Gary Coleman

Gary Coleman

Coleman in May 2005
Born Gary Wayne Coleman
February 8, 1968(1968-02-08)
Zion, Illinois, United States
Died May 28, 2010(2010-05-28) (aged 42)[1]
Provo, Utah, United States
Occupation Actor
Years active 1978–2010
Spouse Shannon Price (2007–2008)[2]

Gary Wayne Coleman[3] (February 8, 1968 – May 28, 2010) was an American actor, known for his childhood role as Arnold Jackson in the American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986) and for his small stature as an adult. He was described in the 1980s as "one of television's most promising stars." After a successful childhood acting career, Coleman struggled financially later in life. In 1989, he successfully sued his parents and business adviser over misappropriation of his assets.

Contents

Early life

Coleman was born in Zion, Illinois. He was adopted by Edmonia Sue and W.G. Coleman, a nurse practitioner and fork-lift operator, respectively.[4] He suffered from focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a congenital autoimmune kidney disease. Because of his chronic illness, combined with the corticosteroids and other medications used to treat it, his growth was limited to 4 ft 8 in (1.42 m), and his face retained a childlike appearance well into adulthood. He underwent two unsuccessful kidney transplants in 1973 and 1984, and required daily dialysis.[5]

Career

While best known for his role on Diff'rent Strokes, Coleman had appeared earlier on in television in The Jeffersons and on Good Times as Penny's friend Gary. He also appeared in a 1978 pilot for a revival of The Little Rascals as Stymie.[6] VH1 rated Coleman first on a list of "100 Greatest Child Stars" on television.[7]

Diff'rent Strokes

Coleman was cast in the role of Arnold Jackson in the television sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, portraying one of two young African-American brothers adopted by a wealthy white widower in Manhattan. The successful show was broadcast from 1978 to 1986.

Coleman became the most popular fixture of the show, enhanced by his character's catchphrase "What'choo talkin' 'bout, Willis?". At the height of his fame on Diff'rent Strokes, he earned as much as $100,000 per episode. A Biography Channel documentary estimated he was left with a quarter of the original amount after paying his parents, advisers, lawyers, and taxes.[8] He later successfully sued his parents and his former advisers for misappropriation of his finances and was awarded $1.3 million.[9]

Later character appearances

Coleman became a popular figure, starring in a number of feature films and made-for-TV movies including On the Right Track and The Kid with the Broken Halo. The latter eventually served as the basis for the Hanna-Barbera-produced animated series The Gary Coleman Show in 1982. Coleman also made video game appearances in The Curse of Monkey Island (1997) and Postal 2 (2003).

Candidacy for Governor of California

Coleman was a candidate for governor in the 2003 California recall election. This campaign was sponsored by the free newsweekly East Bay Express as a satirical comment on the recall. After Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy, Coleman stated that he would be voting for Schwarzenegger. Coleman placed 8th in a field of 135 candidates, receiving 14,242 votes.[10]

Avenue Q

Coleman is parodied in the hit 2003 Broadway musical Avenue Q, which won the 2004 Tony Award for best musical. A character presented as Coleman works as the superintendent of the apartment complex where the musical takes place. In the song, "It Sucks to be Me", he laments his fate.[5] On Broadway, the role was originally played by Natalie Venetia Belcon.[11]

The show's creators, Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez, have said the Coleman character is a personification of one of Avenue Q's central themes: that as children we are told we are "special", but upon entering adulthood we discover that life is not nearly as easy as we have been led to believe. They added that they originally considered asking Coleman himself to play the Gary Coleman role, and he expressed interest in accepting it. However, he never showed up for a meeting scheduled to discuss it.[12]

In 2005, Coleman announced his intention to sue the producers of Avenue Q for their depiction of him, although the lawsuit never materialized. At the 2007 New York Comic Con, Coleman said, "I wish there was a lawyer on Earth that would sue them for me."[13]

Personal life

Coleman in 2007

Legal and financial struggles

In 1989, Coleman sued his parents and former business adviser over misappropriation of his $3.8 million trust fund,[14][15] and won a $1,280,000 judgment in 1993.[16] He later filed for bankruptcy, in 1999. [17] Multiple people, he said, were responsible for his insolvency, "...from me to accountants to my adoptive parents, to agents to lawyers and back to me again."[18]

