Steve Bridges, comic who impersonated George W. Bush, dies aged 48 (VIDEO)

GlobalPost

Steve Bridges, who impersonated presidents including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and, notably George W. Bush, has been found dead at his Los Angeles home, aged 48.

The comic had returned from China on Feb. 23 and complained to friends of "super jet lag," manager Randy Nolen said, the Associated Press reported.

He was reportedly found by a maid around 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

He appeared to have died of natural causes. An an autopsy is scheduled, but the LA Times cited the Los Angeles County coroner’s office as saying foul play was not suspected.

Bridges' Bush impression made him a regular on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" and earned him an invitation to appear alongside the then-president at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association dinner.

In 2006, Bridges joined Bush in a comic routine at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington, D.C., and at a Ford's Theatre benefit.

"I try to become that person in a funny way," Bridges told the Washington Post in 2006. "I try to act like him, from the mannerisms to the phraseology."

Nolen said Bush had called Bridges' brother, Phillip, on Monday and offered condolences.

"Steve was not only a funny man, but a kind and decent human being. My heartfelt sympathies go out to his parents, his siblings, and his entire family," Bush also told The Associated Press through spokesman Freddy Ford.

Dallas-born Bridges told Larry King in a CNN interview in 2006 that he began doing impersonations as a child. "Anything I saw on TV, I imitated," he said

Using prosthetics and makeup, Bridges also morphed into Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

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