Gary Coleman
Encyclopedia
Gary Wayne Coleman 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 advisor over misappropriation
of his assets, only to declare bankruptcy a decade later.
, outside Chicago. He was adopted by Edmonia Sue and W.G. Coleman, a nurse practitioner and fork-lift operator, respectively. He suffered from focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, an 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
.
, Coleman had appeared earlier on in television in The Jeffersons
as Raymond, George Jefferson's nephew, and on Good Times
as Penny's friend Gary. He also appeared in a 1979 pilot for a revival of The Little Rascals as Stymie. VH1
rated Coleman first on a list of "100 Greatest Child Stars" on television.
, portraying one of two young black 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 US$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. He later successfully sued his parents and his former advisers for misappropriation of his finances and was awarded $1.3 million.
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).
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
declared his candidacy, Coleman announced that he would vote for Schwarzenegger. Coleman placed 8th in a field of 135 candidates, receiving 14,242 votes.
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. On Broadway, the role was originally played by Natalie Venetia Belcon
.
The show's creators, Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez, have said that the Coleman character is a personification of one of Avenue Qs 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.
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."
The Coleman character lives on in the show, despite the death of its inspiration, after minor dialog adjustments.
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. In early 2007 he met Shannon Price, 22, on the set of the film Church Ball
, where she was working as an extra
, and married her several months later. On May 1 and 2, 2008, they made a well-publicized appearance on the show Divorce Court
to air their differences in an attempt to save their marriage. Nevertheless, they divorced in August 2008, citing irreconcilable differences
, but according to a court petition later filed by Price, continued to live together as husband and wife until his death.
protection. 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."
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 his medical bills. The auction attracted considerable attention, including fake bids up to $400,000. The pants were eventually bought for $500 by comedian Jimmy Kimmel
, who famously hung them from the rafters of his television studio.
Coleman was charged with assault in 1998, while he was working as a security guard. Tracy Fields, a bus driver and fan of Coleman's work on Diff'rent Strokes, approached him and requested his autograph while he was shopping for a bulletproof vest
in a California mall. Coleman refused, an argument ensued, and Fields reportedly mocked Coleman's lackluster career as an actor. Coleman punched Fields in the face, later testifying that she threatened him and he defended himself. "I was getting scared, and she was getting ugly," he said. Coleman pleaded no contest
to assault, received a suspended sentence, and was ordered to pay Fields' $1,665 hospital bill.
In 2007, Coleman was cited for misdemeanor
disorderly conduct
in Provo, Utah
after a "heated discussion" in public with his wife.
In 2008, Coleman was involved in an automobile accident after an altercation at a Payson, Utah
bowling alley which began when Colt Rushton, 24, photographed Coleman without his permission; the two men argued, according to witnesses. In the parking lot, Coleman allegedly backed his truck into Rushton, striking his knee and pulling him under the vehicle, before hitting another car. Rushton was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and released. Coleman later pleaded no contest
to charges of disorderly conduct and reckless driving, and was fined $100. In 2010, he settled a civil suit related to the incident for an undisclosed amount.
In 2009, Coleman and Price were involved in a domestic dispute, after which his ex-wife was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence
, and both parties were cited for disorderly conduct.
In January 2010, Coleman was arrested on an outstanding domestic assault warrant in Santaquin, booked into the Utah County Jail, and released the following day.
postoperatively. 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.
On May 26, 2010, Coleman was admitted to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center
in Provo, Utah
in critical condition after falling down the stairs at his home in Santaquin and hitting his head, possibly after another seizure, and suffering an epidural hematoma
. According to a hospital spokesman, Coleman was "conscious and lucid
" the next morning, but his condition subsequently worsened. By mid-afternoon on May 27, he was unconscious and on life support. He died at 12:05 pm MDT
(18:05 UTC) on May 28.
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. (The Coleman character remained in the show after modifications were made to relevant dialog.)
A funeral scheduled the weekend after Coleman's death was postponed and later canceled due to a dispute regarding the disposition of his estate and remains between Coleman's adoptive parents, Price, and former business associate Anna Gray. Coleman's former manager Dion Mial was involved initially, but withdrew after Coleman's 1999 will, which named Mial as executor
and directed that his wake be "...conducted by those with no financial ties to me and can look each other in the eyes and say they really cared personally for Gary Colemen [sic]", turned out to be superseded by a later one replacing Mial with Gray, and directing "...that there be no funeral service, wake, or other ceremony memorializing my passing."
