Diff'rent Strokes (TV Series 1978–1986) - IMDb IMDb There was an error trying to load your rating for this title. Some parts of this page won't work property. Please reload or try later. X Beta I'm Watching This! Keep track of everything you watch; tell your friends. Error The misadventures of a wealthy Manhattan family who adopted the children of their late African American housekeeper from Harlem. Creators: Arnold and Dudley become friends with the owner of a local bicycle shop named Henry, unaware that he is a pedophile looking for his next victim. 8.4 Drummond and Mr. Ramsey learn the truth about Mr. Horton, the seemingly friendly bicycle shop owner with a very sinister side. It soon becomes a race against time to get details out of Arnold after ... 8.4 With his grades down, Drummond forbids Willis to see his new girlfriend, Charlene. However, a love-struck Willis is determined to see her, even if means doing it behind Drummond's back.

8.1 Watch the video Related News a list of 25 titles created 19 Jul 2011 a list of 43 titles created 03 Feb 2012 a list of 49 titles created 06 Mar 2013 a list of 30 titles created 14 May 2015 a list of 30 images created 7 months ago Search for " Diff'rent Strokes " on Amazon.com Connect with IMDb Title: Diff'rent Strokes (1978–1986) 6.7/10 Want to share IMDb's rating on your own site? Use the HTML below. You must be a registered user to use the IMDb rating plugin. 2 wins & 31 nominations. See more awards » Photos Tony Micelli, a retired baseball player, becomes the housekeeper of Angela Bower, an advertising executive in New York. Together they raise their kids, Samantha Micelli and Jonathon Bower, with help from Mona Robinson, Angela's man-crazy mother.

Stars: Tony Danza, Judith Light, Alyssa Milano The post-retirement season is suddenly disrupted for football player George Papadapolis and his wife Katherine when Webster, the orphaned son of a former teammate, moves in. Laughter -- and life lessons -- in every episode. Stars: Susan Clark, Alex Karras, Emmanuel Lewis Chronicles liberal ex-hippies Steven and Elyse Keaton, their conservative son Alex, daughters Mallory and Jennifer, and later, youngest child Andrew. Stars: Michael J. Fox, Michael Gross, Meredith Baxter The misadventures of a family with a home business father and a journalist mother. Stars: Alan Thicke, Joanna Kerns, Kirk Cameron A group of girls, attending a boarding school, tackle issues throughout teenage life and later adulthood. Stars: Lisa Whelchel, Kim Fields, Mindy Cohn The Cunningham family live through the 1950s with help and guidance from the lovable and almost superhuman greaser, Fonzie. Stars: Ron Howard, Henry Winkler, Marion Ross Ricky Stratton is a spoiled rich kid who lives the life that many kids dream of, but he still suffers from the problems that many teens do.

Stars: Ricky Schroder, Erin Gray, Joel Higgins The humourous adventures of an English housekeeper working for an American family. Stars: Christopher Hewett, Ilene Graff, Tracy Wells The goings-on in the life of a successful African American family. Stars: Bill Cosby, Phylicia Rashad, Keshia Knight Pulliam A wacky alien comes to Earth to study its residents, and the life of the human woman he boards with is never the same. Stars: Robin Williams, Pam Dawber, Ralph James Punky Brewster is a show about a girl named Penelope "Punky" Brewster. She is abandoned with her dog, Brandon, in a supermarket by her mother. She doesn't want to stay in an orphanage, and ... See full summary » Stars: Soleil Moon Frye, George Gaynes, Cherie Johnson Charles, a college student, moves in with the Powell family as the housekeeper, baby-sitter, and friend to the children. Along with his best friend, Buddy, Charles attempts to manage his ...

See full summary » Stars: Scott Baio, Willie Aames, Nicole Eggert Edit Storyline Phillip Drummond, a widowed Manhattan millionaire and president of the mega-firm Trans Allied Inc., adopts two African American orphans from Harlem, 8-year-old Arnold and 12-year-old Willis. Drummond had made a promise to their dying mother, his housekeeper, that he would care for the boys after she passes away; their father had died years earlier. The boys, whom Drummond always introduced as his two sons, went from rags to riches literally overnight. At first, Willis was rather skeptical of their newfound wealth, but eventually, both he and Arnold felt right at home in their newfound surroundings. Also part of the family were Drummond's beautiful daughter, 13-year-old Kimberly; and his no-nonsense housekeeper, Edna Garrett. As the years passed, Mrs. Garrett left to become housemother at the Eastland School for Girls; she was replaced by the cantankerous Adelaide Brubaker and still later, charming Pearl Gallagher. Arnold's friends, Dudley and Robbie (and later, Charlie); Willis' ...