Ongoing medical expenses contributed significantly to Coleman's chronic financial problems, and compelled him, at times, to resort to unusual fundraising activities. In 2008, for example, he auctioned an autographed pair of his pants on eBay to help pay medical bills.[19] The auction attracted considerable attention, including fake bids up to USD $400,000. The pants were eventually bought for USD $500 by comedian Jimmy Kimmel, who famously hung them from the rafters of his television studio.[20]

Suicide attempts

In a 1993 television interview, Coleman said he had twice attempted to commit suicide by overdosing on pills.[21]

Assault

Coleman was charged with assault in 1998 after he punched a woman. He was working as a security guard, and bus driver Tracy Fields requested his autograph while he was shopping for a bulletproof vest in a California mall. The two argued about the autograph, and Fields mocked Coleman's lackluster career as an adult actor. Coleman testified that "I was getting scared, and she was getting ugly"; he said that he thought Fields was going to hit him, so he punched her. Coleman pleaded no contest and received a suspended sentence. He was also ordered to pay Fields $1,665 for hospital bills resulting from the fight.[22]

Marriage

In 2005 Coleman moved from Los Angeles to Santaquin, a small town south of Salt Lake City, Utah, where he lived for the remainder of his life.[23] In early 2007 he met Shannon Price, 22, on the set of the film Church Ball, where she was working as an extra,[24] and married her several months later.[25] On May 1 and 2, 2008, they made a well-publicized appearance on the show Divorce Court[26] to air their differences in an attempt to save their marriage. Nevertheless, they divorced in August 2008, citing irreconcilable differences,[27] but according to a court petition later filed by Price, continued to live together as husband and wife until his death.[2]

Citations for disorderly conduct

On July 26, 2007, Coleman was cited for misdemeanor disorderly conduct by a Provo, Utah, police officer after Coleman was seen having a "heated discussion" with his wife, Shannon Price.[28][29]

On July 3, 2009, Coleman and his ex-wife were involved in a domestic dispute in which Coleman's ex-wife was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence, and both parties were cited for disorderly conduct.[30]

Automobile accident

Coleman was involved in an automobile accident in Payson, Utah on September 6, 2008. According to Payson police, Coleman was backing up his truck in a Payson bowling alley parking lot when he allegedly hit 24-year-old Colt Rushton. According to a witness, the tire of Coleman's truck hit Rushton's knee and pulled him under the truck. Coleman's vehicle then hit another car. Rushton was transported to a local hospital, where he was treated and released with minor injuries. Police said Coleman's driving speed was not excessive. Witnesses told police the incident stemmed from an argument that started in the bowling alley after Rushton photographed Coleman. Coleman objected to Rushton taking his picture and the two men started arguing, according to witnesses. There was no citation or arrest for either man. Police said neither man would make a statement at the scene.[31][32]

On December 2, 2008, Coleman pleaded no contest to charges of disorderly conduct and reckless driving. The court ordered him to pay a $100 fine for disorderly conduct. The reckless driving charge was to be waived in one year if Coleman did not commit any further violations. On January 14, 2010, Coleman settled a civil suit related to the incident for an undisclosed amount.[33][34][35]

Domestic violence assault

On January 24, 2010, Coleman was arrested on a domestic violence assault warrant in Santaquin. Coleman was subsequently booked into the Utah County Jail[36] and released on January 25, 2010.[37]

Illnesses and death

Few details of Coleman's medical history have been made public. His short stature (4 feet, 8 inches or 1.42 meters) stemmed from congenital autoimmune kidney disease and its treatment.[38] He underwent at least two kidney transplants early in his life, and required frequent dialysis, which he preferred not to discuss. In 2009, he underwent heart surgery, details of which were never made public, but he was known to have developed pneumonia postoperatively.[23] In January 2010 he was hospitalized after a seizure in Los Angeles, and in February he suffered another seizure on the set of The Insider television program.[39]

On May 26, 2010, Coleman was admitted to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah in critical condition[40] after falling at his home in Santaquin and hitting his head, possibly after another seizure, and suffering an epidural hematoma.[41] According to a hospital spokesman, Coleman was "conscious and lucid" the next morning, but his condition subsequently worsened.[7] By mid-afternoon on May 27, Coleman was unconscious and on life support.[42] He died at 12:05 p.m. MDT (18:05 UTC) on May 28, 2010.[43][44]