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 on the front page of the tabloid newspaper The Globe depicting Price posed next to a comatose, intubated Coleman, under the headline, "It Was Murder!"
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. An investigation by Santaquin police was closed on October 5, 2010, after the medical examiner ruled Coleman's death "accidental", and no evidence of wrongdoing could be demonstrated.
Coleman's remains were cremated, per his wishes, in June, after a Utah judge agreed that there was no dispute regarding that issue. However, disposition of the ashes was delayed pending a judicial decision on permanent control of the estate. Coleman's final will, signed in 2005, names Gray as executor, and awards his entire estate to her. However, Price and Coleman married 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.
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 train
s.
(1978, guest) Good Times
(1978, guest) Diff'rent Strokes
(1978–1986) The Facts of Life
(1980) Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
(episode "The Cosmic Wizz-Kid", also has a cameo in a later episode) The Gary Coleman Show
(1982) (voice) Silver Spoons
(1983, guest) Amazing Stories
(1986) Season 1: Episode 13 – "The Sitter" Couch Potatoes (1989) – cameo
227
(1990) The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
(guest) (as Arnold Jackson, with Conrad Bain
as Phillip Drummond) (1996) The Ben Stiller Show
(1993) as himself Married With Children (Series 08 episode 16)(1993) as the Building Code Inspector/himself
The Wayans Bros.
(Pilot Episode: "Goop, Hair-It-Is" – January 11, 1995, guest; as himself) Sale of the Century
- Guest contestant and announcer, circa 1995 Blankety Blanks
(Australian game show, 1996) - Celebrity panelist
Martin
"High Noon" (1995), as Mad Dog No Good
The Simpsons
, "Grift of the Magi
" (December 19, 1999)
The Simpsons
, "A Tale of Two Springfields
" This was a "sound bite" (November 5, 2000)
Russian Roulette
(2002)
The Drew Carey Show
, "What's Wrong with this Episode? IV" (March 28, 2001)
Drake & Josh
(guest; as himself)
My Wife and Kids
(guest)
The Jamie Foxx Show
(guest as Cupid)
Married... with Children
(guest)
The Surreal Life
(guest)
Star Dates
[guest]
Unscrewed with Martin Sargent
(2003–2004, guest)
Nitro Circus
Simon & Simon
, "Like Father, Like Son"
The Parkers
as himself
Penn & Teller: Bullshit! "The Apocalypse" as himself (July 16, 2009, guest)
Son of the Beach
(Season 3 Episode 11: The Long Hot Johnson, 2002) as Saltine Cracker
Robot Chicken
(2011, guest voice)
Arnold Jackson (character)
Arnold Jackson is a breakout character on the television series Diff'rent Strokes. He was portrayed by Gary Coleman.-Character Theme:Arnold John Jackson is the younger brother of Willis Jackson , and was born in Harlem, New York City on October 19, 1971...
in the American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986...
(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
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
career, Coleman struggled financially later in life. In 1989, he successfully sued his parents and business advisor over misappropriation
Misappropriation
In law, misappropriation is the intentional, illegal use of the property or funds of another person for one's own use or other unauthorized purpose, particularly by a public official, a trustee of a trust, an executor or administrator of a dead person's estate or by any person with a responsibility...
of his assets, only to declare bankruptcy a decade later.
Early life
Coleman was born in Zion, IllinoisZion, Illinois
Zion is a city in Lake County, Illinois, United States. The population was 22,866 at the 2000 census, and estimated at 24,303 as of 2005. The city was founded in July 1901 by John Alexander Dowie. He also started the Zion Tabernacle of the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church, which was the only...
, outside Chicago. He was adopted by Edmonia Sue and W.G. Coleman, a nurse practitioner and fork-lift operator, respectively. He suffered from focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, an autoimmune kidney
Kidney
The kidneys, organs with several functions, serve essential regulatory roles in most animals, including vertebrates and some invertebrates. They are essential in the urinary system and also serve homeostatic functions such as the regulation of electrolytes, maintenance of acid–base balance, and...
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
Kidney transplantation
Kidney transplantation or renal transplantation is the organ transplant of a kidney into a patient with end-stage renal disease. Kidney transplantation is typically classified as deceased-donor or living-donor transplantation depending on the source of the donor organ...
in 1973 and 1984, and required daily dialysis
Dialysis
In medicine, dialysis is a process for removing waste and excess water from the blood, and is primarily used to provide an artificial replacement for lost kidney function in people with renal failure...