Written by Brian Rathjen <briguy_52732@yahoo.com> 3 November 1978 (USA) See more » Also Known As: 45 Minutes from Harlem See more » Filming Locations: Did You Know? Trivia Janet Jackson released "Control", her first hit album, in August of 1985 when Diff'rent Strokes was still on the air. See more » Quotes Gary Coleman made this show......when lasted eight seasons and 189 episodes 8 June 2000 | by raysond (Chapel Hill,North Carolina) – See all my reviews During my days as a kid,and partly through my high school years as well,this show was just that: The brainchild of Gary Coleman. Coleman made millions off this series,and when the show left the airwaves in 1986(and its repeats in syndication),it was totally discarded forever,never to be heard from again,despite of what the people may say about this show and the fate of its cast including Todd Bridges(who played brother Willis),and the sudden death of Dana Plato(who played big sister Kimberly),and also from Conrad Bain(who played the widower Mr.

Drummond) who was a regular on TV's Maude before coming to this series. If someone would come up to you on the street,they would asked "What you talking about?" in the form of that question. Interesting point about this show: It started off as a show called "Milk" on the NBC network before it became a series. "Diff'rent Strokes" when it premiered on November 3,1978 became one of the network's biggest hits scoring in the top ten of the Nielsens during its astounding seven year run on the Peacock Network and made Gary Coleman a huge megastar. NBC canceled this series on May 4,1985 after 170 episodes. Also Mr.

Drummond would get married in the show too during the 1984-1985 season to Maggie McKinney(played by Dixie Carter before going on to "Designing Women",which was on a rival network),and also bringing in her son Danny as Arnold's other brother(played by Danny Cooksey-who would go on to star opposite Scwarzenegger in Terminator 2,and also do voice-overs for children's shows) Also,Janet Jackson would appear as Willis' girlfriend Charlene during the 1981-1983 season(which during this time Miss Jackson did have a hit album out along with this series at that time). Shavar Ross was Arnold's best friend Dudley. When the show was canceled by NBC on May 4,1985 there were several cast changes. Mary Ann Mobley replaced Dixie Carter on the show and also gone were Pearl(Mary Jo Catlett). On September 27,1985,the show moved to ABC-TV where 19 new episodes were produced before the network finally canceled it on March 7,1986 after 189 episodes.

This was a grand series that spawned two spin-offs,the short-lived situation comedy series "Hello,Larry",and another successful series "The Facts of Life",which would go on to become NBC's longest-running and successful series from 1979-1987. If it comes back on the air,its worth seeing. 11 of 18 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes Actor Gary Coleman dies at 42, Whatcha talkin bout Willis? - YouTube Actor Gary Coleman dies at 42, Whatcha talkin bout Willis? Want to watch this again later? Sign in to add this video to a playlist. Need to report the video? Sign in to report inappropriate content. Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. Uploaded on May 28, 2010 "Whatcha talkin bout Willis" - 05-28-2010 - Gary Coleman, the child star of the smash 1970s TV sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes" whose later career was marred by medical and legal problems, died Friday after suffering a brain hemorrhage.

He was 42. Life support was terminated and Coleman died at 12:05 p.m. MDT with family and friends at his side, Utah Valley Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Janet Frank said. Coleman, with his sparkling eyes and perfect comic timing, became a star after "Diff'rent Strokes" debuted in 1978. He played Arnold Jackson, the younger of a pair of African-American brothers adopted by a wealthy white man. His popularity faded when the show ended after six seasons on NBC and two on ABC. Coleman suffered continuing ill health from the kidney disease that stunted his growth and had a host of legal problems in recent years. He suffered the brain hemorrhage Wednesday at his Santaquin home, 55 miles south of Salt Lake City. "Diff'rent Strokes" debuted on NBC in 1978 and 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 skeptical "Whatchu talkin' 'bout?" — usually aimed at his brother, Willis — became a catchphrase.

