at the top of his personal website. "The cause of death is not known at this time, but we will publish more information as it becomes available. Steve brought joy and laughter to millions and was a great inspiration to all who knew him. He will be sadly missed. Our prayers go to his family at this time."
From his repertoire of an estimated more than 200 impressions, including President Bill Clinton, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, TV's Homer Simpson, and broadcaster Rush Limbuagh, Bridges drew the most acclaim for his impression of Bush. The two stood side-by-side at podiums for a bit during the 2006 White House Correspondents Association dinner.
Born in Dallas, Bridges moved to L.A. as a young man, where "he obtained extensive acting and voice-over coaching in Los Angeles, even spending time with the notorious Groundlings improvisation troupe," according to his biography on his website.
Funeral arrangements for Bridges were pending today, notes City News Service.
