Gary Coleman is Dead

[ODBJBG]

Guy had a very rough year. I've heard he was sort of a jerk, but I think he was a bit jaded after being typecast forever. I know he struggled a lot in his later years to find work. He loved model trains and was a major enthusiast over them. RIP.

[kryptosmaster]

WOW!
Poor kid.
He really got shafted.
Rich

[Mikey]

He died ?

[kryptosmaster]

He died ?

Gary Coleman dies at 42 | EW.com (http://news-briefs.ew.com/2010/05/28/gary-coleman-dies/)

[Wee67]

Yeah. He was taken to the hospital yesterday with a brain anuerism (sp?). He was in and out of consciousness and just passed.

[vulcan2074]

RIP Gary Coleman.

[wyldpny]

Oh, so now we have two threads about him?
Sorry, didn't see this new one had been started..

[mego73]

How eerie is it that 2 of the kids from Different Strokes are now dead, outlived by their TV foster father

Coleman For Star (http://www.imdb.com/news/ni2631639/)

I am hoping Todd Bridges stays okay (he had some rough patches but seems to be doing good now).

[palitoy]

That's really sad, I always felt for him, he had a lot of hard knocks.

[Mikey]

Weird thinking he and Plato is dead but Mr Drummond and Mrs Garrett are still alive.

[z3zep]

RIP Gary - I loved you on Different Strokes

[jessica]

Wow. RIP, Mr. Coleman.

[LonnieFisher]

Anybody remember his cartoon? RIP Gary!

[David Lee]

Anybody remember his cartoon? RIP Gary!

Yea ironically he was an angel of a dead kid right?

-Dave

[filmation batman fan]

I met Gary Coleman last year at Adventure Con in Knoxville Tn. He and Todd Bridges were both there and they had a photo op. Okay, it cost 40 bucks, but I thought it was worth it and I got my picture made with them. Sadly, I was the only one who did. But I'm not sorry. That pic is now a valuable keepsake. Gary couldn't walk too far and he seemed real sad. I spoke with him and did my best to talk with him about regular things in general. We got along okay, but I was afraid of saying or talking about something that would rub him the wrong way. I really felt bad for him.
I used to enjoy watching him as Arnold on Diff'rent Strokes and although I never saw it, I recall the cartoon series, the Gary Coleman show. I'm guessing it was based off of this TV movie he did called the Kid With the Broken Halo. It was such a crying shame his life turned out the way it did in his adult years.
Most recently, I read that Dana Plato's son, killed himself at the age of 25 11 years after losing his mom.
R.I.P. Gary. You will be missed.

[Mikey]

He seemed like he was crazy as in insane.

I'd hate to be around him because he looked like anything could set him off.

[Cmonster]

R.I.P Arnold Drummond and Heironymous Fox--

Two great characters I immensely enjoyed watching.

His talent and humor will be missed.

SC

[Earth 2 Chris]

I always felt bad for him too. He grew up in the lap of luxury and by all rights should have still been loaded, but his parents blew all of his money, according to most stories I've seen/read. I believe he was the original kid who emancipated himself from his parents.

I used to watch Diff'rent Strokes alot, and vaguely recall the cartoon. I think it was based off of that angel movie.

Chris

[AJ Collector]

He seemed like he was crazy as in insane.

I'd hate to be around him because he looked like anything could set him off.

He did sem like he was always a little to close to the edge.

RIP Gary "what you talkin about Willis" Coleman

[starsky]

i really enjoyed watching him on tv. rip gary.

[Hotfoot]

He lived the hard life of a child star. So sad.

[Marvelmania]

WOW!
Poor kid.
He really got shafted.
Rich


Hardly a kid at 42 years old. I think that's where some of his anger came from, not being treated as a man because of his childhood fame and his stature. I felt a little bad for him. RIP Mr. Coleman, you will be missed.

[kryptosmaster]

Hardly a kid at 42 years old. I think that's where some of his anger came from, not being treated as a man because of his childhood fame and his stature. I felt a little bad for him. RIP Mr. Coleman, you will be missed.

