Gary Coleman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gary Coleman
Coleman in 2005
Born	Gary Wayne Coleman (1968-02-08)February 8, 1968 Zion, Illinois, U.S.
Died	May 28, 2010(2010-05-28) (aged 42) Provo, Utah, U.S.
Occupation	Actor comedian
Years active	1974–2010
Works	Full list
Spouse(s)	Shannon Price ​ ​ (m. 2007; sep. 2008)​
Partner(s)	Shannon Price (2008–2010)

Gary Wayne Coleman (February 8, 1968 – May 28, 2010) was a famous American actor and comedian. He was one of the highest-paid child actors on TV in the late 1970s and 1980s. Many people remember him as one of the "100 Greatest Kid Stars" by VH1.

Gary Coleman was best known for playing Arnold Jackson in the TV show Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986). He played this role in other shows too, like Hello, Larry (1979) and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (1996). For his role as Arnold, he won several awards. These included two Young Artist Awards and three People's Choice Awards for "Favorite Young TV Performer."

Coleman also starred in movies like On the Right Track (1981) and Jimmy the Kid (1982). He was the main voice actor in The Gary Coleman Show (1982) as Andy LeBeau. He also voiced Kevin in Waynehead (1996–1997). Gary Coleman even did voice acting for video games, including The Curse of Monkey Island (1997) and Postal 2 (2003).

Early Life and Health

Gary Wayne Coleman was born in Zion, Illinois, on February 8, 1968. He was adopted by W. G. Coleman and Edmonia Sue. Gary had a kidney disease called focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. Because of this, he stopped growing at 4 feet 8 inches (142 cm). His face also kept a childlike look even when he was an adult. He had two kidney transplants, in 1973 and 1984, and needed dialysis treatments.

Gary loved railroads. He even worked part-time at hobby stores in different states. He built and cared for miniature railroads in his homes. One of his model railroads is now kept in Colorado Springs, Colorado. From 2005 until he passed away, Gary lived in Santaquin, a small town in Utah.

Acting Career Highlights

Gary Coleman's acting career began in 1974 with a commercial for Harris Bank. That same year, he appeared in a TV show called Medical Center. In 1977, he was in a pilot for a new version of The Little Rascals.

Starring in Diff'rent Strokes

In 1978, Gary was chosen to play Arnold Jackson in Diff'rent Strokes. This show was about two Black brothers from Harlem who were adopted by a rich white man in Manhattan. Diff'rent Strokes became a huge hit and ran for eight seasons until 1986.

The cast of Diff'rent Strokes with guest star Nancy Reagan in 1983

Gary became very famous for his role as Arnold. He won two Young Artist Awards and four People's Choice Awards in a row. At the peak of his fame, he earned a lot of money per episode. He was well-known for his character's catchphrase, "What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" This was a funny line he would say to his TV brother, Willis. Gary worked long hours on the show, which was hard for him due to his health.

Other TV and Film Roles

Gary Coleman also appeared in other popular TV shows. He was on The Jeffersons as Raymond and on Good Times in 1978. In 1979, he was in the TV movie The Kid from Left Field. He also guest-starred in the science-fiction show Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.

In 1981, Gary made his first big movie, On the Right Track. He played Lester, a young shoeshine boy who was good at gambling on horses. The movie was a success, and people liked his acting. He then starred in Jimmy the Kid (1982).

Danielle Spencer, Coleman, and Kim Fields at the NAACP Image Awards on December 7, 1980

Gary also voiced characters in animated shows. He was the main voice in The Gary Coleman Show (1982) as Andy LeBeau, an angel in training. He also voiced Kevin in Waynehead (1996 to 1997). In 1997, he voiced Kenny Falmouth in the video game The Curse of Monkey Island. This was special because he was one of the first major actors to be in a video game.

Later Career and Public Life

In 2003, Gary Coleman played a version of himself in the video game Postal 2. This game became very popular and brought him more attention. In 2005, he appeared in John Cena's music video "Bad, Bad Man," which made fun of 1980s culture. His last TV role was a voice part in Robot Chicken. His final movies included Church Ball (2006), An American Carol (2008), and Midgets vs. Mascots (2009).

Gary also tried to get into politics. In 2003, he ran for governor in California. He placed 8th out of 135 candidates.

Personal Life

Coleman in 2007

In 2007, Gary met Shannon Price on the set of the film Church Ball. They got married a few months later.

Death

Gary Coleman passed away on May 28, 2010, at the age of 42. He was at the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah. He had fallen at his home and hit his head, which caused a serious injury.

Legacy and Impact

Coleman promoting Postal 2 at E3 2003

Gary Coleman is often seen as one of the most important child actors ever. VH1 ranked him first on their list of "100 Greatest Kid Stars." MTV said he had a huge "Impact on Pop Culture." Mike Hogan from Vanity Fair wrote that Gary was a "superstar" with "radiant charisma." He noted that Gary's kidney condition made his life harder, but he still shined.

Famous actress Lucille Ball once said in an interview, "I love Gary Coleman. He puts me away. He puts everybody away." Randy Kester, Gary's attorney, said in 2010, "The world's going to be a little less happy place without Gary. For being a small guy, he sure had a big impact on the world."

Works and Awards

Throughout his career, Gary Coleman had over sixty acting roles and appeared on TV more than eighty times. For playing Arnold Jackson in Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986), he won many awards. These included two Young Artist Awards and three People's Choice Awards for "Favorite Young TV Performer." He was also nominated for two TV Land Awards.

See also

In Spanish: Gary Coleman para niños