Gary Coleman - Arnold on "Diff'rent Strokes", dies at 42.

[Divine Discontent]

http://www.buddytv.com/articles/home-page-blog/different-strokes-star-gary-co-36878.aspx

Gary Coleman, star of TV's Different Strokes, has died at the age of 42, according to TMZ. The star suffered a brain hemorrhage on Thursday and was on life support, slipping in and out of consciousness before finally succumbing. He is survived by his wife, Shannon Price.

Coleman rose to fame in the 1970s and '80s playing the sassy Arnold Jackson on the popular sitcom Different Strokes where he became known for his classic catchphrase, "What you talkin' about, Willis?" His life was full of ups and downs, getting in trouble with the law many times.

More recently, Coleman made headlines when he ran for Governor of California in 2003 during the special recall election. Coleman finished in eighth place out of more than 100 candidates, receiving over 14,000 votes.

Coleman was also immortalized in the Tony-winning Broadway musical Avenue Q in which one of the characters is a fictionalized version of Coleman who works as a super at a New York apartment complex.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. awww. I heard this AM on the radio that he had been taken to a hospital. They did not say it was

this serious.

I hope he got to have some good days...His was a difficult life.

[Divine Discontent]

2. one can only imagine being swept up into a hit show at a young age & thinking its going to be great,

then you find out how hard they work, and the schedule they keep, people yelling your name every time you step out. No wonder so many go into seclusion or turn to illicit behavior. That show seemed 'cursed'.

I do hope for him that his last few years with his wife were joyful enjoying whatever he pursued, and at least he had someone he cared about.

[brettdale]

6. Kid stars get treated like dirt

I remember in 1993, going to a theme park, and part of the theme park was a tour of the studio.

They were having rehearsals for a kids programme that was very very famous at the time, our little wee tour group was upstairs,
looking down on these child actors, the tour guide said we are allowed to watch, but not take photos (fair enough, i thought)

Well one of the kid actors was standing in the wrong place and this adult director, went nuts, he started screaming and swearing
at this kid who would of been around 10 I guess, yelling that everybody will be staying till midnight, until they get it right.

Now I guess this director had no idea he was being watched from our tour group.

The poor theme park worker who was leading our tour, stold us we had to leave.

[peacefreak]

3. poor guy.

he had a tough life.

[demosincebirth]

4. R.I.P.

[brettdale]

5. RIP

May he rest in peace, as a little kid, different strokes was my favourite programme.

Let this be a lesson to the television industry, look after the kid actors, because what happens to kids
affect them as adults. Gary seemed to have a tough life after the series.

Hopefully he will be remember as the cute kid actor he was, and not the troubles he had as an adult.