R.I.P. Gary Coleman Dead At 42
Obit from CNN (Obituaries are pre-written and saved until a celebrity dies) Thanks to Nikki B. for the link.
(CNN) — Former child star Gary Coleman, who rose to fame as the wisecracking youngster Arnold Jackson on the TV sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes” but grew up to grapple with a troubled adulthood, has died. He was 42.
Coleman died of a brain hemorrhage at a Provo, Utah, hospital, Friday afternoon, according to a hospital spokeswoman. The actor fell ill at his Santaquin, Utah, home Wednesday evening and was rushed by ambulance to a hospital, Coleman’s spokesman had said in a statement earlier Friday.
He was then taken to another hospital — Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo — later Wednesday night.
In the late ’70s and early ’80s, Coleman was one of television’s brightest stars, the personality around which NBC’s “Strokes” — the story of two inner-city children who are taken in by a wealthy businessman, his daughter and their housekeeper — was built.
His natural charm and way with a line — the frequently uttered “Whatchoo talkin’ ’bout, Willis?”, directed at his older brother (played by Todd Bridges), became a catchphrase — helped make the show a breakout hit, a mainstay of the NBC schedule from 1978 to 1985 (and on ABC for a year afterward).
But in later years Coleman’s name became a punch line. He was denigrated because of his short stature — he never grew taller than 4 feet 8 inches because of nephritis, a kidney condition. He sued his parents over mismanagement of his finances; though he won a $1.3 million settlement in 1993, he had to file for bankruptcy six years later. He was occasionally in the news for scuffles. He appeared on TV court shows and had a brief run for governor of California.
After Norman Lear cast him in an unsuccessful pilot for a new version of “The Little Rascals” — Coleman played Stymie — he got the role of Arnold in “Diff’rent Strokes.”
“Pudgy cheeks, twinking eyes, and flawless timing made him seem like an old pro packed into the body of a small child,” wrote Tim Brooks and Earle Marsh in “The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present.”
At the time, NBC was mired in last place among the three major broadcast networks and, excluding movies, had just two series in the Nielsen Top 20. “Strokes” was an immediate hit, finishing in the Top 30 its first three years, and made Coleman into a household name.
“Gary is exceptional, and not only by the standards set for children. He’s bright, sweet and affectionate. He seems incapable of a wrong reading, and I’ve never seen that in any actor,” co-star Conrad Bain, who played “Strokes’ ” millionaire industrialist Philip Drummond, told People in 1979.
“His talent,” his mother added, “may be God’s way of compensating him for what he’s been through, and the fact that he’ll never have the physical size of other boys.” Coleman reportedly had a kidney transplant at 5, and would have another when he was 16.
But after the show went off the air, the actor — by then 18 — struggled to find a place in show business. He had occasional guest spots on game shows and other sitcoms but rarely regular work. (His youthful co-stars fared no better — Bridges struggled with drug addiction before turning his life around, and Dana Plato, who played Kimberly Drummond, engaged in porn and crime. She died in 1999.)
Coleman also found himself with little money, after making more than $70,000 an episode at “Diff’rent Strokes’ ” peak. Upon turning 18, he looked into his finances and discovered that his fortune — which should have been put in a trust fund and totaled in the millions — was mostly nonexistent. A lawsuit against his “adopted parents,” as he started calling them, was resolved in Coleman’s favor, but he lost the money in attorneys’ fees and bad investments, he told People in 1999. At one point in the ’90s he was a security guard on a movie set.
By the time People interviewed him in 1999, after he declared bankruptcy, he was down to $100 cash, a few thousand in merchandise, an $800-a-month apartment and a leased pickup. He had also been sued by an autograph seeker whom he’d struck, claiming he’d felt threatened.
In the past 10 years, the headlines were generally bad news — “Gary Coleman cited for disorderly conduct” (2007), “Gary Coleman in alleged bowling alley scuffle” (2008), “Gary Coleman charged with reckless driving” (2008), “Gary Coleman hospitalized for another seizure” (2010).
Even the bright spots had dark shadows: He married 22-year-old Shannon Price in 2007, but the marriage hit the rocks before they had celebrated their first anniversary. At the time of his death, Coleman was seeking a divorce.
At one time, when Coleman was on top of the world, he’d hoped to be a great actor like his hero, Sidney Poitier, according to People. He never let go of his dream, even after all his troubles, the magazine reported.
