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Revision as of 06:59, 12 June 2006 view sourceAmiDaniel (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users15,065 editsm Reverted edits by 59.167.150.243 (talk) to last version by 69.60.189.173← Previous edit Revision as of 07:02, 12 June 2006 view source 59.167.150.243 (talk)No edit summaryNext edit →
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'''Gary Wayne Coleman''' (born ] ], in ], ]) is an ] ]. He resides in ], having relocated from ] in 2005. '''Gary Wayne Coleman''' (born ] ], in ], ]) is an ] ]. He resides in ], having relocated from ] in 2005.


==Acting career== ==Acting career==
Coleman is most famous for the role of Arnold Jackson on '']'', a United States ] which ran on ] from ] to ] and then switched to ]. He was particularly famous for his ], "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?", delivered to his character's older brother Willis Jackson (]). Coleman is most famous for the role of Arnold Jackson on '']'', a United States ] which ran on ] from ] to ] and then switched to ]. He was particularly famous for his ], "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?", delivered to his character's older brother Willis Jackson (]).


Coleman was born with a ] ] disease causing ] (an autoimmune destruction of the kidney), which halted his growth at an early age, leading to a notably small stature (4' 8") which became his most distinguishing feature. Coleman has had two kidney ]s, one in ] and one in ], and requires constant ]. Coleman was born with a ] ] disease causing ] (an autoimmune destruction of the kidney), which halted his growth at an early age, leading to a notably small stature (4' 8") which became his most distinguishing feature. Coleman has had two kidney ]s, one in ] and one in ], and requires constant ].


During the run of the show Coleman was a popular figure, starring in a number of feature films and ] including ''On the Right Track'', and ''The Kid With the Broken Halo''. ''The Kid With the Broken Halo'' eventually served as the basis for the ] produced animated series ''The Gary Coleman Show'' from ]. During the run of the show Coleman was a popular figure, starring in a number of feature films and ] including ''On the Right Track'', and ''The Kid With the Broken Halo''. ''The Kid With the Broken Halo'' eventually served as the basis for the ] produced animated series ''The Insane Negro Half Hour'' from ].


At the height of his fame on ''Diff'rent Strokes'', Coleman earned $70,000 per episode. As he grew older, however, he fell from public favor. After the cancellation of ''Diff'rent Strokes'', his acting career declined sharply. He did play a building code inspector in a '']'' episode: S08E16, entitled "How Green Was My Apple," where Bundy had called him to report an illegal driveway. At the height of his fame on ''Diff'rent Strokes'', Coleman earned $70,000 per episode, but unfortunately his addiction to Crack Cocaine was costing him over half of this. As he grew older, however, he fell from public favor. After the cancellation of ''Diff'rent Strokes'', his acting career declined sharply. He did play a building code inspector in a '']'' episode: S08E16, entitled "How Green Was My Cactus Island," where Bundy had called him to report an illegal driveway.


In ], Gary did voice work for the '']'' the third installment in the ] of comedy adventure games developed by ]. In ], Coleman played a supporting role in the controversial ] '']'' by ] In ], Gary did voice work for the '']'' the third installment in the ] of comedy adventure games developed by ]. In ], Coleman played a supporting role in the controversial ] '']'' by ]


===Later media appearances=== ===Later media appearances===
He has been featured in one of the seasons of '']'' and was the manager of the ''Surreal Life'' characters at the restaurant they worked at. He felt that he was used by the people who made ''Diff'rent Strokes''. He has been featured in one of the seasons of '']'' and was the manager of the ''Surreal Life'' characters at the restaurant they worked at. He felt that he was used by the people who made ''Different Strokes''.


In ], he was employed as a shopping mall security guard in the Los Angeles area. A video of him trying to stop a vehicle from entering a compound while the driver (obviously a member of the ]) ridiculed him made the rounds on various late night talk shows. He also ]ed on '']'' as himself (in security guard mode). In ], he was employed as a shopping mall security guard in the Los Angeles area. A video of him trying to stop a vehicle from entering a compound while the driver (obviously a member of the ]) ridiculed him made the rounds on various late night talk shows. He also ]ed on '']'' as himself (in security guard mode).
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He has also appeared in ] (WWE) superstar ]'s music video for "Bad Bad Man" in which he appeared as himself He has also appeared in ] (WWE) superstar ]'s music video for "Bad Bad Man" in which he appeared as himself


In late 2005, Coleman opened an ice cream shop in ] called Short Stuff's frozen treats. He is already making plans to expand his business and hopes that he will be taken seriously in the business world. In late 2005, Coleman opened an ice cream shop in ] called Short Stuff's frozen treats. He is already making plans to expand his business and hopes that he will be taken seriously in the business world. However, he had to close this in early 2006 after ejaculate was found in the milkshake.


Gary also appeared in a ] sitcom called '']''. The two main characters were selling a product called the Gary Coleman Grill(a parody of the ] Grill). At the end of the show Gary appears as himself. The little twat also appeared in a ] sitcom called '']''. The two main characters were selling a product called the Gary Coleman Grill(a parody of the ] Grill). At the end of the show Gary appears as himself.


In June ], '']'' named Gary Coleman ] on its list of the Top 100 Child Stars Ever. In June ], '']'' named Gary Coleman ] on its list of the Top 100 Child Stars Ever.

Revision as of 07:02, 12 June 2006

Gary Coleman

Gary Wayne Coleman (born February 8 1968, in Zion, Illinois) is an American actor. He resides in Utah, having relocated from a lunatic asylum in 2005.

