Photos: Gary Coleman's Life and Career (1968-2010)
Remember the life and career of actor Gary Coleman. See the photos.
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Child Star Gary Coleman Dies at 42 - One-time child star Gary Coleman died in Provo, Utah, after suffering an intracranial hemorrhage and falling into a coma. He was 42. Coleman, who was hospitalized for two days before he died, was born with two failed kidneys. By age 14, he had undergone two transplants.
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The Early Years - Gary Coleman was born in Zion, Illinois on Feb. 8, 1968. He was the adopted son of W.G. (Willie) and Edmonia Sue Coleman. He was only 4 days old when they brought him home from a Chicago hospital.
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Diff'rent Strokes - In 1978, Coleman landed the role of the confident and outspoken 8-year-old Arnold Jackson on the television sitcom Diff'rent Strokes. He played the younger of two brothers (the elder brother was played by actor Todd Bridges). On the show, they were adopted by Phil Drummond (Conrad Bain), a wealthy White Manhattan businessman who lived in a penthouse on Park Avenue.
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Child Superstar - The adorable kid won the hearts of TV watchers everywhere, shooting him to stardom in the late 1970s. A line he used on that show regularly, “Whatchu talkin’ ‘bout, Willis" (referring to his TV land brother played by actor Todd Bridges), became a national catchphrase. At the height of his career, he earned as much as $100,000 per episode.
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More Success - Gary Coleman enjoyed years of success and fame on TV. When Diff'rent Strokes ended in 1986, Coleman took roles in a few feature films and made-for-TV movies, including 'On the Right Track' and 'The Kid with the Broken Halo.' Here, he’s pictured with former first lady Nancy Reagan who made a guest appearance on Diff’rent Strokes.
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