.
Career
While best known for his role on Diff'rent StrokesDiff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986...
, Coleman had appeared earlier on in television in The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Communications Company from 1975–1982 and by Embassy Television from 1982-1985...
as Raymond, George Jefferson's nephew, and on Good Times
Good Times
Good Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1, 1979, on the CBS television network. It was created by Eric Monte and Michael Evans, and developed by Norman Lear, the series' primary executive producer...
as Penny's friend Gary. He also appeared in a 1979 pilot for a revival of The Little Rascals as Stymie. VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
rated Coleman first on a list of "100 Greatest Child Stars" on television.
Diff'rent Strokes
Coleman was cast in the role of Arnold Jackson in the television sitcom Diff'rent StrokesDiff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986...
, portraying one of two young black brothers adopted by a wealthy white widower in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. 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 US$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. He later successfully sued his parents and his former advisers for misappropriation of his finances and was awarded $1.3 million.
Later character appearances
Coleman became a popular figure, starring in a number of feature films and made-for-TV moviesTelevision movie
A television film is a feature film that is a television program produced for and originally distributed by a television network, in contrast to...
including On the Right Track
On the Right Track
On the Right Track is a 1981 comedy film that was the first feature film starring Gary Coleman. It was directed by Lee Philips, produced by Ronald Jacobs, and released to theaters by 20th Century Fox in the spring of 1981.-Background:...
and The Kid with the Broken Halo
The Kid with the Broken Halo
The Kid with the Broken Halo is a 1982 made-for-television movie starring Gary Coleman, Robert Guillaume, June Allyson, Mason Adams and Ray Walston about a wise-cracking "angel-in-training" who needs constant help from his frustrated heavenly teacher. The comedy was directed by Leslie H...
. The latter eventually served as the basis for the Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
-produced animated series The Gary Coleman Show
The Gary Coleman Show
The Gary Coleman Show is an animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera that originally aired on NBC during the 1982-1983 season.-Synposis:...
in 1982. Coleman also made video game appearances in The Curse of Monkey Island
The Curse of Monkey Island
The Curse of Monkey Island is an adventure game developed and published by LucasArts, and the third game in the Monkey Island series. It was released in and followed the successful games The Secret of Monkey Island and Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge...
(1997) and Postal 2
Postal 2
Postal 2 is a first-person shooter video game by Running with Scissors, and it is the sequel to the 1997 game Postal. Both are intentionally highly controversial due to high levels of violence and stereotyping. Unlike its predecessor, Postal 2 is played completely in first-person based on the...
(2003).
Candidacy for Governor of California
Coleman was a candidate for governorGovernor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
in the 2003 California recall election. This campaign was sponsored by the free newsweekly East Bay Express
East Bay Express
The East Bay Express is an Oakland-based weekly newspaper serving the Berkeley, Oakland, and East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
as a satirical comment on the recall. After Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
declared his candidacy, Coleman announced that he would vote for Schwarzenegger. Coleman placed 8th in a field of 135 candidates, receiving 14,242 votes.
Avenue Q
Coleman is parodied in the hit Broadway musicalBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
Avenue Q
Avenue Q
Avenue Q is a musical in two acts, conceived by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx, who wrote the music and lyrics. The book was written by Jeff Whitty and the show was directed by Jason Moore and produced by Kevin McCollum, Robyn Goodman, and Jeffrey Seller...
, which won the 2004 Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for best musical
Tony Award for Best Musical
This is a list of winners and nominations for the Tony Award for Best Musical, first awarded in 1949. This award is presented to the producers of the musical.-1940s:* 1949: Kiss Me, Kate – Music and lyrics by Cole Porter, book by Samuel and Bella Spewack...
. A character presented as Coleman works as the superintendent
Building superintendent
A building superintendent or building supervisor is a manager responsible for repair and maintenance in a residential building. They are the first point of contact for residents of the building. They are expected to take care of minor issues and repairs, such as small leaks or blockages, the...
of the apartment complex where the musical takes place. In the song, "It Sucks to be Me", he laments his fate. On Broadway, the role was originally played by Natalie Venetia Belcon
Natalie Venetia Belcon
Natalie Venetia Belcon is a Trinidad-born American actress and singer. She is best known for originating the role of former child television star Gary Coleman in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Avenue Q...
.
The show's creators, Jeff Marx and Robert Lopez, have said that the Coleman character is a personification of one of Avenue Qs 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.
