Hollywood sure does chew 'em up and spit 'em out, don't they? Especially child actors.
Gary Coleman was only 1 year older than I am, so needless to say, I thought he was great! He's a part of my childhood. He was funny!
Sure, Diff'rent Strokes was about as cheesy as a show could be (just like everything else of that era), but Arnold was genuinely funny! I never missed an episode.
Say what you want about the trials and tribulations of his life if you must (we all know how perfect you are), but I'll always remember Gary Coleman as one of the funniest people evah!
Thanks for the memories, Gary!
Diff'rent Strokes Star Gary Coleman Dies at 42
Gary Coleman, who by age 11 had skyrocketed to become TV's brightest star but as an adult could never quite land on solid footing, has died after suffering a brain hemorrhage. He was 42.
Coleman died at 12:05 p.m. at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah, where he had been in a coma.
"He was removed from life support; soon thereafter, he passed quickly and peacefully," his manager John Alcantar says. "By Gary’s bedside were his wife and other close family members."
The actor suffered an intracranial hemorrhage at his Utah home on Wednesday night. On Thursday, he was "conscious and lucid," the hospital says in a statement, "but by early afternoon that same day, Mr. Coleman was slipping in and out of consciousness and his condition worsened."
How would you like to have to sue your own parents for screwing you over?
As I have said before, and paraphrasing Noel Coward, parents should consider carefully in my view before they nudge their children into show business. -- Andrew M Brown
On Diff'rent Strokes, he played precocious Arnold Jackson, who, with his brother Willis (Todd Bridges), was adopted by a wealthy, white Manhattan man (Conrad Bain) and his daughter (Dana Plato).
Coleman's pudgy cheeks and flawless comic timing made him the break-out star of the popular series, which ran from 1978-86.
His signature line, "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" became a national catchphrase.
But Coleman's bright beginnings were overshadowed by domestic disputes, legal troubles and health issues. Coleman was born with a congenital kidney disease that resulted in his small stature. He had two kidney transplants and required frequent dialysis.
At the height of Diff'rent Strokes' popularity, Coleman reportedly received up to $100,000 an episode. Beginning in 1980, he won four consecutive People's Choice Awards as Favorite Young TV Performer
He parlayed his prime-time success into steady work in TV guest spots, made-for-TV movies and feature films, including On the Right Track and The Kid with the Broken Halo. The latter inspired the animated TV series The Gary Coleman Show.
But in the years after Diff'rent Strokes, Coleman was in the headlines more often for his off-screen troubles than for his acting.
In 1989, he successfully sued his parents and former advisers for misappropriation of his trust fund, which had dwindled. He was awarded $1.3 million.
In 1999, Coleman filed for bankruptcy, blaming his troubles on financial mismanagement.
In 1998, while working as a security guard, he was charged with assault for hitting a woman who had been seeking an autograph. He pleaded no contest and received a suspended sentence.
Celebrities remember Gary Coleman
"I am so sorry to hear the sad news about Gary Coleman. my heartfelt condolences go out to his entire family." – Paula Abdul
"My heart goes out to Gary Coleman's FAMILY."– Serena Williams
"Oh wow Gary Coleman passed away! My prayers go out to his family." – Kim Kardashian
"mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be ... actors. r.i.p. gary" – John Stamos
"Rest in peace, Gary Coleman" - Alyssa Milano
"RIP Gary Coleman!" – Melissa Joan Hart
Gary Coleman:
[...] Classic Liberal: “What’choo talkin’ ’bout, Willis?” Gary Coleman Dead at 42 [...]