“He’s an intelligent, successful black man,” Coleman told People in 1999. Then he laughed, aware he’d always have other challenges. “But he’s taller, so success comes rather more easily to him.”
94 Responses to “R.I.P. Gary Coleman Dead At 42”
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R.I.P. Gary Coleman.
“Whatchu talkin about Willis”
RIP!
I can not belive he is dead..OMG..I know he was off his rockers but dang..What kind of fall did he have..I need the wife to start talking..
42 yrs is “gone too soon”. He did have a troubled life. May he RIP.
Heard he fell and hit his head while he was having a seizure…
RIP Gary
My heart goes out to his family (the ones he had left) and his friends. His life was so plaqued with heartache and drama.
RIP, Gary
May you finally be in peace
Dang! He died? Wow, that caught me off guard.
this is so sad. he seemed to have a miserable life…RIP
He had such a turbulent life starting with his childhood. Such a tradgedy.
Gary hand a brain hemorrhage (so I heard) and he was on life support and they pulled the plug..
he will finally be at peace…. R.I.P Gary
Hello All. Rest in peace Gary. They can’t f with you no mo.
maybe he’s finally at peace?? gary was a miserable, bitter, bitter being. i remember reading his annual salary (when i was a kid) being like 8-12million bucks. remember when he sued his parents for spending all his money.
he and jaleel white were exploited to death on their respective shows, neither ever able to bounce back or break the mold of their characters.
May God in His infinite mercies rest Gary’s soul in peace. Amen.
Nice pic choice @Sandra.
RIP Gary.
God bless heart
May he truly RIP!!!
Rest in Peace Gary Coleman…..Dana Plato has her “little brother” to keep her company in Heaven now….
All of the Drummond kids had it rough in real life…..Willis was sexually molested and turned to drugs when Different Strokes got cancelled, Kimberly also had drug problems, and Arnold had problems from the jump…..from his family fighting over his $$ as a shorty.
Willis is now the last one left
RIP Gary Coleman – There will never be another kid character like Arnold Jackson often imitated but never duplicated.
*singing different strokes theme song* loudly! R.I.P Arnold
@pointhimout- I completely agree. He went THROUGH it…
May God rest his soul…
I feel terrible for him. After what his parents did..they should be ashamed of themselves! He had to work security and they were living a good life off his back.
RIP.
so sad
I’m sure Shevar Ross (dudley) will have some kind words. He’s a pretty good photographer now, and always has kind words in general.
nice pic sandra, rip gary
Raven says:
RIP Gary Coleman – There will never be another kid character like Arnold Jackson often imitated but never duplicated.
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He was a sassy kid. Remember he was George Jefferson’s nephew?
RIP Gary Coleman
RIP GARY COLEMAN!!!
I came in search of something to uplift my spirits from my Maymester classes and find this…
My brother looked just like him growing up even his small stature and cute chubby cheeks, I used to call him Arnold. I am literally crying in the school library right now.
RIP chubby cheeks, I will always remember you keeping me and brother company as we were home alone most of the time. Dang this made me sad…
missy says:
Gary hand a brain hemorrhage (so I heard) and he was on life support and they pulled the plug..
________________________
I wander if his wife,
the one who pushed him,made this decision..RIP Gary Coleman. I’ll be watching a marathon of Diff’rent Strokes tonight.
@Smokie, what channel and at what time?
I
that he is finally at rest. He suffered so much in his life…he deserves to have his soul at peace now.
@Flo
I was wondering if she made the decision as well. That was quick.
“the one who pushed him”
yes his wife did make that decision
From TMZ.com
Gary Coleman has died as the result of injuries he suffered earlier this week, the hospital tells TMZ.
We’ve learned Gary’s wife, Shannon, made the decision to pull life support early this AM.
We’re told Coleman died at 12:05 PM Mountain Standard Time. He died of a intracranial hemorrhage.
Family members and close friends were at Coleman’s side when life support was pulled.
He was 42
Awww
what a cute kid. Sad how his adult life seemed miserable.
@ crza
Just seems a bit odd they were having sooo much trouble before. Maybe im just speculating, but hey, it is what it i
@ SRR71.. seriously!
fell- only a week ago..somethings not adding up- she better say SOMETHING!!
Oh I wouldn’t doubt her having something to do with it.
RIP now he ca finally rest in peace
^^ca=can^^
I loved Different Strokes, R.I.P. Gary Coleman!!!!!