In 2005, Coleman announced his intention to sue
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
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."
The Coleman character lives on in the show, despite the death of its inspiration, after minor dialog adjustments.
Personal life
In a 1993 television interview, Coleman said he had twice attempted to commit suicide by overdosing on pills. Around the same time he was living in Denver, Colorado, where he hosted a show at local radio station KHIH on Sunday nights called "Gary Coleman's Colorado High", where he played light jazz and new age music. He gave his salary to the Colorado Kidney Foundation.In 2005, Coleman moved from Los Angeles to Santaquin
Santaquin, Utah
Santaquin is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,834 at the 2000 census, while the 2008 estimates placed it at 8,400.-Geography:...
, a small town south of Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City, Utah
Salt Lake City is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Utah. The name of the city is often shortened to Salt Lake or SLC. With a population of 186,440 as of the 2010 Census, the city lies in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area, which has a total population of 1,124,197...
, where he lived for the remainder of his life. In early 2007 he met Shannon Price, 22, on the set of the film Church Ball
Church Ball
Church Ball is a 2006 comedy film about a basketball team from an LDS church ward.This family-film and comedy was filmed in and around Provo, Utah and is distributed by Halestorm Entertainment.-Plot synopsis:...
, where she was working as an extra
Extra (actor)
A background actor or extra is a performer in a film, television show, stage, musical, opera or ballet production, who appears in a nonspeaking, nonsinging or nondancing capacity, usually in the background...
, and married her several months later. On May 1 and 2, 2008, they made a well-publicized appearance on the show Divorce Court
Divorce Court
Divorce Court is a judge show about cases which only involve divorcing couples. Out of the shows currently airing in the court-themed genre, Divorce Court is the oldest...
to air their differences in an attempt to save their marriage. Nevertheless, they divorced in August 2008, citing irreconcilable differences
Irreconcilable differences
The concept of irreconcilable differences provides a possible ground for divorce in a number of jurisdictions.In Australian family law with no-fault divorce it is the sole ground, adequate proof being that the estranged couple have been separated more than 12 months.In the United States it can be...
, but according to a court petition later filed by Price, continued to live together as husband and wife until his death.
Financial struggles
In August 1999, Coleman filed for bankruptcyBankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
protection. 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."
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
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
to help pay his medical bills. The auction attracted considerable attention, including fake bids up to $400,000. The pants were eventually bought for $500 by comedian Jimmy Kimmel
Jimmy Kimmel
James Christian "Jimmy" Kimmel is an American television host and comedian. He is the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, a late-night talk show that airs on ABC. Prior to that, Kimmel was best known as the co-host of Comedy Central's The Man Show and Win Ben Stein's Money...
, who famously hung them from the rafters of his television studio.
Legal troubles
In 1989, Coleman sued his parents and former business adviser over misappropriation of his $3.8 million trust fund, and won a $1,280,000 judgment in 1993.Coleman was charged with assault in 1998, while he was working as a security guard. Tracy Fields, a bus driver and fan of Coleman's work on Diff'rent Strokes, approached him and requested his autograph while he was shopping for a bulletproof vest
Bulletproof vest
A ballistic vest, bulletproof vest or bullet-resistant vest is an item of personal armor that helps absorb the impact from firearm-fired projectiles and shrapnel from explosions, and is worn on the torso...
in a California mall. Coleman refused, an argument ensued, and Fields reportedly mocked Coleman's lackluster career as an actor. Coleman punched Fields in the face, later testifying that she threatened him and he defended himself. "I was getting scared, and she was getting ugly," he said. Coleman pleaded no contest
Nolo contendere
is a legal term that comes from the Latin for "I do not wish to contend." It is also referred to as a plea of no contest.In criminal trials, and in some common law jurisdictions, it is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of...
to assault, received a suspended sentence, and was ordered to pay Fields' $1,665 hospital bill.
In 2007, Coleman was cited for misdemeanor
Misdemeanor
A misdemeanor is a "lesser" criminal act in many common law legal systems. Misdemeanors are generally punished much less severely than felonies, but theoretically more so than administrative infractions and regulatory offences...
disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct
Disorderly conduct is a criminal charge in most jurisdictions in the United States. Typically, disorderly conduct makes it a crime to be drunk in public, to "disturb the peace", or to loiter in certain areas. Many types of unruly conduct may fit the definition of disorderly conduct, as such...
in Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
after a "heated discussion" in public with his wife.
