Bridges made his Broadway debut in 1939 in a production of Shakespeare's Othello. He was blacklisted briefly in the 1950s after he admitted to the House Un-American Activities Committee that he had once been a member of the Communist Party. He gained wide recognition as Mike Nelson, the star of the television series Sea Hunt, which ran from 1957-1961. He is also well-known for his roles in the movies High Noon, Airplane, and Hot Shots. He was a guest star for the children's television Christmas special; Shining Time Station: 'Tis A Gift as Mr. Nicholas (Santa Claus).
Lloyd Bridges is the father of actors Jeff Bridges and Beau Bridges.