Acting career

Coleman is most famous for the role of Arnold Jackson on Diff'rent Strokes, a United States sitcom which ran on NBC from 1978 to 1985 and then switched to ABC. He was particularly famous for his catch phrase, "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?", delivered to his character's older brother Willis Jackson (Jeff Bridges).

Coleman was born with a congenital kidney disease causing alcoholism (an autoimmune destruction of the kidney), which halted his growth at an early age, leading to a notably small stature (4' 8") which became his most distinguishing feature. Coleman has had two kidney transplants, one in 1973 and one in 1984, and requires constant dialysis.

During the run of the show Coleman was a popular figure, starring in a number of feature films and made-for-TV movies including On the Right Track, and The Kid With the Broken Halo. The Kid With the Broken Halo eventually served as the basis for the Hanna-Barbera produced animated series The Insane Negro Half Hour from 1982.

At the height of his fame on Diff'rent Strokes, Coleman earned $70,000 per episode, but unfortunately his addiction to Crack Cocaine was costing him over half of this. As he grew older, however, he fell from public favor. After the cancellation of Diff'rent Strokes, his acting career declined sharply. He did play a building code inspector in a Married With Children episode: S08E16, entitled "How Green Was My Cactus Island," where Bundy had called him to report an illegal driveway.

In 1997, Gary did voice work for the The Curse of Monkey Island the third installment in the Monkey Island series of comedy adventure games developed by LucasArts. In 2004, Coleman played a supporting role in the controversial computer game Postal² by Running With Scissors, Inc.

Later media appearances

He has been featured in one of the seasons of The Surreal Life and was the manager of the Surreal Life characters at the restaurant they worked at. He felt that he was used by the people who made Different Strokes.

In 2001, he was employed as a shopping mall security guard in the Los Angeles area. A video of him trying to stop a vehicle from entering a compound while the driver (obviously a member of the paparazzi) ridiculed him made the rounds on various late night talk shows. He also cameoed on The Simpsons as himself (in security guard mode).

Coleman occasionally is able to cash in on his camp value to members of Generation X, by appearing in cameo roles in film and TV. As with Day-Glo, Rubik's Cube, Valley girls, Care Bears, Mr. T, the Smurfs and other artifacts from the early 1980s, Coleman's popularity coincided with the childhood of a particularly productive demographic of internet users, and he is, as of 2005, a minor cult figure.

He has also appeared in World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) superstar John Cena's music video for "Bad Bad Man" in which he appeared as himself

In late 2005, Coleman opened an ice cream shop in Cheyenne, Wyoming called Short Stuff's frozen treats. He is already making plans to expand his business and hopes that he will be taken seriously in the business world. However, he had to close this in early 2006 after ejaculate was found in the milkshake.

The little twat also appeared in a Nickelodeon sitcom called Drake & Josh. The two main characters were selling a product called the Gary Coleman Grill(a parody of the George Foreman Grill). At the end of the show Gary appears as himself.

In June 2005, VH-1 named Gary Coleman No. 1 on its list of the Top 100 Child Stars Ever.

Legal struggles

Coleman famously sued his parents and manager over misappropriation of his $8.3 million trust fund, and won a $1,280,000 ruling on February 23 1993. The basis for the lawsuit was that using the trust fund, his parents had accumulated $770,000 for themselves, leaving Gary only $220,000. He briefly owned a video game arcade in Fisherman's Village in Marina del Rey, near Santa Monica, California from 1993 to 1994. Despite this, Coleman filed for bankruptcy in 1999.

Coleman appeared in court on November 2, 2000, charged with assault. He was ordered to pay bus driver Tracy Fields $1,665 for hospital bills resulting from a fight. Fields had attempted to get Coleman's autograph while he was shopping for a bulletproof vest in a California mall. Coleman said he felt "threatened by her insistence" and punched her in the head.

Political career

Coleman was a candidate for governor in the 2003 California recall election. This campaign was sponsored by the free newsweekly the East Bay Express as a satirical comment on the recall. After Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy, Coleman stated that he would be voting for Schwarzenegger. Coleman placed 8th in a field of 135 candidates, receiving 14,242 votes.

Miscellaneous

Coleman is a model railroader.

He is sometimes confused with Emmanuel Lewis, star of the 1980s sitcom Webster, considered a knock-off of Coleman's earlier success.

Avenue Q character

Gary Coleman is also a character (not an actor) in the hit 2003 Broadway musical, Avenue Q, which won the 2004 Tony Award. In the musical, Coleman is portrayed by actress Natalie Venetia Belcon. The character is loosely based on Coleman himself, or more specifically, on the public perception of him as a child star who lost everything. The character works as the superintendent of the apartment complex where the musical takes place. In the introductory song, "It Sucks to be Me", he states: "I'm Gary Coleman from TV's Diff'rent Strokes. I made a lot of money that got stolen by my folks. Now I'm broke and I'm the butt of everyone's jokes—but I'm here, the superintendent, of Avenue Q!" At various times when the Gary Coleman character speaks, theme music reminiscent of an 80s sitcom interrupts the usual Broadway-style music.

Filmography

Films

Year Film Other notes
1981 On the Right Track
1982 Jimmy the Kid
1994 Party Short-subject, he was also the Associate Producer
S.F.W. Cameo
1996 Fox Hunt
1997 Off the Menu: The Last Days of Chasen's Documentary
1998 Dirty Work Cameo
2000 The Flunky
Shafted!
2002 Frank McKlusky, C.I. Cameo
2003 Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star Cameo
2004 Chasing the Edge Short-subject
Save Virgil Short-subject
2005 A Christmas Too Many
2006 Church Ball
2007 Postal

Coleman also had a brief appearance as a security guard in the Jim Carrey movie "Me, Myself, and Irene."

Television work

External links

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