DOES ANYONE KNOW HOW LONG HE’S BEEN MARRIED TO THE WOMAN WHO ORDERED THE PLUG TO BE PULLED?
aww so sad when anyone dies so RIP Gary Coleman.
I loved watching Diff’rent Strokes as a kid. RIP Gary!!!
I’m side-eyeing your wife Shannon…I don’t know what it is…but there’s something wrong in Dodge City!!!
At the time of his death he was trying to get a divorce from his wife. Now watch her act like the loving widow.
@Val – I think they married in 2007. I remember a year or so ago, he and his wife, Shannon, made an appearance on Divorce Court.
@Val-They only married back in the summer of 2007…I want to say she was only 22 at the time..I hate to think she pushed him..I’ll just believe it was the seizure..
Sandra
U already know it…all of a sudden she will have amnesia about all the DV issues they have had.
May he Rest in Perfection
How do yall write stuff w/the line through it
@sandra she is YT and will play the loving wife very well..yes I said it u were thinking it
@Sandra..she would need to NOT even try it..we all recall they were on Divorce Court…I don’t think he really had any money so this should not turn ugly with his family (I hope).
CNN reports that he and his wife were in the midst of a divorce. Pardon me, but if I’m going through a divorce, I don’t want my estranged husband to be the one making end of life decisions for me!! I hope nothing foul went on. I can’t imagine dying surrounded by enemies — estranged wife and thieving parents. So sad.
OK- SO NOW- IM REALLY UPSET- I’VE UPLOADED MY PICTURE TO MY GRAVI.. AND ITS NOT WORKING
Daisy says:
How do yall write stuff w/the line through it
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I asked Man and he said to take off your “international lock” or something, but we see how well it worked for me, he may as well have been talking to me in Chinese.
RIP
DAMN- SO SCARY AND SAD AT THE SAME TIME..TOUGH LUCK FOR THE DIFFERENT STOCKS KIDS
I HOPE HE’S RESTING PEACEFULLY NOW
Strike through:
and close with
This*Tiny voice* Peash!
Do the same thing you would do to italicize using html…
Put the word “strike” where you would put and “i” or “b”…
@ Daisy
I was wondering the same thing with the line through it. ANd I’m sorta computer savvy.
This is so sad. It’s so sad to know that people wake up one day having no idea that it is their last day on earth…R.I.P. Gary
RIP Gary Coleman. Now Todd Bridges is the last living member of the cast. Did anyone catch him on Oprah a few weeks ago? His life has been gangsta!
Something is def fishy!!! His wife is SUSPECT!!!!!
He wanted a divorce…..and he “fell” and then she pulled the plug???? Ummmmmm yeah
Sandra Rose says:
At the time of his death he was trying to get a divorce from his wife. Now watch her act like the loving widow.
******************************************************************
I hope she went straight to her lawyer’s office after she pulled the plug.
nyvixen says:
RIP Gary Coleman. Now Todd Bridges is the last living member of the cast. Did anyone catch him on Oprah a few weeks ago? His life has been gangsta!
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Actually, I think Conrad Bain (Mr. Drummond) is still alive. Yes, I did see Todd on Oprah and read his book. I never would’ve guessed he was a drug dealer/pimp.
Mr. and Mrs. Gary Coleman on Divorce Court:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XjpgB137RtM&feature=PlayList&p=BDAD7ABC0848697C&playnext_from=PL&playnext=1&index=37
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mdjnDAhTWo
Even if his wife pushed him and pulled the plug, guess what?
She aint gonna be investigated no-way because ‘those folks’ stick to their own regardless.
Well at least he can finally know peace. His life was so messed up and hard from the beginning to the end. I think I’m PMS’ing cause I’m ready to cry and getting mad just thinking of the ignorant folks who’ll be making statements to get press, including his parents who should rot in hell
RIP Gary
@Daisy I said the same thing yesterday
OFF TOPIC:
Hey Sandra,
Your girl Lisa Raye sho love hosting White Parties.
She’s hosting one in Puerto Rico.
yeah, something about all this doesn’t sit right with me AT ALL. ol’ girl probably pushed his ass down and agreed to split the $$$ with his brother who has probably been jealous of Gary all along for all the fame. And plus to you know how he was his brother probably wanted to choke him out on the regular!!
r.i.p.
Cinnamon are you serious about the gravi?
@ MsEverything….I saw where OTB said it in another thread. So I don’t know for sure.
