Diff’rent Strokes star, Gary Coleman dies at 42

[HMG] – Gary Coleman, the petite actor whose chubby face and 10,000-watt smile enraptured the world as ‘Arnold Jackson’ in the 1980′s sit-com “Diff’rent Strokes” died in a Utah hospital half-an-hour ago of so-far unspecified causes. He was 42.

Gary was rushed to the Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo on Wednesday, following an injury, but the hospital had released almost no information preceding his death.

Born in Zion, Illinois on February 8th, 1968 Gary was adopted by a nurse practitioner, Edmonia Sue and her husband. Soon after birth it was discovered Gary had congenital kidney disease which stopped his growth in mid-childhood and caused his small stature — He was just 4-feet 8-inches tall.

The kidney disease worsened in later life, and Gary was forced to undergo a kidney transplant at age 5, and another at the age of 16. He then had to endure daily dialysis just to keep him alive.

‘Diff’rent Strokes’ debuted on November 3rd 1978, and made the chubby actor and his catchphrase, “What’choo talkin ’bout, Willis?” a large part of 80′s culture at just ten-years old.

Gary was said to be earning $100,000 a week for the role, but received less than one quarter of that after paying his agent, his manager and other staff. He later sued his adoptive parents for mismanaging the income and won $1.3-million in damages.

Later came love, and Gary married Shannon Price, 22, after a five-month romance on August 28, 2007.

In February this year, while appearing on ‘The Insider’ with Dr.  Drew Pinsky, Gary suffered an unexplained seizure, and Drew provided medical assistance until paramedics arrived.

Finally, on Wednesday Gary was admitted to the Utah Medical Center after a fall at his home. Tests proved he had an ‘Intracranial hemorrhage,’ By mid-morning yesterday his condition stabilized and Gary was awake and talking to nurses. By evening he was unconscious again, and on life-support.

He passed away quietly at 12.05 pm, Mountain Time, and was surrounded by family and close friends when life support was removed.