The casts of the Off Broadway production of Avenue Q in New York City and the Avenue Q National Tour in Dallas dedicated their May 28 performances to his memory, and the actors playing the Coleman role paid tribute to him from the stage at the performances' conclusions.[45][46] Subsequently, producers announced that the Coleman character would not be written out of the show, although some modifications would be made to the character's dialog.[47]

A funeral scheduled the weekend after Coleman's death was postponed and later canceled due to a dispute between Price, Coleman's adoptive parents, and former business associate Anna Gray (as well as Dion Mial, Coleman's friend and former manager, who later withdrew[48]) regarding the disposition of his estate and remains. Coleman directed in a 2005 will that his remains be cremated, and "...that there be no funeral service, wake, or other ceremony memorializing my passing."[49][50][51] Questions were also raised as to whether Price, who authorized discontinuation of Coleman's life support, had the legal authority to do so. The controversy was exacerbated by a photograph published in the Globe showing Coleman's ex-wife posing next to a comatose, intubated Coleman in his hospital bed, with the headline, "It Was Murder!"[52] The hospital later issued a statement confirming that Coleman had completed an Advanced Health Care Directive granting Price permission to make medical decisions on his behalf.[53] An investigation into the circumstances surrounding Coleman's death remains open. Police have said that foul play "is not suspected", but "has not been ruled out."[54]

Coleman's remains were cremated on June 17, 2010 in Sandy, Utah, after a Utah judge determined that there was no dispute regarding that issue.[55] However, disposition of the ashes, and a funeral, if there is one, will be delayed several months while the judge decides who will permanently control the estate. The will signed by Coleman in 2005 names Gray as executor, and awards his entire estate to her. However, Price and Coleman's marriage occurred later, in 2007; and while they divorced in 2008, Price claimed in a court petition that she remained Coleman's common-law wife, sharing bank accounts and presenting themselves publicly as husband and wife, until his death; an assertion that, if validated by the court, would make her the lawful heir.[49]

Price has said that should she be granted disposition of Coleman's remains, she plans to scatter the ashes over railroad tracks as a tribute to his lifelong love of trains.[56]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1979 Kid from Left Field, TheThe Kid from Left Field Jackie Robinson "J.R." Cooper Television film
1980 Scout's Honor Joey Seymour Television film
1981 On the Right Track Lester
1982 Kid with the Broken Halo, TheThe Kid with the Broken Halo Andy LeBeau Television film
1982 Jimmy the Kid Jimmy
1983 Kid with the 200 I.Q., TheThe Kid with the 200 I.Q. Nick Newell Television film
1984 Fantastic World of D.C. Collins, TheThe Fantastic World of D.C. Collins D.C. Collins Television film
1985 Playing with Fire David Phillips Television film
1994 Party The Liar Short film
Associate producer
1994 S.F.W. Cameo
1996 Fox Hunt Murray Lipschitz, Jr.
1997 Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's Himself Documentary
1998 Dirty Work Cameo
1998 Like Father, Like Santa Ignatius Television film
1999 Shafted!
2000 Flunky, TheThe Flunky
2002 Frank McKlusky, C.I. Cameo
2003 Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star Himself Cameo
2003 Carol Christmas, AA Carol Christmas Christmas Past Television film
2004 Chasing the Edge Cameo
Short film
2004 Save Virgil Himself/The Devil
2005 Christmas Too Many, AA Christmas Too Many
2006 Church Ball
2008 American Carol, AnAn American Carol Bacon Stains Malone
2009 Midgets vs. Mascots Gary Last film appearance

