Gary Coleman

Gary Coleman was a famous actor.

He was a big star on TV. He played a boy named Arnold. This role made him very well known.

Many people loved watching him. He won many awards for his work. He even had his own cartoon show.

He was very good at acting. He even spoke in video games.

He worked hard to make people smile.

Gary Coleman was a famous American actor.

He became a big star in the late 1970s. He was known for playing a boy named Arnold Jackson. This role was on a show called Diff'rent Strokes. In the show, Arnold was one of two brothers. He was adopted by a wealthy man in New York.

Many people loved watching him on TV. He won several Young Artist Awards. He also won three People's Choice Awards. He was even the highest-paid child actor for a time. He acted in many movies and even a cartoon. His cartoon was called The Gary Coleman Show.

Later in life, Gary had some hard times. He struggled with money and his health. He also dealt with feeling sad. He worked as an adult by playing himself on shows. He even used his voice in video games. One game was called The Curse of Monkey Island.

Gary died in 2010 at the age of 42.

Gary Coleman was a famous American actor who became a major star during the late 1970s and 1980s.

He was born in Zion, Illinois, on February 8, 1968. Coleman was adopted by W. G. Coleman and Edmonia Sue. Because of a kidney disease called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, he took certain medications. These medicines limited his physical growth and kept his face looking childlike even as an adult. He first appeared in a 1974 commercial for Harris Bank. He also acted in an episode of the show Medical Center that same year.

Coleman's big break came after he acted in a pilot for a revival of The Little Rascals in 1977. A producer saw his talent and cast him as Arnold Jackson on the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes. This show ran for eight seasons until 1986. In the show, Arnold was one of two brothers adopted by a wealthy man in Manhattan. Coleman became very successful and was the highest-paid child actor on television during this time. He even earned $100,000 for a single episode of the show.

His acting work earned him many special honors and awards.

He won two Young Artist Awards for his role as Arnold. He also won three People's Choice Awards for Favorite Young TV Performer between 1980 and 1983. VH1 even named him the number one kid star on their "100 Greatest Kid Stars" list. Coleman also starred in many movies and television films. These included The Kid from Left Field and the comedy On the Right Track. He even had his own Saturday morning cartoon called The Gary Coleman Show.

Life was not always easy for Coleman as he grew older. He faced many hard jobs regarding his health and his money. In 1989, he sued his parents and a business adviser for $3.8 million. He won a judgment of $1.28 million in 1993 after they used his trust fund. Later, he had to declare bankruptcy. He also dealt with depression and substance abuse. In his later years, he often appeared on television playing himself. He even used his voice for video games like The Curse of Monkey Island.

Coleman's career touched many different kinds of entertainment.

He acted in many famous shows like The Jeffersons and The Simpsons. He even tried politics by running as an independent for governor of California in 2003. He finished 8th out of 135 candidates in that election. He also appeared in the video game Postal 2. Gary Coleman died on May 28, 2010, at the age of 42. He passed away at a medical center in Provo, Utah, after a fall at his home.

Gary Coleman was a prominent American actor.

He became a major child star during the late 1970s and 1980s. Coleman was born in Zion, Illinois, on February 8, 1968. He was adopted by W. G. Coleman and Edmonia Sue. Coleman lived with a kidney disease called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. To treat this condition, he used corticosteroids and other medications. These treatments limited his physical growth. They also caused his face to maintain a childlike appearance into adulthood.

Coleman began his professional career in 1974. He first appeared in a commercial for Harris Bank. In that commercial, he spoke a line about a "Hubert" doll. That same year, he acted in an episode of the show Medical Center. His next significant role was in a 1977 pilot for a revival of The Little Rascals. Although that pilot was not made into a series, it changed his life. An executive saw his performance and cast him in a new sitcom.

In 1978, Coleman began playing Arnold Jackson on the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes. The show followed two Black brothers from Harlem adopted by a wealthy white widower in Manhattan. The series was a massive hit and ran for eight seasons until 1986. Coleman became the highest-paid child actor on television during this era. At his peak, he earned $100,000 per episode. His character became famous for the catchphrase, "What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" This was said in response to his brother, Willis.

His talent earned him many professional accolades.

He won two Young Artist Awards. He won these for Outstanding Contribution to Youth Through Entertainment in 1980 and Best Young Actor in a Comedy Series in 1982. He also won three consecutive People's Choice Awards from 1980 to 1983. VH1 ranked him first on their list of "100 Greatest Kid Stars." Coleman also starred in several successful films. These included the baseball comedy The Kid from Left Field and the motion picture On the Right Track. The latter film grossed $13 million at the box office.

Despite his fame, Coleman faced serious personal and financial struggles. His co-star Todd Bridges noted that Coleman worked long hours despite health problems. These pressures contributed to feelings of depression. Coleman also faced legal battles regarding his money. In 1989, he sued his adoptive parents and a business adviser. He claimed they misappropriated his assets. In 1993, he won a $1.28 million judgment. However, he eventually declared bankruptcy a decade later. He also dealt with issues regarding substance abuse during his life.

As an adult, Coleman's career shifted toward guest appearances. He often played himself on various television programs. He appeared on shows like The Simpsons, The Jeffersons, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He also moved into the world of digital entertainment. In 1997, he provided his voice for the adventure game The Curse of Monkey Island. This was a significant move, as he was one of the first mainstream actors in a video game.

He later portrayed a fictional version of himself in the game Postal 2 in 2003.

Coleman also explored the field of politics. In 2003, he ran as an independent candidate for governor of California. This occurred during the California recall election. His campaign was sponsored by the East Bay Express as a satirical comment. Coleman finished in 8th place out of 135 candidates. He received a total of 14,242 votes. After Arnold Schwarzenegger declared his candidacy, Coleman announced he would vote for him.

Gary Coleman passed away on May 28, 2010. He was 42 years old. He died at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah. Two days earlier, he had fallen down the stairs at his home in Santaquin. This fall caused him to strike his head. The injury resulted in an epidural hematoma, which is a collection of blood around the brain. His life remains a notable chapter in the history of American television.