Asked by Ebony magazine in 1979 how he learned his lines so easily, young Gary replied, "It's easy!" The attention his starring role brought him could be a burden as well as a pleasure. Coleman said in 2001 that he would do a TV series again, but "only under the absolute condition that it be an ensemble cast and that everybody gets a chance to shine." Todd Bridges, who played Coleman's brother, was tried and acquitted of attempted murder. Coleman had financial and legal problems in addition to continuing ill health from the kidney disease that required dialysis and at least two transplants. As an adult, his height reached only 4 feet 8 inches. He continued to get credits for TV guest shots and other small roles over the years. But in 2001 he said he preferred earning money from celebrity endorsements. "Now that I'm 33, I can call the shots," he said. "And if anybody has a problem with that, I guess they don't have to work with me." Coleman was among 135 candidates who ran in California's bizarre 2003 recall election to replace then-Gov.

Gray Davis, whom voters ousted in favor of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Coleman finished in eighth place with 12,488 votes, or 0.2 percent, just behind Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt. Running for office gave him a chance to show another side of himself, he said at the time. "This is really interesting and cool, and I've been enjoying the heck out of it because I get to be intelligent, which is something I don't get to do very often," he said. But legal disputes dogged him repeatedly. In 1989, when Coleman was 21, his mother filed a court request trying to gain control of her son's $6 million fortune, saying he was incapable of handling his affairs. He said the move "obviously stems from her frustration at not being able to control my life." In a 1993 television interview, he said he had twice tried to kill himself by overdosing on pills. He moved to Utah in fall 2005, and according to a tally in early 2010, officers were called to assist or intervene with Coleman more than 20 times in the following years.

The responses included a call where Coleman said he had taken dozens of Oxycontin pills and wanted to die. Some of the disputes involved his wife, Shannon Price, whom he met on the set of the 2006 comedy "Church Ball" and married in 2007. In September 2008, a dustup with a fan at a Utah bowling alley led Coleman to plead no contest to disorderly conduct. The fan also sued him, claiming the actor punched him and ran into him with his truck. Coleman was born Feb. 8, 1968, in Zion, Ill., near Chicago. His mother told Ebony his kidney disease was diagnosed when he was 2. He underwent his first transplant at age 5. Category Which TV show is the catchphrase What You Talkin Bout Willis from? - Ask Cine Which TV show is the catchphrase What You Talkin Bout Willis from? Home / TV Shows /Which TV show is the catchphrase What You Talkin Bout Willis from? Which TV show is the catchphrase What You Talkin Bout Willis from? Please briefly explain why you feel this question should be reported .

Report Cancel Which TV show is the catchphrase 'What You Talkin' Bout Willis?' from? This catchphrase has chanted by loyal fans and repeated in movies for decades. in progress 0 William A Wiliams ( Guru - 1660 Points ) 0 Please briefly explain why you feel this answer should be reported . Report Cancel The catchphrase ‘What You Talkin Bout Willis’ is from the family TV show called Diff’rent Strokes. Diff’rent Strokes was about a rich white family adopting the kids of their late African America maid. This show is considered an American classic. It shows the difference between people of different races and socioeconomic classes. Leave an answer You must login or register to add a new answer . Or, connect with is Priyanka’s injury a major or minor one? ... January 20 , 2017 What did Neil get for his birthday? ... January 20 , 2017 Why did these two love birds hide their relationship? ... January 20 , 2017 How long ago did Abhishek and Aishwarya get hitched? Is the flame ...

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April 22 , 2015 Police confirm cause of Gary Coleman's death - today > entertainment - today > entertainment > celebs - TODAY.com Police confirm cause of Gary Coleman's death 'Diff'rent Strokes' actor died of natural causes after accidental fall in May Below: + - SALT LAKE CITY — Police confirmed Wednesday that "Diff'rent Strokes" actor Gary Coleman's death has been ruled an accident. More Entertainment stories Santaquin Police Chief Dennis Howard said an autopsy found Coleman died of natural causes after an accidental fall. The finding matches the evidence police found at Coleman's Santaquin home on May 26, Howard told The Associated Press. The state medical examiner's conclusions bring the police investigation into the death to a close, Howard said. The 42-year-old actor died at a Provo hospital two days after his fall. He was taken off life support after suffering a brain hemorrhage. Most popular An e-mail message sent to a spokeswoman for Coleman's former wife, Shannon Price, who made the decision to remove him from life support, was not immediately returned late Wednesday. Plagued by health, legal problems Coleman became a star after "Diff'rent Strokes" debuted in 1978.