Television

References

  1. ↑ "Diff'rent Strokes Star Gary Coleman Dies at 42". People. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20389492,00.html. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Vince Horiuchi (June 2, 2010). "Gary Coleman wasn't married when he died". The Salt Lake Tribune. http://www.sltrib.com/D=g/ci_15214072. 
  3. ↑ "Scotsman obituary". News.scotsman.com. http://news.scotsman.com/obituaries/Obituary-Gary-Coleman-actor.6329572.jp. Retrieved 2010-08-11. 
  4. ↑ "Gary Coleman Biography (1968–)". Filmreference.com. http://www.filmreference.com/film/21/Gary-Coleman.html. Retrieved May 28, 2010. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Horowitz, Lisa. "Gary Coleman Dead at 42", The Wrap, May 28, 2010
  6. ↑ "'Diff'rent Strokes actor Gary Coleman dies at 42." CNN 28 May 2010 article added 28 May 2010.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Bob Tourtellotte (May 28, 2010). "Gary Coleman dies after brain hemorrhage". Reuters.com. http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64R0DU20100528. Retrieved June 4, 2010. 
  8. ↑ "Truth Behind the Sitcom Scandals". Biography Channel. April 15, 2008.
  9. ↑ "Judge tells parents to pay young actor". Associated Press. February 24, 1993. 
  10. ↑ "Gary Coleman on California ballot". CNN/inside politics. August 7, 2003. http://edition.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/08/06/candidate.coleman/index.html. Retrieved May 28, 2010. 
  11. ↑ "Natalie Venetia Belcon on the Internet Broadway Database". http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=100641. Retrieved May 28, 2010. 
  12. ↑ Dobbs, Aaron (December 17, 2004). "Jeff Marx & Robert Lopez, Creators Avenue Q". Gothamist. http://gothamist.com/2004/12/17/jeff_marx_robert_lopez_creators_avenue_q.php. Retrieved May 30, 2010. 
  13. ↑ "Gary Coleman – New York Comic Con 2007 – TheActionRoom.com". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPCOuyGacRs. Retrieved May 28, 2010. 
  14. ↑ "Former Child Star Central". Members.tripod.com. June 29, 1999. http://members.tripod.com/~former_child_star/news_1999.html. Retrieved May 28, 2010. 
  15. ↑ "Gary Coleman awarded $1.3M". Associated Press. The Daily Gazette. February 25, 1993. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=-hYxAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PuEFAAAAIBAJ&pg=4011,5595796&dq=gary+coleman&hl=en. Retrieved May 28, 2010. 
  16. ↑ "Actor Gary Coleman wins $1.3 million in suit against his parents and ex-adviser", Jet, March 15, 1993.
  17. ↑ "Former Child Star Gary Coleman Files For Bankruptcy", Jet, September 6, 1999.
  18. ↑ Gary Coleman: Bankrupt (August 18, 1999). eonline.com. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  19. ↑ Gary Coleman struggling to shed child star image (2/26/08). Today Show Archive. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
  20. ↑ Coleman Pants Suit Kimmel (January 29, 2008). eonline.com. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  21. ↑ Dobner, Jennifer (May 28, 2010). "Former child star Gary Coleman dies at 42". Associated Press. http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37386129/ns/today-entertainment/. Retrieved May 30, 2010. 
  22. ↑ "Coleman pleads no contest to disturbing the peace and receives 90-day suspended sentence", Court TV Online, February 4, 1999.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Diff'rent Strokes star Gary Coleman critically ill in hospital". London: Telegraph.co.uk. 2010-05-28. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/7775136/Diffrent-Strokes-star-Gary-Coleman-critically-ill-in-hospital.html. Retrieved 2010-08-11. 
  24. ↑ Death & Celebrity: When Gary Met Shannon (June 15, 2010). Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  25. ↑ "Afternoon Fix: Celebrity Birthdays, the 'Jumper' Movie Minute, the latest news, and more.". MTV News. February 14, 2008. http://www.mtv.ca/news/article.jhtml?id=7059. Retrieved June 7, 2010. 
  26. ↑ Sandy Cohen (April 25, 2008). "Newlywed Gary Coleman brings marital woes to `Divorce Court'". Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/04/25/2008-04-25_newlywed_gary_coleman_brings_marital_woe.html. 
  27. ↑ Daniel Bates (2010-03-06). "Gary Coleman's ex-wife denies 'cruel' rumours she pushed him down the stairs in first interview". Dailymail.co.uk. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1283741/gary-Colemans-ex-wife-denies-cruel-rumours-pushed-stairs-interview.html. Retrieved 2010-08-11. 
  28. ↑ "Diff'rent Strokes' star Coleman cited for disorderly conduct in Utah County", Fox News, July 31, 2007.
  29. ↑ "Gary Coleman reveals Secret Marriage", Inside Edition, February 12, 2008.
