Steve Bridges, a popular comedian on TikTok, has sadly died at the age of 41.
Bridges passed away in his sleep on his couch at home in Peoria, Illinois, on Wednesday, October 15, according to his wife Chelsey, who confirmed his death in a heartfelt video posted to his social media, saying his passing had come 'totally out of the blue'.
While Steve had recently been focused on improving his health, early deaths ran in his family. His grandmother died in her sleep at 52, and both his father and grandfather passed away in their forties.
“He was the most attentive father, and the best, the best husband. And the greatest, sweetest man,” Chelsey said, visibly emotional in the video. “Thanks to you, internet, he’s been able to live his dream of making people laugh. I am so thankful that he got to do that.”
"I'm not going to tell my children that they can't grieve online. I will probably grieve online too. This is life now," she added.
A devoted family man and online creator
Chelsey and Steve had been married for 16 years and shared three children - a 14-year-old daughter and 10-year-old twin boys.
Known for his comedic characters, including a clueless solar panel salesman and an overenthusiastic child at a public pool, Bridges built a massive following online, amassing over 2.1 million followers on TikTok.
Despite his humorous content, Chelsey emphasized how different he was in real life: “Who you saw online was just the characters that he created. He was so talented because he was the opposite of all of them.”
Cause of death
The Peoria Police Department believes Bridges died of natural causes, according to a report by TMZ.
Filmmaker and close friend Eric Mathis released a statement mourning the loss: “Steve was an incredible talent beloved by millions of fans across the world. He was part of our tight-knit film family… At 41, he is gone way too soon. Everyone who had the pleasure of meeting Steve, they all loved him.”
Mathis continued: “He was so kind, so genuine, so passionate about his art, and infectious in his many amazing traits. We grieve with his family, and we are all heavy with the weight of his loss.”
In the wake of his death, a GoFundMe page has been launched to support Steve’s family. As of this writing, $47,358 has been raised.
“He leaves behind a legacy of making people laugh, as well as a family that could use the support of the community during this difficult time,” the campaign reads.
Chelsey concluded her message with a reminder: “Please never take life for granted and try to live your dreams every day. Love your family and take care of yourself.”
Our thoughts are with Bridges' loved ones.