For eight seasons, Coleman played Arnold Jackson, the younger one of a pair of African-American brothers adopted by a wealthy white man. The tiny 10-year-old's "Whachu talkin' 'bout?" became a popular catch phrase from the show. Coleman's adult life was plagued with heath and legal problems. Advertise He moved to Utah in fall 2005, and according to a tally in early 2010, officers had been called to assist or intervene with Coleman more than 20 times. In one instance, Coleman called police for help after he claimed he had taken dozens of pain killers and "wanted to die." More Entertainment stories 'Toy Story' toys burn up in prank on mom Some of the disputes involved Price, whom he met on the set of the 2006 "Church Ball" and married in 2007. The couple divorced a year later but continued to live together and present themselves as married in public. Price has petitioned the Utah courts to recognize her common law relationship with Coleman from the date of their divorce through his May 28 death.

She is seeking the recognition as part of an ongoing legal battle over Coleman's estate, which includes the house in Santaquin, about 65 miles south of Salt Lake City. Coleman, who was cremated weeks after his death, left multiple wills, although a note handwritten by Coleman days after his 2007 marriage names Price his sole heir. Coleman's ex-girlfriend Anna Gray contends a 2005 document awards her the estate. Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Photos: Gary Coleman Related slideshows Star's sad goodbye Actor Gary Coleman arrives for 6th Annual TV Land Awards in Santa Monica, Calif., on June 8, 2008. The former "Diff'rent Strokes" child star died May 28, 2010, at a Utah hospital after suffering an intracranial hemorrhage in a fall at his home. He was 42 years old. (Chris Pizzello / Reuters) Share Back to slideshow navigation Related story Gary Coleman dies at 42 Trouble with the law Coleman is shown in a booking photo provided by the Utah County jail on Jan.

24, 2010. The actor was arrested in Utah on a warrant for failing to appear in court, police said. (AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation One tall order Coleman joins a couple pals at the the premiere of "Midgets vs. Mascots" during the 2009 Tribeca Film Festival at AMC Village VII in New York on April 25, 2009. The film is a mockumentury about five little people and five mascots who compete against one another in 30 absurdly ridiculous events to win a million dollars. (Michael Loccisano / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Riding high Coleman exits his truck to enter court in Payson, Utah, on Dec. 2, 2008. He pleaded no contest to a disorderly conduct charge stemming from a September incident at a bowling alley in Payson, about 60 miles south of Salt Lake City. (Stuart Johnson / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation New bride Coleman and his wife Shannon Price appear on the TODAY show in New York on Feb. 26, 2008. Coleman secretly wed his girlfriend of five months on Aug.

28, 2007. They met on the set of the 2006 comedy film "Church Ball." (Richard Drew / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Our man in the field Demonstrators who suggest that pop icon Michael Jackson is guilty of child abuse confront Coleman, center, as he works for a comedy radio show while Jackson is in court on the first day of opening statements for his child molestation trial in Santa Maria, Calif., on Feb. 28, 2005. (David McNew / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation An actor? As governor? Ridiculous Coleman, a candidate for governor in California's recall election, poses after a news conference announcing the Game Show Network's new show titled "Who Wants To Be Governor of California? The Debating Game" in Los Angeles on Aug. 15, 2003. (Carlo Allegri / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Money woes Coleman announces that he is filing for bankruptcy in federal court in Los Angeles on Sept. 6, 1999.

"This is the last step in 10 years of steps to mitigate and eliminate the dead weight of the past and is the day I have been looking forward to," Coleman said. The actor said mismanagement of his income as a child star led to his financial troubles. (James Peterson / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Run with it Coleman, center, stars with Michael Lembeck and Lisa Eilbacher in the 1981 film "On the Right Track." Coleman plays Lester, a homeless shoeshine boy who has a knack for picking winning horses out of the newspaper. (Everett Collection) Share Back to slideshow navigation Space cadet Coleman and Gil Gerard star in the television series "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century" which aired from 1979-1981. Coleman played a child genius from the 20th century named Hieronymous Fox. (Everett Collection) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Big fame for little stars Coleman, left, and French actor Herve Villechaize pose together at the Fifth Annual Emmy Awards Banquet, in Pasadena, Calif., on Sept. 8, 1979.