KrayZKat says:
nyvixen says:
RIP Gary Coleman. Now Todd Bridges is the last living member of the cast. Did anyone catch him on Oprah a few weeks ago? His life has been gangsta!
——————————-
Actually, I think Conrad Bain (Mr. Drummond) is still alive. Yes, I did see Todd on Oprah and read his book. I never would’ve guessed he was a drug dealer/pimp.
************************************
The housekeeper is still alive too.
I wouldnt lie!
Peash!
I cant remember which one but Sandra did say it.
Cinnamon Kisses says:
ummmmm Ayntee Sandra……I just saw just saw where you said u were gonna delete folks without a gravi…..Please *in my rkelly voice* don’t put me out. I’ve tried to put one up…..I really have. I will try again…….thanks ayntee.
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Trying changing your email in your SR profile to a free one like yahoo and then attach it to your gravi.
Redeemed777 says: OFF TOPIC:
hey Sandra, Your girl Lisa Raye sho love hosting White Parties. She’s hosting one in Puerto Rico.
__________________________________________________________________
That’s because she can’t afford to go shopping anymor…USe WHATCHA GOT!! I heard that!!!
On that note: HAPPY HOLIDAY SR FAM!!! See ya soon!! MHAW!!! to all my favorites: Wink wink chooooknowhoyouarrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!
@Anna well I am not anywhere close to being a techy so I know I would be just as confused as you
I would have waited to see if he was getting better before I turned off the machine. I felt the same about Tupac. Give a person a chance to fight. He may have recovered and had a new found vision of life.
R.I.P. Gary Coleman.
Rest in Peace
79 Daisy says:
@Anna well I am not anywhere close to being a techy so I know I would be just as confused as you
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I learned how to do this: ¿¿¿
He moved to Utah in fall 2005, and according to a tally in early 2010, officers were called to assist or intervene with Coleman more than 20 times in the following years. They included a call where Coleman said he had taken dozens of Oxycontin pills and “wanted to die.” Some of the disputes involved his wife, Shannon Price, whom he met on the set of the 2006 comedy “Church Ball” and married in 2007.
this is what I read online- this is truely tragic
So sad!
I am interested in hearing what the wife has to say.
I do realize that people can sucuumb to falls but this one here has me wondering
This seems so fishy to me,.. 1st of all why was the wife so eager to pull the plug. I think there was some sort of physical altercation the reason behind him falling, they had some domestic issues. It’s said but if I am right I hope justice is served. And 42 is way to young to be gone, He had no kids or nothing, I always felt so bad for this guy. He was one of my favorite child actors, I loved his cheeks!
R.I.P.
85 TheRealAshland says:
This seems so fishy to me,.. 1st of all why was the wife so eager to pull the plug. I think there was some sort of physical altercation the reason behind him falling, they had some domestic issues. It’s said but if I am right I hope justice is served. And 42 is way to young to be gone, He had no kids or nothing, I always felt so bad for this guy. He was one of my favorite child actors, I loved his cheeks!
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What they are saying is that he had a medical issue before he fell, like a seizure or something. She had nothing (monetary)to gain, he was broke and I can almose bet my pay check that he did not have a big insurance policy. He had health issues all his life making him uninsurable.
I would be bitter too if I had to go through all the B.S. he had to go through. Parents stealing your fortune to find out that you are broke, can’t get work in show business, everybody clowning you, etc … Hell a lot of women in ATL are bitter as hell just because they went through a bad relationship. This man went through bad times in life period, who couldn’t catch a break.
It’s just amazing to see how many people all of sudden have only good things to say about him because he died but when he was alive they would ridicule him.
Wow!
May the Lord’s peace be with you.
RIP Gary. I’m sad.
RIP Gary.
The real Goouch was the media! :/
I don’t know I’m feeling uneasy about this one. Didn’t Gary and his wife had ongoing issues? I heard his parents are going to get his death investigated.
RIP Gary Coleman. I used to watch that cartoon he had when he played an angel. I think it was called the “The Gary Coleman Show”
What a tragedy, and what a tragic life Gary had!
All this man ever wanted in life was to be accepted and respected.
How sad that Gary was working as a security guard last year while his parents were living it up in a mansion on his Diff’rent Strokes money!
Whatever happened to humanity?
RIP, Gary Coleman. Thank you for the laughs!
Gary may your soul find the peace you didn’t have in life.