Todd Bridges to Appear on 'Restless'

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Soap opera fans may soon find themselves asking, ``Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?'' <br><br>``Diff'rent Strokes'' star Todd Bridges, who often heard that

Monday, June 17th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

LOS ANGELES (AP) _ Soap opera fans may soon find themselves asking, ``Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?''

``Diff'rent Strokes'' star Todd Bridges, who often heard that catch phrase from his character's little brother (played by Gary Coleman) on the 1980s sitcom, has taken a role on the daytime drama ``The Young and the Restless.''

Bridges will play a character named Juice, described by executive producer David Shaughnessy as ``a real out-and-out bad guy ... bent on revenge.''

Bridges, 37, has battled drug addiction and has had numerous brushes with the law. In 1990, he was acquitted of assault with a deadly weapon in the near-fatal shooting of a narcotics dealer in Los Angeles. Bridges was earlier acquitted of attempted murder in the case.

He has made sporadic film and TV appearances since the sitcom ended in 1986, including a role as a crack dealer who sells drugs to an actor playing himself in the 2000 TV movie ``After Diff'rent Strokes: When the Laughter Stopped.''

Bridges taped his episodes of ``The Young and the Restless'' last week, and the first episode is scheduled for broadcast July 12. The character is set to appear in several shows, but producers say Bridges could become a regular cast member.