Sad Mugshot: Another Ill-Fated Child Star, Former Child Actor of “Diff’rent Strokes” Gary Coleman Arrested in Utah (video)
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on January 25, 2010
Mugshot of former child actor Gary Coleman. Coleman, age 41, was arrested in Utah on Sunday.
I never really watched the 1980s sitcom Diff’rent Strokes. I’m not sure why I didn’t, because it was extremely popular. Perhaps it was opposite something else that I preferred more, or I was too busy to watch what appeared to be a really silly sitcom. But like I said, it was extremely popular, mainly because of the popularity of adorable prodigy-child-actor Gary Coleman. He was the “golden child star” of child actors of that era, appearing in a slew of commercials, made-for-TV movies, as well as evolving to the main attraction of Diff’rent Strokes.
Tragic, but not uncommon that his fame and fortune back then has disintegrated to this. Many child actors have difficulties adjusting to their fame, and then, suffer even more heartbreak and difficulties in adjusting to their lack of fame when they grow up and the public no longer “loves” them as they had. Hollywood is rarely kind to child actors or singers when they outgrow their “cuteness” — 1930s mega-child star Shirley Temple was not “allowed” to grow up per the WWII fickle public, but she adjusted and forged a new career in diplomatic relations, appointed as United States Ambassador to Ghana and to Czechoslovakia. Elizabeth Taylor, Roddy McDowall, Ron Howard, Jodie Foster, Brooke Shields, Neil Patrick Harris, Kurt Russell, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Alyssa Milano, Patty Duke, Jessica Alba, Michael J. Fox, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kirsten Dunst, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Elijah Wood, and Reese Witherspoon were among the few who made the transition more or less successfully (some traveling bumpy roads to achieve it), and who were accepted as adult actors.
Let’s not even go down the ruinous road of what happened to Judy Garland, Carl Switzer, Danny Bonaduce, River Phoenix, Trent Lehman, Mackenzie Phillips, Rusty Hamer, Lillo Brancato, Jr., Leif Garrett (who was busted for drugs again in 2010), Corey Haim (after this original post, Haim died of a drug overdose in March 2010), Anissa Jones, Jonathan Brandis, Bridgette Andersen, Michael Jackson, Macauley Culkin, and countless others.
Time will only tell about Abigail Breslin’s, Daniel Radcliffe’s, Dakota Fanning’s, Dylan and Cole Sprouse’s, Emma Watson’s, and Miley Cyrus’s fates. It’s not looking too promising for former Disney child actress Lindsay Lohan, who has substance abuse problems and is nearly bankrupt. Drew Barrymore was on the edge of absolute disaster before she hit her teens, but the usual fate for a child actor reversed itself, she sought help, and Barrymore recovered successfully. But former Mickey Mouse Club child actress and pop princess Britney Spears is again having psychological problems.
However, the child actors from the TV show Diff’rent Strokes have been unusually cursed. Dana Plato, who played step-sister Kimberly Drummond, suffered years of drug and alcohol abuse, ultimately killing herself in 1999. Todd Bridges, who played the older brother Willis Jackson, also has had many drug and alcohol battles, and was tried for attempted murder. Until now, Coleman seemed to pretty much have escaped notoriety and run-in’s with the law, although his show business career pretty much ended 20 or so years ago.
When times were better... 1980s 'Diff'rent Strokes' child actor Gary Coleman is in the foreground
Via Crime Scene KC, originally from AP:
This Sunday, Jan. 24, 2010 booking photo provided by the Utah County jail shows Gary Coleman. Coleman, 41, was arrested in Utah Sunday on a warrant for failing to appear in court, police said.
AP: Gary Coleman Arrested on Utah Warrant
From TVNZ, Diff’rent Strokes star Gary Coleman arrested:
Diff’rent Strokes actor Gary Coleman was arrested at the weekend on a domestic violence charge.
The American actor – best known for his role as Arnold Jackson in the US sitcom – was being held for a misdemeanour count of domestic assault in Santaquin, Utah.
His bail was set at $1,725, as he also had an outstanding warrant for a prior incident.
A source told website RadarOnline: “He’s been booked. He’s in the jail right now.”
The victim of the assault has not yet been revealed, and a police source wouldn’t say if they had specifically sought to arrest Coleman or if they had picked him up after a chance encounter.
Former child star Coleman, 41, has, however, had a rocky marriage to actress Shannon Price, 24, whom he wed in secret on August 2007.
Their marriage has been beset with public and private arguments, and they appeared on US TV show Divorce Court to discuss their problems.
From Associated Content: Gary Coleman’s Mug Shot Represents a New Low for One Time Child Star – Arnold Jackson Looks Sad and Angry:
Gary Coleman’s mugshot was released today after his arrest on Sunday following a domestic disturbance involving his wife in Utah. Coleman is currently being held by Utah authorities as there was another outstanding warrant for his arrest after he allegedly tried to run over a man in a parking lot with his car. Coleman’s mug shot show a man with a dramatically different look than he had while playing the cherubic Arnold on the hit 1980′s sitcom Diff’rent Strokes. The mugshot has a somewhat creepy looking Coleman with his head bowed and eyes up looking vacantly into the camera.
Coleman, 41 years old, is the latest of the three child actors from the show who have had serious problems in their lives after the show ended its run in 1985. Todd Bridges, who played the role of Willis Jackson, Arnold’s older brother, battled drug addiction for years and was tried for attempted murder. Dana Plato, who played Kimberly Drummond, Arnold’s older adopted sister, battled drug and alcohol problems for years. She died in 1999 at the age of 35 in what police ruled a suicide.
For his part, Gary Coleman seemed to stay out of trouble for years and of the three seemed to be the most well adjusted to life after child stardom. But beginning in the late 1990s, a number of warning signs began to appear. Coleman was once [arrested] for punching a woman who requested his autograph, sued his parents for mismanaging his money and served as a spokesperson for what appeared to be a predatory lending firm.
UPDATE, May 2010: Former Child Actor Gary Coleman Dies from Brain Hemorrhage, Death Under Investigation, His Parents Want Answers (video)
About the author
[...] Sad Mugshot: Another Ill-Fated Child Star, Former Child Actor of … Tags: abbey-road, angry, arnold, arrest-on-sunday, asbury-park, bruce-springsteen, chicago, child, child-star, eddie, released-today, sunday Som Post » Blog Archive » Sad News…Love songs and sad songs | Share Spotify Playlists at …Sad Face DesignOMG, I am so sad – SheKnows Message BoardsVictoria Beckham Breaks Temper Tantrums with Pooh Bear – OK …Former child soldier learns from past – FeaturesDustbin of History Looking Increasingly Attractive to the Obama …FREE Kashi Cereal or Bar Sample! Hurry! – Hip2Save – Not Your …Louie the Rune Soldier, Vol. 2 (Paperback)Freedom Writer: Au Pair Not A Maid View the Contact Powered by Information [...]