by Carrie Eckles

Created on: May 28, 2010   Last Updated: May 29, 2010

American actor Gary Coleman died on May 28, 2010, at a Utah hospital. He was 42.

Coleman, best known for his role as Arnold Jackson of “Diff’rent Strokes” fame, was hospitalized on Wednesday, May 26, for what was initially called “a serious medical problem”. Coleman died of an intracranial hemorrhage, or bleeding in his brain, following an accident his father-in-law and brother-in-law have separately specified was a “fall”.

After the fall, the actor was transferred from Mountain View Hospital in Payson, Utah, to the regional medical center in Provo where he slipped into a coma. His wife, Shannon Price, pulled him off of life support Friday morning; he passed away later that day surrounded by his loved ones.

Gary Coleman was no stranger to health issues. Known for his short stature, Coleman’s growth was stunted as a child due to a congenital kidney disease. The disease caused him to have to have two kidney transplants in his youth; for the rest of his life, he would have to undergo dialysis on a regular basis. Last year, Coleman also had a heart surgery, which had complications including pneumonia. In February of 2010, he had a seizure on the set of “The Insider”.

The likeable child star of popular sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes” made roughly 70,000 dollars per episode at the show’s peak, but financial problems would follow him through much of his life. After being awarded over one million dollars in a law suit against his parents in 1993, the actor filed for bankruptcy just six months later.

Coleman’s health and financial issues were compounded by a troubled personal life, which his family acknowledged during their statement following his death. In a 1993 interview with Geraldo Rivera, Coleman admitted he attempted overdose with sleeping pills twice. In February of 2010, Coleman pled guilty to a criminal mischief misdemeanor related to a domestic violence incident which took place at his home the year before.

Coleman was the stereotypical child star to some, but to his fans, he was more than that: he was an icon. His popularity was apparent in California’s 2003 recall election, where he came in eighth place – behind Arnold Schwarzenegger, but ahead of other celebrities.

Gary Coleman was predeceased by his “Diff’rent Strokes” co-star, Dana Plato who died of an overdose in 1999. Plato’s son, Tyler Lambert, committed suicide in May of 2010. Coleman’s premature death marks another sad chapter in the show’s aftermath.

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