![]()
Gary Coleman, star of TV's Diff'rent Strokes, died today at the age of 42, from a brain hemorrhage. With his catchphrase "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?", Coleman played the adorably wisecracking Arnold Jackson from 1978 to 1986 on the NBC sitcom.
The diminutive actor suffered from kidney disease as a child, which may have stunted his growth. But that didn't stop him from turning on the charm in the the popular TV series which centered around two African-American siblings and their adopted upper-crust family.
Despite the show's wholesome image, the TV sibling's off-screen lives were plagued by not-so-wholesome issues. Coleman was often the target of tabloid drama and his divorce from Shannon Price was played out publicly on TV's Divorce Court. Dana Plato (Kimberly Drummond) was charged with holding up a video store in 1991. She passed away in 1999 at the age of 34. Todd Bridges, who played Willis, has had battles with substance abuse and legal troubles.
Coleman's post-Strokes career was limited to cameo spots on TV shows such as The Drew Carey Show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and The Jamie Foxx Show. His movie career was spotty, starring in A Christmas Too Many (2005) and Midgets vs. Mascots (2009). --Francine
No comments:
Post a Comment