Gary Coleman’s death a few days ago prompted me to go do some digging into the man’s life. I’d completely forgotten that he had his own TV series. The Gary Coleman Show was an animated show in which Coleman voiced the character of an angel sent back to earth to earn his wings by helping others. Unfortunately, the 30 minute program was short-lived, airing just 13 episodes, from September 18, 1982 to December 11, 1982. It was based on Coleman’s 1982 made-for-tv movie The Kid with the Broken Halo (I searched for clips of that but couldn’t find any):...
- 5/30/2010
- by Tambay
- ShadowAndAct
Former child star Gary Coleman has died at the age of 42 after suffering a serious brain haemorrhage earlier this week (ends28May10).
The Diff'rent Strokes star, who suffered from a congenital kidney disease, was admitted to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center on Wednesday following a fall at his home.
He was fully conscious after the accident but his condition gradually worsened. On Thursday his manager, John Alcantar, revealed he was "unconscious and on life support".
Coleman's wife Shannon decided to take him off life support early on Friday and he died at around 12.05pm (local time) from an intracranial haemorrhage.
A statement released by his rep reads: "Thanks to everyone for their well wishing and support during this tragic time. Now that Gary has passed, we know he will be missed because of all the love and support shown in the past couple of days.
"Gary is now at peace and his memory will be kept in the hearts of those who were entertained by him throughout the years."
Coleman, the adopted son of nurse Edmonia Sue and her partner W.G. Coleman, began his TV career in the early 1970s with small parts in The Jeffersons and Good Times before landing his breakthrough role as Arnold Jackson in Diff'rent Strokes in 1978.
He starred for eight years alongside his TV brother Todd Bridges, who played Willis Jackson, as two African-American boys adopted by wealthy Caucasian widower Phillip Drummond (Conrad Bain).
Coleman fast became the show's most popular star, known for his character's catchphrase, "What'choo talkin' 'bout Willis?" and eventually earned $100,000 (£66,670) per episode.
He went on to score his own animated series, The Gary Coleman Show, and voiced his character for a year before it was axed in 1983.
He later won guest roles in a variety of small screen projects, including a cameo as Jackson in a 1996 episode of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, as well as appearances in TV sitcoms My Wife and Kids and Married... with Children, and a voiceover part in The Simpsons.
Coleman also starred in a number of made-for-tv movies including The Kid with the Broken Halo (1982), Playing with Fire (1985), Fox Hunt (1996) and 2003's A Christmas Carol.
His last film role was in 2009's Midgets vs. Mascots.
Despite his many TV and film appearances, Coleman struggled financially and he successfully sued his parents and former manager in 1989 for misappropriating his $3.8 million (£2.53 million) trust fund. In 1993, he was awarded $1.28 million (£853,340).
However, he filed for bankruptcy in 1999, citing the early mismanagement of his trust for his money problems.
Coleman was no stranger to the law and was arrested on a few occasions for assault and disorderly conduct.
His most recent arrest occurred in January when he was suspected of domestic violence following an alleged altercation with his wife Shannon Price, who he wed in 2007. He was handed a fine in February and ordered to attend domestic violence classes in exchange for avoiding jail.
The actor's career was also overshadowed by his many health problems, after undergoing two kidney transplants in 1973 and 1984, which required frequent dialysis. He had heart surgery last year and spent the past few months in and out of hospital suffering from seizures, which saw him collapse during a round of telephone interviews in January.
Coleman was hospitalised again in February after another apparent seizure while on the set of U.S. TV news programme The Insider.
He is survived by his wife Price, who he reunited with in April after a few months' estrangement. The couple had no kids.
The Diff'rent Strokes star, who suffered from a congenital kidney disease, was admitted to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center on Wednesday following a fall at his home.
He was fully conscious after the accident but his condition gradually worsened. On Thursday his manager, John Alcantar, revealed he was "unconscious and on life support".
Coleman's wife Shannon decided to take him off life support early on Friday and he died at around 12.05pm (local time) from an intracranial haemorrhage.
A statement released by his rep reads: "Thanks to everyone for their well wishing and support during this tragic time. Now that Gary has passed, we know he will be missed because of all the love and support shown in the past couple of days.
"Gary is now at peace and his memory will be kept in the hearts of those who were entertained by him throughout the years."
Coleman, the adopted son of nurse Edmonia Sue and her partner W.G. Coleman, began his TV career in the early 1970s with small parts in The Jeffersons and Good Times before landing his breakthrough role as Arnold Jackson in Diff'rent Strokes in 1978.
He starred for eight years alongside his TV brother Todd Bridges, who played Willis Jackson, as two African-American boys adopted by wealthy Caucasian widower Phillip Drummond (Conrad Bain).
Coleman fast became the show's most popular star, known for his character's catchphrase, "What'choo talkin' 'bout Willis?" and eventually earned $100,000 (£66,670) per episode.
He went on to score his own animated series, The Gary Coleman Show, and voiced his character for a year before it was axed in 1983.
He later won guest roles in a variety of small screen projects, including a cameo as Jackson in a 1996 episode of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, as well as appearances in TV sitcoms My Wife and Kids and Married... with Children, and a voiceover part in The Simpsons.
Coleman also starred in a number of made-for-tv movies including The Kid with the Broken Halo (1982), Playing with Fire (1985), Fox Hunt (1996) and 2003's A Christmas Carol.
His last film role was in 2009's Midgets vs. Mascots.
Despite his many TV and film appearances, Coleman struggled financially and he successfully sued his parents and former manager in 1989 for misappropriating his $3.8 million (£2.53 million) trust fund. In 1993, he was awarded $1.28 million (£853,340).
However, he filed for bankruptcy in 1999, citing the early mismanagement of his trust for his money problems.
Coleman was no stranger to the law and was arrested on a few occasions for assault and disorderly conduct.
His most recent arrest occurred in January when he was suspected of domestic violence following an alleged altercation with his wife Shannon Price, who he wed in 2007. He was handed a fine in February and ordered to attend domestic violence classes in exchange for avoiding jail.
The actor's career was also overshadowed by his many health problems, after undergoing two kidney transplants in 1973 and 1984, which required frequent dialysis. He had heart surgery last year and spent the past few months in and out of hospital suffering from seizures, which saw him collapse during a round of telephone interviews in January.
Coleman was hospitalised again in February after another apparent seizure while on the set of U.S. TV news programme The Insider.
He is survived by his wife Price, who he reunited with in April after a few months' estrangement. The couple had no kids.
- 5/29/2010
- WENN
Just when I finished complaining about Wolverine's organic claws in "X Men Origins: Wolverine", someone comes along and proves my point that spring loaded claws are both practical and totally cool! Alright, maybe they aren't so hot. But you gotta admit, the dude above hacks up empty cardboard boxes in Style. Also, this week I'm looking at some cool 80's cartoon TV shows. Do you remember Gary Coleman's cartoon? Didn't think so. Don't worry, there's people getting hurt in here somewhere too. It's WWW!!!!!!!!!! (Weird Web Wednesdays) The Gary Coleman Show [1] Chuck Norris Karate Kommandos [2] Mr.T Intro [3] Turbo Teen Intro [4] World's Worst Street Fight [5] World's Worst Street Fight [6] - Watch more Funny Videos [7] Close Range Paintball Headshot [8] Boom Headshot [9] - Watch more Funny Videos [7] Stunt Driver Wrecks Ferrari in Times Square [11] Stunt Driver Wrecks Ferrari at Time Square [12] - Watch more Funny Videos [7] Cowboys Practice Dome Collapses [14] Gas...
- 5/6/2009
- by Jay C.
- FilmJunk
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