Todd Bridges Dating History And 2 Marriages Amid Diff'rent Strokes Star's Divorce With Wife, Bettijo

Todd Bridges announced the end of his three-year marriage with his estranged wife, Bettijo Boushley Hirschi, on January 14, 2026. The middle-aged actor and his wife jointly decided to get divorced after much contemplation and probabattempts at reconciliation. This was the Diff'rent Strokes actor's second divorce, with his previous marriage spanning over a decade. The fans are curious about what might have gone wrong the second time around, leading Todd to tread the path of separation once again. Not just his two marriages, the 60-year-old also had several failed relationships pre-marriage.

Inside Todd Bridges' two marriages and divorce

Todd Bridges has been married twice, with his most recent marriage ending in divorce in January 2026. Todd walked the aisle for the first time with Dori Smith in 1998. After 14 years, the former couple announced their split in May 2012. Following their divorce, Todd stated they had simply "grown apart," emphasising that they remained amicable and were committed to co-parenting. They have one son together, Spencir Bridges, who was born on July 15, 1998, the same year they got married. Notably, Spencir, who also worked as a child actor, appeared in Daddy Day Camp and iCarly.

After his 2012 split, Todd Bridges gave marriage another chance with Bettijo Boushley Hirschi. She is a designer and photographer who tied the knot with the Celebrity Big Brother fame on September 25, 2022, in Beverly Hills. The ex-couple, both aged 60 as of January 2026, met on a dating app nine months prior to their wedding. On January 14, 2026, Todd announced their decision to end the marriage after three years. He described the split as a mutual decision made after "much prayer and a "heavy heart". During this marriage, Todd Bridges acted as a stepfather to Hirschi's four children. His divorce announcement read:

"After much thought and mutual respect, we have decided to end our marriage. During our time together, we shared meaningful moments, but we have chosen to go our separate ways. I ask for privacy and wish her nothing but love and happiness moving forward."

Todd Bridges' past relationships before his marriage

Before his marriages, actor, Todd Bridges had several high-profile relationships, most notably with his Diff'rent Strokes co-stars. Todd's one of the most publicised dating eras was with Janet Jackson. He revealed that he and Janet dated for a few years in the early 1980s. They met on the set of Diff'rent Strokes, where she played his on-screen girlfriend, 'Charlene DuPrey'. He actually suggested her for the role after they had already become acquaintances. Todd Bridges also reportedly dated his other Diff'rent Strokes co-star, Dana Plato, while they were on the show.

Why did Todd Bridges break up with Janet Jackson and date Dana Plato?

Todd Bridges ended his relationship with Janet Jackson because he felt he was too young and immature to treat her the right way. He later explained that she was a "nice person" whom he didn't want to hurt or "dog out" while he was dealing with the attention of other women, during his era of rising stardom. Additionally, meeting her five famous brothers was a "nerve-wracking" experience for him as a teenager, which added pressure to the relationship. After their breakup, Todd developed an adolescent-age attraction towards Dana Plato.

Todd stated that he and Dana began experimenting s**ually when he was around 12–14 years old. He credited her with helping him realise he was not h*mos**ual after he had experienced trauma from past childhood abuse. After their experimental phase was over, Todd Bridges viewed Dana Plato as a close friend and confidante throughout their lives. Besides his Diff'rent Strokes co-stars, Todd was also rumoured to be dating Melissa De Sousa and Stacy Peralta, and to have had a child out of wedlock.

Todd Bridges' rumoured relationship with Melissa De Sousa, Stacy Peralta, and the mystery surrounding his baby mama

Todd Bridges was previously linked with actress, Melissa De Sousa, known for her role in The Best Man. Some archives of early Hollywood teen magazines linked Todd to various young starlets of the late 70s and 80s, though many were likely publicity-driven dates. Stacy Peralta might be one of them, as there were no verified accounts of their relationship or breakup, just like in the case of Melissa De Sousa. Behind these unconfirmed link-ups, Todd was allegedly spending his private time with an unidentified woman who was likely a non-celebrity. He shared a daughter, Bo J. Bridges, with her, who is a zoologist by profession. Bo was born in November 1996 and is 29 years old as of January 2026.

What are your thoughts on Todd Bridges' dating history? Let us know.

Also Read: Who Is Todd Bridges' Wife, Bettijo? Know 'Diff'rent Stokes' Star's Age Gap With Her Amid Divorce

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