In 2008, Coleman was involved in an automobile accident after an altercation at a Payson, Utah
Payson, Utah
Payson is a city in Utah County, Utah, United States. It is part of the Provo–Orem, Utah Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 12,716 at the 2000 census. The current mayor is Rick Moore, who in the 2009 election was the first write-in candidate ever to defeat an incumbent mayor in...
bowling alley which began when Colt Rushton, 24, photographed Coleman without his permission; the two men argued, according to witnesses. In the parking lot, Coleman allegedly backed his truck into Rushton, striking his knee and pulling him under the vehicle, before hitting another car. Rushton was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries and released. Coleman later pleaded no contest
Nolo contendere
is a legal term that comes from the Latin for "I do not wish to contend." It is also referred to as a plea of no contest.In criminal trials, and in some common law jurisdictions, it is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of...
to charges of disorderly conduct and reckless driving, and was fined $100. In 2010, he settled a civil suit related to the incident for an undisclosed amount.
In 2009, Coleman and Price were involved in a domestic dispute, after which his ex-wife was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
, and both parties were cited for disorderly conduct.
In January 2010, Coleman was arrested on an outstanding domestic assault warrant in Santaquin, booked into the Utah County Jail, and released the following day.
Death and memorial
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. 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 pneumoniaPneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
postoperatively. In January 2010 he was hospitalized after a seizure
Seizure
An epileptic seizure, occasionally referred to as a fit, is defined as a transient symptom of "abnormal excessive or synchronous neuronal activity in the brain". The outward effect can be as dramatic as a wild thrashing movement or as mild as a brief loss of awareness...
in Los Angeles, and in February he suffered another seizure on the set of The Insider
The Insider (TV series)
The Insider is an American tabloid television news program covering events and celebrities. It debuted on September 13, 2004 as a spinoff of Entertainment Tonight and started as a popular segment that took viewers "behind closed doors" and gave them "inside" information...
television program.
On May 26, 2010, Coleman was admitted to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center
Utah Valley Regional Medical Center
Utah Valley Regional Medical Center is a 330-bed full-service tertiary and acute care referral center serving Utah County, central and southern Utah.Offered programs include the Utah Valley Heart Center, the Newborn ICU and Cancer Services...
in Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
in critical condition after falling down the stairs at his home in Santaquin and hitting his head, possibly after another seizure, and suffering an epidural hematoma
Epidural hematoma
Epidural or extradural hematoma is a type of traumatic brain injury in which a buildup of blood occurs between the dura mater and the skull. The dura mater also covers the spine, so epidural bleeds may also occur in the spinal column...
. According to a hospital spokesman, Coleman was "conscious and lucid
Lucid interval
In emergency medicine, a lucid interval is a temporary improvement in a patient's condition after a traumatic brain injury, after which the condition deteriorates. A lucid interval is especially indicative of an epidural hematoma...
" the next morning, but his condition subsequently worsened. By mid-afternoon on May 27, he was unconscious and on life support. He died at 12:05 pm MDT
Mountain Time Zone
The Mountain Time Zone of North America keeps time by subtracting seven hours from Coordinated Universal Time, also known as Greenwich Mean Time, during the shortest days of autumn and winter , and by subtracting six hours during daylight saving time in the spring, summer, and early autumn...
(18:05 UTC) on May 28.
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. (The Coleman character remained in the show after modifications were made to relevant dialog.)
A funeral scheduled the weekend after Coleman's death was postponed and later canceled due to a dispute regarding the disposition of his estate and remains between Coleman's adoptive parents, Price, and former business associate Anna Gray. Coleman's former manager Dion Mial was involved initially, but withdrew after Coleman's 1999 will, which named Mial as executor
Executor
An executor, in the broadest sense, is one who carries something out .-Overview:...
and directed that his wake be "...conducted by those with no financial ties to me and can look each other in the eyes and say they really cared personally for Gary Colemen [sic]", turned out to be superseded by a later one replacing Mial with Gray, and directing "...that there be no funeral service, wake, or other ceremony memorializing my passing."
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 on the front page of the tabloid newspaper The Globe depicting Price posed next to a comatose, intubated Coleman, under the headline, "It Was Murder!"
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. An investigation by Santaquin police was closed on October 5, 2010, after the medical examiner ruled Coleman's death "accidental", and no evidence of wrongdoing could be demonstrated.