Coleman was starring in in "Diff'rent Strokes" as Arnold and Villechaize in "Fantasy Island" as Tattoo at the time. Villechaize died in 1993. (Frank Edwards / Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis? Coleman, right, starred with Todd Bridges, left, and Conrad Bain in the series "Diff'rent Strokes" from 1978-86. Coleman played Arnold Jackson and Bridges was his older brother, Willis. Bain was Mr. Drummond, a rich widower who adopted the boys. (NBC via Getty Images) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Fits to a T Coleman and Mr. T square off in the "Diff'rent Stokes" episode "Mr. T and mr. t" in 1983. (Everett Collection) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Mr. October's pal In a undated photo, Coleman gets a lift from former New York Yankees star Reggie Jackson.

(Lennox Mclendon / AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation Advertise Couple of comedians Coleman poses with actress Lucille Ball during a break in filming "The Lucille Ball Special" in Hollywood, Calif., on Nov. 19, 1979. (AP) Share Back to slideshow navigation Editor's note: Advertise >> meredith, over to you. >>> it has been two weeks since gary coleman suddenly died from a massive brain hemorrhage and there are still lingering questions about the circumstances surrounding his death. there are also questions about the rights to his estate after his ex-wife filed a request thursday to take it over. sue and willie coleman are gary coleman 's parents and they graciously stuck around to talk to us exclusively. good morning to you once again. as i said when we talk in the last hour, this has to be a very hard time for you. why did you decide you wanted to come here and speak out? >> i basically want to say that i want all of the talk to stop. gary 's gone. i want his body put away respectfully so that we all can bring some closure to this part of him.

i think with all the talk that's been going on that people going on talk shows and saying this, saying that, some true, some not true -- enough. let's just put him away so he can -- his spirit can just go on to where it's going and -- he's at rest. i know he is and the rest of us need to bring some closure to it. >> at this point your son has not even been buried. >> not that we know of. >> not that you know of. >> not that we know of. >> that is one of my wishes. if they is going to go ahead and take care of like burying him or either cremating him, please, by all mean, go ahead and do that because his soul is with jesus. there for eternity. but it is his spirit that's not going to rest until he's laid to rest. see? if you believe in god the way i do, this is the way i've been taught all my life, this is the way i was brought up through four dinfferent churches of religion that i have been a part of, that your soul is in the bosom of jesus, but your spirit spirit -- >> it lingers. >> it lingers.

yes. let me ask you what may be a difficult question. in the last years of your son's life he was very bitter towards both of you publicly. said things that were not kind. you are not bitter towards him. why not? >> because he was our child. >> we loved him. >> we love him. and we were always open to him. we hoped and we prayed that at some point he would say, oh, okay, you know, and particularly when he got married, we thought, wow, you know? come home. we have a daughter-in-law. >> were you happy that he had got married? >> yes. >> very happy. >> yes. because my daily prayers for him was for the florida bring him someone, a companion, that he loved and loved him and they could communicate and they could be together and he would not be alone. that was my prayer for him. and i was very happy when -- we both were. we thought, well? if they come home, then we have -- we make big plans or whatever. that never happened but in our hearts we still love him. >> and not only that, we both had told all our friends, guess what? gary got married. gary 's married.

and hopeful we're going to meet the wife, everything, and we can sit down and talk and everything, laugh and go on and tell us some of the things that went on when he was small and everything and how we dealt with it, all that and everything. you know? >> it's almost like you lost your son twice. >> we did. >> yeah. >> we did. we lost him first time when he turned 21. from that point on we very rarely heard from him. when we did, most we heard, through someone else , you know, that they had collaborated with gary and what was on the up and down. but the last time we lost him, he's lost forever until we cross over some day, everything. it is inevitable we all got to go. we all going to meet each other. loved ones and everything. won't be no more pain, no more hard feelings, no more ache and all that on the other side. we all going to get there and there will be peace. >> right now, there isn't peace. >> no, no peace. no peace.