Didn't necessarily mean I was calling him a kid now. More to the fact that he was treated so bad while he was a kid star. Guess it didn't come out that way.
But yeah, he did have that "I never grew up" aura about him no matter how old he got.
Rich

[The Toyroom]

"Diff'rent Strokes" was a Friday night staple for me brother and I back in the day...Gary Coleman was KING back then....always fun to watch. Too bad life kept knocking him down afterward. I saw him on TV this year during that "The Insider" incident...he seemed like he was still a child (attitude wise) and could snap at any minute...

RIP Arnold

[Hector]

A tortured soul now finally at peace.

[HardyGirl]

This is really sad. I did see him once at LAX in front of McDonald's checking his phone messages. I didn't approach him b/c he didn't look too happy. I really enjoyed his career as a kid though. Good Times, Diff'rent Strokes, The Kid W/ a Broken Halo, Scout's Honor and the Gary Coleman show. It's really too bad that his folks took advantage of him and all the health problems he suffered and not being taken seriously in his adult years.

RIP Gary. You may not have known it (though it's clear to you now) that you were loved by many. :sad:

[JediJaida]

The poor thing. Hard to believe that he was only three years younger than I am right now.

I loved Diffrent Strokes in the early years; Gary WAS the show. He was a joy to watch and genuinely funny.

Too bad he got shafted by his parents, that happened to a lot of child stars, going back to the silent era. They weren't always treated well, either by the industry or by the people who were supposed to love them and take care of them.

It's sad to think that so few of them managed to make the transition to adulthood well, and continue on in acting.

I can only think of three from Hollywood's so-called Golden Era that made it in acting.

Elizabeth Taylor started out at the age of twelve or so, and kept on going til she was at least in her forties or fifties.

Roddy MacDowell started out at the same age, took time off for college, and became one of the best character actors in the business.

Angela Lansbury is another one. She starred with Elizabeth in National Velvet, and she was about fourteen or fifteen at the time.

[MIB41]

The main thing is he is at peace now and no one can take that away from him. May he spread his wings far and wide now.

[Joe90]

He died too young! That's sad. His short life was a contradiction: he had so many gifts and talents, yet he suffered some gigantic setbacks.

[toysrus]

Sad exit. RIP Gary Coleman.

[SlipperyLilSuckers]

May he RIP.

[VintageMike]

When I read about him being in the hospital and what it was for, I figured it was sadly only a matter of time. I dare say anyone would be pretty messed by their own parents ripping them off at such a young age. Glad he is at peace now.

[salb71]

RIP Gary, you were a part of many childhoods including mine, thanks for the laughs.

[Meule]

RIP Gary

[Nostalgiabuff]

very sad. thos 3 kids from different strokes were the poster children for child actors gone wrong. it's really unfortunate that the industry was not more protective of child stars back then. Gary had a tumultuous life after his career went downhill. I always thought he had some mental health issues. May he be at peace now.

[UnderdogDJLSW]

Wow. Extremely sad to see that happen. Like everyone else, that show was a staple in our house to watch. I think he could have been allowed to transition from child star to actor had he been allowed, but as said before, he had some health issues and the powers that be felt the cash cow was him remaining child-like. RIP.

[Doc]

Most child actors have it rough. Unfortunatly because of his health problem he couldnt even physically outgrow his character. That made it even worse.

The poor guy had a rough deal all his life. I feel sorry for him. Hopefully he's at rest.

[toyman]

It is a sad day when things like this happen,I remember watching him on tv growing up,he was only 2 years younger than me,this is life's way of reminding us we can go at any time.R.I.P. Mr. Coleman.

[jp1969]

Thats some sad news.
Especially after hearing how he had such a crappy adult life.
Life sucks then you die.
Hard aint it.?!?

[lepage]

What I would like to know was how he got not one but two kidney transplants when there are many who die just waiting on the list to get one transplant!?

[toys2cool]

poor lil' guy :embarassed: may he RIP

[mitchedwards]

Very sad, he passed way too young

[Trappy Trek Freak]

The world don't move to the beat of just one drum...... I will miss Arnold I watched season one of different strokes with my little boy and he laughed his little butt off at Arnold and I couldn't believe he is gone.