Coleman's remains were cremated, per his wishes, in June, after a Utah judge agreed that there was no dispute regarding that issue. However, disposition of the ashes was delayed pending a judicial decision on permanent control of the estate. Coleman's final will, signed in 2005, names Gray as executor, and awards his entire estate to her. However, Price and Coleman married 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.
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 train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
s.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Jackie Robinson "J.R." Cooper | Television film | |
| 1980 | Scout's Honor Scout's Honor (TV film) -Plot Summary:Joey, The clever but lonely orphan, is determined to be the best cub scout ever. A hard-working executive who dislikes children takes on a troop of cub scouts and becomes a den mother to save her job. on an outing, she takes her den to a nearby park, where the boys discover a cave and... |
Joey Seymour | Television film |
| 1981 | On the Right Track On the Right Track On the Right Track is a 1981 comedy film that was the first feature film starring Gary Coleman. It was directed by Lee Philips, produced by Ronald Jacobs, and released to theaters by 20th Century Fox in the spring of 1981.-Background:... |
Lester | First feature film |
| 1982 | Andy LeBeau | Television film | |
| 1982 | Jimmy the Kid Jimmy the Kid Jimmy the Kid is a 1982 comedy film starring Gary Coleman and Paul Le Mat. It was directed by Gary Nelson, produced by Ronald Jacobs, and released in November 1982 by New World Pictures... |
Jimmy | |
| 1983 | Nick Newell | Television film | |
| 1984 | D.C. Collins | Television film | |
| 1985 | Playing with Fire | David Phillips | Television film |
| 1994 | Party Party (1994 film) Party is a 1994 short film starring Gary Coleman, Floyd Harden, DeAnna Hawkins, Ron Litman and Greg Nassief. The film was directed by Eric Swelstad and produced by Johnnie J... |
The Liar | Short film Associate producer Film producer A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The... |
| 1994 | S.F.W. S.F.W. S.F.W. is a 1994 film directed by Jefery Levy. It is based on a novel by Andrew Wellman, and stars Stephen Dorff, Jake Busey and Reese Witherspoon, in one of her first lead roles.-Plot:... |
Himself | Cameo Cameo appearance A cameo role or cameo appearance is a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television... |
| 1996 | Fox Hunt | Murray Lipschitz, Jr. | |
| 1997 | Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's is a 1997 American documentary film directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini.- Background :... |
Himself | Documentary |
| 1998 | Dirty Work | Himself | Cameo |
| 1998 | Like Father, Like Santa Like Father, Like Santa Like Father, Like Santa is a TV movie starring Harry Hamlin and William Hootkins. It premiered on Fox Family in 1998 on their 25 Days of Christmas programming block.... |
Ignatius | Television film |
| 1999 | Shafted! | Himself | Cameo |
| 2000 | Himself | ||
| 2002 | Frank McKlusky, C.I. | Himself | Cameo |
| 2003 | Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star is a 2003 American comedy film directed by Sam Weisman and starring David Spade and Mary McCormack.- Plot :... |
Himself | Cameo |
| 2003 | Christmas Past | Television film | |
| 2004 | Chasing the Edge | Himself | Cameo Short film |
| 2004 | Save Virgil Save Virgil Save Virgil is a short independent film by Brad Ableson that mixes live action with animation, released on March 3, 2004. It features the voice of Adam Carolla as the title character who is a human cartoon living in real world... |
Himself/The Devil | |
| 2005 | Pizza Delivery Guy | ||
| 2006 | Church Ball Church Ball Church Ball is a 2006 comedy film about a basketball team from an LDS church ward.This family-film and comedy was filmed in and around Provo, Utah and is distributed by Halestorm Entertainment.-Plot synopsis:... |
Charles Higgins | |
| 2008 | Bacon Stains Malone | ||
| 2009 | Midgets vs. Mascots | Gary | Last film appearance |
Television
- First appeared in a commercial for Harris BankHarris BankBMO Harris Bank is a subsidiary of Montreal-based Canadian bank Bank of Montreal. Today the bank holding company is formally named BMO Bankcorp, Inc....
. His line, after the announcer says "You should have a Harris banker" was "You should have a Hubert doll". "Hubert" was a stuffed lion representing the Harris bank logo.
The Jeffersons
The Jeffersons is an American sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from January 18, 1975, through June 25, 1985, lasting 11 seasons and a total of 253 episodes. The show was produced by the T.A.T. Communications Company from 1975–1982 and by Embassy Television from 1982-1985...