>> the executors, former manager for his ex-wife, shannon price , as we said is fighting back, she wants to control the estate. do you plan to fight the will at all? >> no. >> not at all. >> you have no interest? >> not at all. why would we? i mean, there is enough going on. there is enough disrespect toward him with all this that's going on. and we just would not be a part of that. >> we never -- didn't even know there was a will until -- >> and an estate. we didn't know anything about this. >> let me ask you, sue, the last words your son ever said to you, do you remember? >> yes. >> that he loved us. >> at our home in the driveway as he was going away to go back to i think he was at los angeles at that time, or wfr he was. >> no, colorado. >> how many years ago? >> that was probably somewhere around 2000 , 2001 . in there someplace. as he was leaving, we said, good-bye. we said i love you. and he said, "i love you, too." >> yeah.

>> that was the last time. >> yep. >> we greatly appreciate you being with us this morning. i started out the interview asking you how you will remember him as a son. how do you want the public to remember him? >> well, the laughter, for the joy, for all the years that he entertained people. we've gotten many, many letters and cards from not only here but from abroad, too, that said we enjoyed him. that's how we want him remembered. for the joy that he brought to so many people. >> sue, thank you so much. willie, thank you so much. By: jtron #3109658 . for one of the first "celebrities" I could identify as a kid. I remember thinking the <em>Diff'rent Strokes</em>/<em>Webster</em> gimmick* was pretty creepy but thought he was awesome and entertaining enough that it didn't matter.

His breaking of the fourth wall at the end of one <em>Simpsons</em> episode was a high point of one of my best Xmasses ever <small>but that's another story * which also made me freak out a bit over the connection between our pleasure, the performers' pain, and who was profiting in what way. Now I work in pro wrestling :\</small> comment: By: zombiehoohaa #3109668 Back in 2006, my then boyfriend worked at an antique billiards store, where I often helped out answering phones. Gary Coleman loved Backgammon. One day he came in wearing a holey navy blue t-shirt and some shorts. He looked like he had been out in the yard working. I was behind the counter answering phones while my boyfriend was in back loading a poker table for a customer. I greeted Gary like I greet everyone that walks in the store. I told him that the someone would help him shortly. He told me that I was beautiful and asked if I had a boyfriend. I told him thank you and yes I do have a boyfriend.

He proceeded with, "Does your boyfriend buy you clothes, cars, jewelry, anything you want?" I was a little taken back from the question. I told him money can't by love and he smiled at me and agreed with me. He then told me that if I ever wanted a man to spoil me rotten then to contact him. WOW! I will live with that memory forever. Gives me a good laugh. My thoughts are with his wife and family. comment: By: Cool Papa Bell #3109675 <em>(... man, the child actors on that damn show have had such, such rough lives)</em> One of the interesting parts of the E True Hollywood story documentary was the difference between the casts of Diff'rent Strokes and The Facts of Life. The studios were right next to each other, and on one side, you had sex and drugs and crazy stage parents, and on the other side, Mrs. Garrett and the girls were totally normal, friendly and familial. No stories about Blair and Jo in a catfight. Natalie wasn't wasted. Tootie didn't turn up in a sex video. Weird.

comment: By: anazgnos #3109676 I used to work at an In-N-Out in LA that had a lot of celebrities coming through, and he used to come through drive-thru all the time. He always wanted his fries precisely between "normal" and "well-done". One time he warned me that there were some guys in a van out back he was sure were up to no good and that I should probably call the cops. He came off as a little bit of a busybody, but I just figured he wanted to be useful. I always wanted to say something to the effect of "I'm sorry for the raw deal you have gotten in life, and you have my sympathy and support", but I thought he'd probably just get mad, and figured that the best I could do for him was just be polite and attentive to his fast food needs. . comment: By: fairytale of los angeles #3109808 <i>Also, I don't get why he always looked as a kid - was there something done to him to keep him on the show? Was it a medical condition that he already had going in to it?

Just how old was he on Different Strokes?</i> He started on the show when he was ten. I've linked information on his specific kidney disorder above, but reduced kidney function in kids often results in short stature. Despite everything else you might've heard about Hollywood, I'm pretty sure no one in the industry was having things "done" to child actors to keep them looking like kids back in the '80s. comment: By: kittens for breakfast #3109810 There are two important things I've learned from popular entertainment that are diametrically opposed to all that popular entertainment teaches us. They are both hard to keep to, and I believe they are absolutely vital to human survival in western society. The first is about anger. In Lawrence Block's terrific book of short stories, <i>Hit Man,</i> the eponymous hitman is approached by a potential client who has been wronged in some awful fashion, I forget what. The client outlines the source of his rancor and asks hypothetically what the world-weary hitman thinks he should do about it. "Forgive and forget?" the hitman suggests. Obviously, the advice goes unheeded, or there'd be no story.

