Diff'rent Strokes star Coleman dies

Gary Coleman's family have asked fans to pray for the actor (AP)
12 April 2012

Gary Coleman, the child star of the smash 1970s TV sitcom Diff'rent Strokes whose later career was marred by medical and legal problems, has died at the age of 42 after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Utah Valley Regional Medical Centre spokeswoman Janet Frank said the actor's life support machine was switched off and he died at 1205pm MDT (1805 GMT).

Coleman, with his sparkling eyes and perfect comic timing, became a star after Diff'rent Strokes debuted in 1978. He played the younger brother in a pair of African-American siblings adopted by a wealthy white man.

His popularity faded when the show ended after six seasons on the NBC network and two on ABC.

Coleman had financial and legal problems in addition to continuing ill-health from the kidney disease which required dialysis and at least two transplants. As an adult, his height reached only 4ft 8in (1.42m).

Coleman suffered the haemorrhage at his Santaquin home, 55 miles south of Salt Lake City, on Wednesday.

A statement from the family said he was conscious and lucid until midday on Thursday, when his condition worsened and he slipped into unconsciousness.

Diff'rent Strokes drew most of its laughs from the tiny, 10-year-old Coleman. Race and class relations became topics on the show as much as the typical trials of growing up.

Coleman was an immediate star, and his sceptical "Whatchu talkin' 'bout?" - usually aimed at his brother, Willis - became a catchphrase.

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