(1978, guest)
Good Times
Good Times is an American sitcom that originally aired from February 8, 1974, until August 1, 1979, on the CBS television network. It was created by Eric Monte and Michael Evans, and developed by Norman Lear, the series' primary executive producer...
(1978, guest)
Diff'rent Strokes
Diff'rent Strokes is an American television sitcom that aired on NBC from November 3, 1978 to May 4, 1985, and on ABC from September 27, 1985 to March 7, 1986...
(1978–1986)
The Facts of Life (TV series)
The Facts of Life is an American sitcom that originally ran on the NBC television network from August 24, 1979 to May 7, 1988. A spin-off of the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes, the series' premise focused on Edna Garrett as she becomes a housemother at the fictional Eastland School, a prestigious...
(1980)
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (TV series)
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century is an American science fiction adventure television series produced by Universal Studios. The series ran for two seasons between 1979–1981, and the feature-length pilot episode for the series was released as a theatrical film several months before the series aired....
(episode "The Cosmic Wizz-Kid", also has a cameo in a later episode)
The Gary Coleman Show
The Gary Coleman Show is an animated television series produced by Hanna-Barbera that originally aired on NBC during the 1982-1983 season.-Synposis:...
(1982) (voice)
Silver Spoons
Silver Spoons is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 25, 1982 to May 11, 1986 and in first-run syndication from September 15, 1986 to March 4, 1987...
(1983, guest)
Amazing Stories (TV series)
Amazing Stories is a fantasy, horror, and science fiction television anthology series created by Steven Spielberg. It ran on NBC from 1985 to 1987, and was somewhat erratically screened in Britain by BBC1 and BBC2 - billed in the Radio Times as "Steven Spielberg's Amazing Stories" - with episodes...
(1986) Season 1: Episode 13 – "The Sitter"
227 (TV series)
227 is an American situation comedy that originally aired on NBC from September 14, 1985, until May 6, 1990. The series starred Marla Gibbs as a sharp-tongued, inner-city resident gossip and housewife, Mary Jenkins...
(1990)
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is an American television sitcom that originally aired on NBC from September 10, 1990 to May 20, 1996. The show stars Will Smith as a fictionalized version of himself, a street-smart teenager from West Philadelphia who is sent to move in with his aunt and uncle in their...
(guest) (as Arnold Jackson, with Conrad Bain
Conrad Bain
Conrad Stafford Bain is a Canadian-American actor. His television credits include a leading role as Phillip Drummond in the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes and as Dr. Arthur Harmon on Maude.-Personal life:...
as Phillip Drummond) (1996)
The Ben Stiller Show
The Ben Stiller Show was the name of two sketch comedy television shows that aired on MTV from 1990 to 1991, and then on Fox from September 1992 to January 1993. The Fox show starred Ben Stiller, Andy Dick, Janeane Garofalo and Bob Odenkirk. Character actor John F. O'Donohue also appeared in every...
(1993) as himself
The Wayans Bros.
The Wayans Bros. is a situation comedy that aired from 1995 to 1999 on The WB. The series starred real-life brothers Shawn Wayans and Marlon Wayans. Both brothers were already well-known from the sketch comedy show In Living Color...
(Pilot Episode: "Goop, Hair-It-Is" – January 11, 1995, guest; as himself)
Sale of the Century (Australian game show)
$ale of the Century was an Australian game show that aired on the Nine Network from 14 July 1980 – 29 November 2001. Tony Barber hosted an early version of Sale of the Century under the title of Temptation from 1970–1976, and was also the initial host of Sale, replaced by Glenn Ridge in 1991...
- Guest contestant and announcer, circa 1995
Blankety Blanks
Blankety Blanks was a popular Australian game show based on the American game show Match Game. It was hosted by Graham Kennedy on Network Ten. It ran from 1977-1978.Regular panelists were Ugly Dave Gray, Noeline Brown, Carol Raye and Stuart Wagstaff...
(Australian game show, 1996) - Celebrity panelist
Martin (TV series)
Martin is an American sitcom produced by HBO Independent Productions that aired for five seasons, from August 27, 1992 to May 1, 1997 on Fox...
"High Noon" (1995), as Mad Dog No Good
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, "Grift of the Magi
Grift of the Magi
"Grift of the Magi" is the ninth episode of the eleventh season of the American animated sitcom The Simpsons. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on December 19, 1999. In the episode, Principal Skinner hires Fat Tony's construction company to build wheelchair ramps for the...
