[size=20]Gary Coleman Passes Away[/size]
May 10, 2010
Former child actor Gary Coleman has passed away. He was 42.
The hospital where Coleman was being treated tells The Insider that Coleman died at approximately 12:05 pm MT at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center. He was surrounded by family members and close friends when life support was terminated.
The family members would like to “express their appreciation and gratitude for the support and prayers that have been expressed for Gary and for them,” according to the hospital.
A hospital representative told The Insider earlier Friday that Coleman suffered an intracranial hemorrhage on Wednesday night. After being immediately taken to a local hospital for treatment, he was transferred to another hospital for tests and treatment. By mid-morning on Thursday, Coleman was conscious and lucid, but by early afternoon, he began slipping in and out of consciousness and his condition worsened. Coleman had not been in any condition to undergo surgery, the hospital rep said. Coleman had been unconscious and on life support prior to his death.
Coleman was born on February 8, 1968, in Zion, Illinois. He rose to prominence playing the precocious Arnold Jackson (known for spouting his famous catchphrase, “Whatchoo talkin’ 'bout, Willis?”) on “Diff’rent Strokes” from 1978 - 1986.
Coleman continued to act through the '90s and '00s, with a string of guest-starring credits on shows such as “Married With Children” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” He also memorably appeared as himself on the big screen in comedy flicks such as ‘Dirty Work’ and ‘Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.’
Afflicted by a kidney disease that reportedly required dialysis, the diminutive star, who never grew taller than 4’8", suffered health troubles throughout his life. His legal woes in the latter-half of the '00s spilled over into the headlines, as did other facets of his personal life.
In 2007, a 39-year-old Coleman married 22-year-old Shannon Price.
