http://www.radaronli...coleman-dead-42

Gary Coleman has died at 42, RadarOnline.com is first to report.

Coleman had been hospitalized in Provo, Utah since Wednesday, May 26, after suffering what his family called "a serious medical problem."

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As RadarOnline.com previously reported, Coleman had slipped into a coma and was on life support after suffering an intracranial hemorrhage.

He was pulled of life support Friday morning and later passed away. His wife Shannon Price and her father were at the hospital Friday.

The Illinois native's death marks the end of a long, sad road for the diminutive Diff'rent Strokes star, who struggled professionally and financially as his fame and fortune diminished since the show went off the air in 1986.

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Coleman's growth was hampered at a young age by a congenital kidney disease caused by focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, as he never grew beyond 4 feet, 8 inches tall. Twice having undergone kidney transplants in 1973 and 1984, Coleman required daily dialysis in his everyday life.

Coleman got his break in acting when caught the eye of TV icon Norman Lear, which eventually paved the way for him to star in Diff'rent Strokes as Arnold Jackson, a wisecracking runt adopted with his brother Willis (Todd Bridges) by a rich New York businessman (Conrad Bain). Coleman's considerable charisma -- buoyed by his catchphrase "What'cu Talkin Bout Willis" -- made the show a ratings winner in its' first three years, as the young actor was earning as much as $70,000 an episode at its' peak.

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Coleman would wind up suing his parents in 1989 over missing money from his trust fund, and was awarded more than $1 million in 1993, but the money would not last, as he would wind up declaring bankruptcy six years later.

Coleman said in an appearance on Geraldo Rivera in 1993 that he had twice tried to overdose on sleeping pills.

Gary Coleman Hospitalized

Coleman got some publicity in later years when he threw his name in the hat of the circus that was California's 2003 recall election, receiving more votes than other show biz candidates such as porn star Mary Carey and Gallagher, en route to an eighth overall finish to eventual winner Arnold Schwarzenegger.

OMG!

R.I.P.

This is soooooooooo sad, my heart is pained for his life, he just went through so much. I can only take comfort in his peace now, just a tortured soul, life did him all kinds of wrong, illness, betrayed by his adopted parents and representation, Hollywood building him up and taking him further down than he would have been had he ever been made a star... Todd Bridges was on Oprah not too long ago talking about the show's "curse" which he didn't buy into, but it's true that they've all had their unfair share of woe.

This is soooooooooo sad, my heart is pained for his life, he just went through so much. I can only take comfort in his peace now, just a tortured soul, life did him all kinds of wrong, illness, betrayed by his adopted parents and representation, Hollywood building him up and taking him further down than he would have been had he ever been made a star... Todd Bridges was on Oprah not too long ago talking about the show's "curse" which he didn't buy into, but it's true that they've all had their unfair share of woe.

Word. He was under scrutiny for just about anything/everything he did, it seemed. All he was was a big joke to the media, and it's gonna sicken me in the coming days to see them act like they ever really gave a damn about him.

RIP, Gary!

ETA: And I don't buy into that "curse" mentality either. It's just an easy way for the media to wipe their hands clean of what happened to these kids.

Edited May 28, 201015 yr by All My Shadows

Gary Coleman was not a happy man and ultimately he did not live a happy life. I hope he is, finally, at peace.

I agree there's probably no such thing as a curse, but that show has had a tough legacy -- I think at this point only Charlotte Rae and the little redheaded boy from the last few years are still alive.

Sorry to hear about Gary Coleman. The media did turn him into a joke but there was a time when he was the biggest star in America, and when he made millions of people laugh at a time when there wasn't very much to laugh about.

I agree there's probably no such thing as a curse, but that show has had a tough legacy -- I think at this point only Charlotte Rae and the little redheaded boy from the last few years are still alive.

Conrad Bain's still alive, as well, and of course, Todd Bridges. Of all the major players, it's Rae, Bain, Bridges, Danny Cooksey (who played Sam), Mary Ann Mobley (replaced Dixie) and Mary Jo Catlett (the last housekeeper). Some of the supporting characters, like the two kids who were Arnold's BFFs should still be around too.

For every news story about tragedy with the DS alumni, it does make me smile a little to know that the stars of their spin-off show haven't been affected by "the curse." They've all been pretty successful and are happy enough to reunite with each other whenever asked.

Conrad Bain's still alive, as well, and of course, Todd Bridges. Of all the major players, it's Rae, Bain, Bridges, Danny Cooksey (who played Sam), Mary Ann Mobley (replaced Dixie) and Mary Jo Catlett (the last housekeeper). Some of the supporting characters, like the two kids who were Arnold's BFFs should still be around too.

Oh, I thought Conrad Bain passed away a few years ago.

I remembered Mary Ann Mobley later, didn't know about the last housekeeper though.

Saw this coming... its just a feeling I had. This morning when I came online, I checked to see if he was alive or not. Like I said, its just a feeling I had.

May he rest in peace.

...didn't know about the last housekeeper though.

Yes, Pearl, who had epilepsy. She was on a soap too, I always want to say ATWT because she had an Irish accent and I think of Duncan (who had a Scottish accent, duh SFK ). Must have been DAYS. Mary Jo Catlett.

Gary was one of the best child actors ever, he was hilarious, had great timing, and was so charismatic. I loved his early work on Good Times. The boy even had a cartoon, "The Gary Coleman Show", where he played an angel (in the days where Hanna-Barabera made a cartoon out of just about EVERY pop culture phenomenon).

How sad. He had a sad life, but given his health issues I guess this is no surprise.

He was one on my very first celebrity crushes. I must've seen "On the Right Track" a million times. I hope he's at peace now.

He got dealt some real shitty cards in life, RIP.