  30. ↑ "Gary Coleman's wife arrested for domestic violence", Daily Herald, August 12, 2009.
  31. ↑ "Man run over by former child star in Payson", KSL-TV, September 6, 2008.
  32. ↑ "Payson police say no one's talking in Coleman incident ", Deseret News, September 8, 2008.
  33. ↑ "Coleman Pleads No Contest to Disorderly Conduct", The New York Times, December 2, 2008.
  34. ↑ "Gary Coleman Pleads No Contest in Bowling Brawl ", E! Online, December 2, 2008.
  35. ↑ "Gary Coleman Reaches Settlement in Suit over Parking Lot Dispute", The Salt Lake Tribune, January 14, 2010.
  36. ↑ ""Actor Gary Coleman arrested for 2nd time in Utah County"". Ksl.com. January 24, 2010. http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=9454836. Retrieved May 28, 2010. 
  37. ↑ Stein, Jeannine. "Actor Gary Coleman released from Utah jail after arrest on outstanding warrant". Latimes.com. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/wire/sns-ap-us-gary-coleman-jailed,0,6143633.story. Retrieved May 28, 2010. 
  38. ↑ New Details in Gary Coleman's Death (undated). Associated Press. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
  39. ↑ Gary Coleman Hospitalized Again (February 26, 2010). LATimes.com. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
  40. ↑ By Alan Duke, CNN (May 28, 2010). "Gary Coleman's condition is "critical"". Cnn.com. http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/05/27/gary.coleman.hospitalized/index.html?hpt=T2. Retrieved May 28, 2010. 
  41. ↑ "Gary Coleman critically hurt after falling and hitting his head". The Sydney Morning Herald. May 27, 2010. http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/people/gary-coleman-critically-hurt-after-falling-and-hitting-his-head-20100528-wiab.html. Retrieved May 27, 2010. 
  42. ↑ Vena, Jocelyn. "Gary Coleman Put On Life Support After being hospitalized on Wednesday following a fall, the actor is unconscious". Mtv.com. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1640313/20100528/story.jhtml. Retrieved May 28, 2010. 
  43. ↑ "Actor Gary Coleman reported dead of brain hemorrhage". USA Today. May 28, 2010. http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/05/actor-gary-coleman-reported-dead-of-brain-hemorrhage/1. Retrieved May 28, 2010. 
  44. ↑ Silverman, Stephen M. (May 28, 2010). "Diff'rent Strokes Star Gary Coleman Dies at 42". People Magazine. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20389492,00.html. Retrieved May 28, 2010. 
  45. ↑ Propst, Andy (May 28, 2010). "Gary Coleman, Star of Diff'rent Strokes and Character in Avenue Q, Dies at 42.". www.theatermania.com. http://www.theatermania.com/off-broadway/news/05-2010/gary-coleman-star-of-diffrent-strokes-and-a-charac_27775.html. Retrieved May 29, 2010. 
  46. ↑ Silverman, Stephen M. (2010-05-28). "Diff'rent Strokes Star Gary Coleman Dies at 42". People.com. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20389492,00.html. Retrieved 2010-06-04. 
  47. ↑ Itzkoff, Dave (May 29, 2010): ‘Avenue Q’ Deals With Death of Gary ColemanNYTimes.com. Retrieved 2010-06-08.
  48. ↑ Coleman's Former Friend to Bow Out of Estate Fight (June 15, 2010). Salt Lake City Tribune. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 Coleman's Ashes Kept Locked Up During Battle of Wills (June 16, 2010). CNN.com. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
  50. ↑ Lee, Ken. "Gary Coleman Leaves Bittersweet Instructions for Funeral". People.com. http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20392290,00.html. Retrieved 2010-08-11. 
  51. ↑ "'We would've loved to have been by his side': Gary Coleman's estranged parents reveal their heartache". Dailymail.co.uk. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1282552/We-wouldve-loved-Gary-Colemans-estranged-parents-speak-out.html. Retrieved June 4, 2010. 
  52. ↑ Thomas, Devon (2010-06-09). "CBS: Globe Magazine Publishes Gary Coleman Deathbed Photo; June 9, 2010 3:17 PM". Cbsnews.com. http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31749_162-20007255-10391698.html. Retrieved 2010-08-11. 
  53. ↑ Hospital: Gary Coleman's Ex-Wife Was Authorized to Pull the Plug (June 3, 2010). usmagazine.com. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  54. ↑ Police Investigation Still Open (June 10, 2010). radaronline.com. Retrieved 2010-07-11.
  55. ↑ "Gary Coleman cremated in private ceremony as all funeral plans are cancelled". Dailymail.co.uk. 2010-06-18. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1287548/Gary-Coleman-cremated-private-ceremony-funeral-plans-cancelled.html. Retrieved 2010-08-11. 
  56. ↑ Gary Coleman's Ex-Wife to Scatter His Ashes "Around Train Tracks" – omg! news on Yahoo!

External links