" (December 19, 1999)
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, "A Tale of Two Springfields
A Tale of Two Springfields
"A Tale of Two Springfields" is the second episode from season twelve of the animated TV series The Simpsons and is the 250th episode of the series overall in both broadcast and production order. The episode originally premiered November 5, 2000 on Fox Broadcasting Company.The episode was written...
" This was a "sound bite" (November 5, 2000)
Russian Roulette (game show)
Russian Roulette is an American game show created by executive producer Gunnar Wetterberg that ran for two seasons on Game Show Network from June 3, 2002 to June 13, 2003. It was hosted by Mark L. Walberg, with Burton Richardson announcing. Todd Newton hosted an April Fool's Day episode in 2003....
(2002)
The Drew Carey Show
The Drew Carey Show is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from 1995 to 2004. The show was set in Cleveland, Ohio, and revolved around the retail office and home life of "everyman" Drew Carey, a fictionalized version of the actor....
, "What's Wrong with this Episode? IV" (March 28, 2001)
Drake & Josh
Drake & Josh is an American sitcom that premiered on the Nickelodeon television network on January 11, 2004, which follows the lives of two stepbrothers. It stars Drake Bell and Josh Peck as stepbrothers Drake Parker and Josh Nichols, respectively. Both actors had played roles in The Amanda Show,...
(guest; as himself)
My Wife and Kids
My Wife and Kids is an American television family sitcom that ran on ABC from March 28, 2001 until May 17, 2005. Produced by Touchstone Television , it starred Damon Wayans and Tisha Campbell-Martin, and centers on the character of Michael Kyle, a loving husband and modern-day patriarch who rules...
(guest)
The Jamie Foxx Show
The Jamie Foxx Show is an American television sitcom that aired on the WB Network from August 28, 1996 to January 14, 2001. The series starred Jamie Foxx, Garcelle Beauvais, Christopher B. Duncan, Ellia English, and Garrett Morris.-Synopsis:...
(guest as Cupid)
Married... with Children
Married... with Children is an American surrealistic sitcom that aired for 11 seasons that featured a dysfunctional family living in Chicago, Illinois. The show, notable for being the first prime time television series to air on Fox, ran from April 5, 1987, to June 9, 1997. The series was created...
(guest)
The Surreal Life
The Surreal Life is a reality television series that sets a select group of past-their-prime celebrities and records them as they live together in Glen Campbell's former mansion in the Hollywood Hills for two weeks...
(guest)
Star Dates
Star Dates is an American reality television program that aired on the E! network from 2002 to 2003.-Overview:The series consisted of ordinary people going on blind dates with B-list celebrities. Butch Patrick appeared on the first show. Other celebrities who appeared included Dustin Diamond, Kim...
[guest]
Unscrewed with Martin Sargent
Unscrewed with Martin Sargent was a late night American television show focusing on the comedy of technology. It was produced at TechTV and aired from May 26, 2003 to December 2004...
(2003–2004, guest)
Nitro Circus
Nitro Circus is an American television series that featured Travis Pastrana and his friends traveling around the world riding dirtbikes, base jumping, and performing reckless stunts. It was originally run as a miniseries in 2006 on Fuel TV. In January 2009, it began running as an episodic reality...
Simon & Simon
Simon & Simon is an American detective television series starring Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker.-History:The original 1978 pilot called Pirate's Key was set in Florida...
, "Like Father, Like Son"
The Parkers
The Parkers is an American sitcom . A spin-off of UPN's Moesha, The Parkers featured the mother-daughter team of Nikki and Kim Parker . The Parkers' signature "Heeyyy" greeting made its way into popular vernacular in the early 2000s.-Premise:The series centered around a mother and daughter who...
as himself
Son of the Beach
Son of the Beach is an American sitcom that aired from 2000 to 2002 on the FX network. The series was a spoof of Baywatch, with much of the comedy based on sexual jokes, innuendo and the like. The studly David Hasselhoff character is instead an average, pot-bellied, out-of-shape bald man but...
(Season 3 Episode 11: The Long Hot Johnson, 2002) as Saltine Cracker
Robot Chicken
Robot Chicken is an American stop motion animated television series created and executive produced by Seth Green and Matthew Senreich along with co-head writers Douglas Goldstein and Tom Root. Green provides many voices for the show...
(2011, guest voice)
External links
- Gary Coleman: 1968–2010 photo gallery by The Washington PostThe Washington PostThe Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
- Gary Coleman at Find a Grave