52 Facts About Gary Coleman

Gary Wayne Coleman was an American actor, known as a high-profile child star of the late 1970s and 1980s.

Gary Coleman caught the attention of a producer after acting in a pilot for a revival of The Little Rascals, who decided to cast him as Arnold Jackson in the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, a role which launched Coleman into stardom.

Gary Coleman was rated first on a list of VH1's "100 Greatest Kid Stars", and an influential child actor.

Gary Coleman was the highest-paid child actor on television throughout the late 1970s and 1980s.

Gary Coleman headlined two motion pictures, On the Right Track and Jimmy the Kid, both financial successes.

Gary Coleman struggled financially in later life; in 1989, he successfully sued his parents and business adviser over misappropriation of his assets, only to declare bankruptcy a decade later.

Gary Coleman played roles in various television shows and films, which were rarely recurring roles.

Gary Coleman provided his acting talents to two video games, The Curse of Monkey Island and Postal 2.

Gary Coleman died at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah, on May 28,2010, aged 42.

Gary Coleman had been admitted two days earlier after falling down the stairs at his home in Santaquin and striking his head, resulting in an epidural hematoma.

Gary Wayne Coleman was born in Zion, Illinois, on February 8,1968.

Gary Coleman was adopted by W G Coleman, a fork-lift operator, and Edmonia Sue, a nurse practitioner.

Gary Coleman underwent two unsuccessful kidney transplants in 1973 and again in 1984, and required dialysis.

In 1974, Gary Coleman's career began when he appeared in a commercial for Harris Bank.

In 1977, Gary Coleman appeared in a pilot for a revival of The Little Rascals as Stymie, which ultimately ended up not getting picked up as a series.

Gary Coleman received recognition and praise for his work on Diff'rent Strokes; for his role he received five Young Artist Award nominations, of which he won two, and won the People's Choice Awards for Favorite Young TV Performer four years in a row, from 1980 to 1983.

In 1978, Gary Coleman acted in one episode of The Jeffersons, and two of Good Times.

In 1979, Gary Coleman made his television film debut playing the lead in The Kid from Left Field, a baseball comedy.

In 1980, Gary Coleman played the lead in the television film Scout's Honor.

In 1981, Gary Coleman made his feature film debut with the comedy On the Right Track, headlining as Lester, a young shoeshine orphan who lives in a locker in a train station, who achieves fame for having an uncanny talent for gambling on horses.

Finally in 1982, Gary Coleman played Arnold Jackson in a crossover episode of Silver Spoons.

In 1985, Gary Coleman played a teenage arsonist in the television film Playing with Fire, it was his first dramatic project.

When Diff'rent Strokes ended Gary Coleman went on a hiatus and just like his Diff'rent Strokes co-stars struggled with finding acting roles.

Gary Coleman played himself in The Ben Stiller Show, The Jackie Thomas Show, Sherman Oaks, The Parent 'Hood, The Wayans Bros.

Gary Coleman played roles in television films these are Like Father, Like Santa, A Carol Christmas, and A Christmas Too Many.

From 1996 to 1997, Gary Coleman had a recurring role as the voice of Kevin in the animated show Waynehead.

In 1997, Gary Coleman voiced Kenny Falmouth in the video game The Curse of Monkey Island, which gained him attention, being one of the first few major mainstream actors to appear in a video game.

Gary Coleman ventured into politics, and in the 2003 California recall election he was a candidate for governor.

Gary Coleman's campaign was sponsored by the free newsweekly East Bay Express as a satirical comment on the recall.

Gary Coleman placed 8th in a field of 135 candidates, receiving 14,242 votes.

In 2003, Gary Coleman portrayed a fictional version of himself in the video game Postal 2, the second game in the Postal franchise.

In 2005, Gary Coleman appeared in John Cena's music video for his single "Bad, Bad Man" and played himself as a villain taking Michael Jackson and Madonna hostage.

Gary Coleman's final television role was a voice role in the animated series Robot Chicken.

Gary Coleman was an avid railroad fan, and he later worked part-time at Denver-area, Tucson-area, and California hobby stores to be around his hobby.

Gary Coleman built and maintained miniature railroads in his homes in several states throughout the 1990s.

Gary Coleman lived in Santaquin, a small town about 50 miles south of Salt Lake City, Utah, from 2005 until his death.

In early 2007, Gary Coleman met Shannon Price, 22, on the set of the film Church Ball, where she was working as an extra.

However, they divorced in August 2008, and Gary Coleman was granted an ex parte restraining order against Price to prevent her from living in his home when he was hospitalized after their divorce.

In 1998, Gary Coleman was charged with assault against Tracy Fields, a Los Angeles bus driver and fan of Gary Coleman's work on Diff'rent Strokes who had approached him in a California mall and requested his autograph while he was shopping for a bulletproof vest.

When Gary Coleman gave her an autograph but refused to personalize it, an argument ensued, and Fields reportedly mocked Gary Coleman's acting career.

Gary Coleman then punched Fields in the face in front of witnesses.

Gary Coleman was arrested and later defended himself in court, alleging that he felt threatened by Fields.

In 2007, Gary Coleman was cited for misdemeanor disorderly conduct in Provo, Utah, after a "heated discussion" in public with his wife, Shannon Price.

In 2008, Gary Coleman was involved in an altercation at a Payson, Utah, bowling alley, which began when Colt Rushton, age 24, photographed Gary Coleman without his permission.

Gary Coleman later pleaded no contest to charges of disorderly conduct and reckless driving and was fined $100.

Months before his death in 2010, Gary Coleman was arrested on an outstanding domestic assault warrant in Santaquin, booked into the Utah County Jail and released the following day.

In January 2010, Gary Coleman was hospitalized after a seizure in Los Angeles, and in February, he experienced another seizure on the set of The Insider television program.

On May 26,2010, Gary Coleman was admitted to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah, in critical condition after falling down the stairs at his Santaquin home and hitting his head, possibly after another seizure, and experiencing an epidural hematoma.

The hospital later issued a statement confirming that Gary Coleman had completed an advance healthcare directive granting Price permission to make medical decisions on his behalf.

Gary Coleman is frequently listed as one of the most influential child actors in the world.

In 2005, Gary Coleman announced his intention to sue the producers of Avenue Q for their depiction of him, although the lawsuit never materialized.

The Gary Coleman character remained in the show after modifications were made to relevant dialogue.