But really: Who do you want to be in this story, the red-faced asshole with a laundry list of grievances, or the totally chill assassin? Because he's not kidding: He knows how this movie ends. So. Lesson one. The second is about fame. We're all supposed to want it. Do you want it? I can't imagine why. What you should, by all rights, want is <i>money.</i> Fame without money is an ugly thing indeed -- fame without money is basically infamy. If people just forgot about you, you might be okay. But if you can't lead a normal life, and also can't afford to lead a life of wealth and shelter, you are vulnerable to all kinds of awful shit. So. Lesson two. I never really thought the way Coleman's life played out was funny, or saw anything cute or ironic or what have you about it at all. I'm just glad he didn't end up selling any of his own teeth on eBay or something. His death seems like something that could have happened to anybody. I wish the poor guy had been allowed more dignity in life.

comment: By: chaff #3109864 The guy went through a LOT, even for a child actor, and decades later was still publicly upbeat and able to laugh at himself and his strange career. I'm old enough to have seen him on first-run eps of <em>Diff'rent Strokes</em> when I was a kid, it was one of the first sitcoms I remember wanting to watch every week, and Gary Coleman was basically the main reason. He had a lot of problems but he was a talented actor and he seemed like a really decent guy, at least from this distance. . comment: By: roomthreeseventeen #3109986 Avenue Q pays tribute to Gary Coleman Posted by:Official_Press_Release 05:23 pm EDT 05/28/10 In light of the death this afternoon of actor Gary Coleman, the musical AVENUE Q --in which Gary Coleman is depicted as one of the show's characters -- have issued the following statement. "The creators, producers, and company of 'Avenue Q' are terribly saddened to hear of the death of Gary Coleman, whose tremendous gifts brought delight and inspiration to audiences around the world.

While everything in life may be only for now, we suspect that Gary's legacy will live on for many years to come. Gary's memory will certainly endure in the hearts and minds of those of us who live on 'Avenue Q.'" Tonight (5/28) when the show concludes at 10 pm, AVENUE Q at New World Stages, Danielle K. Thomas who portrays Mr. Coleman in the musical will pay a tribute to him from the stage. New World Stages is located at 340 W. 50 St. in Manhattan. AVENUE Q -- a musical about 20-somethings who move to NY with big dreams and tiny bank accounts -- will soon enter its 7th straight year of its run in NYC. comment: By: tzikeh #3110115 <em>I was somewhat surprised to hear the woman he married at 40 was the first woman in his life. I know he had his troubles and issues, but <b>I hope that means he got to experience love</b> at least once.

posted by Jeeb at 3:58 PM on May 28 According to a recent interview on Howard Stern, Gary may have died a virgin. <b>He was a bit evasive, but the gist of it was he couldn't 'perform' because of his many medical problems.</b> posted by Gungho at 3:36 PM on May 28 </em> I hope he experienced love, as well, but I don't give a shit if he could have sex or not. Not everyone thinks sex and love is the same thing. Obit threads on MetaFilter often get contentious comments if they are about a polarizing figure; many who thought the deceased was a terrible person, and/or bad influence on society, say so, while others hold to the idea that one should not speak ill of the dead. But in my years here I've never seen someone show up in an obit thread--for no perceivable reason--to comment on whether the person in question could perform sexually. What the hell. On topic, thank you, Mr. Coleman. You were a good comic actor, you got a raw deal from your parents genetically, emotionally, and financially, and you died too young. .

comment: By: Max Power #3110171 My mom lives across the street from Mr. Coleman's parents. They are very polite, his father has mowed his neighbor's lawn for like the last 20 years, they live in a modest house and are very private down to earth people. I don't know what happened with all the income issues and lawsuits, but whatever the case, it seems to me that Mr. Coleman had been taken advantage of his entire life. I just picture some lawyers somewhere laughing all the way to the bank, because his parents certainly don't have money, and it is obvious he didn't have much either or he wouldn't have been making appearances at E3 shows, taking security guard jobs etc. The animosity generated by those events, and the loss of simple parental guidance and love had an obvious effect on his life. Rest in peace, sometimes death is a relief.

comment: By: jonmc #3110196 I remember being around seven, watching TV with my folks, and we stumbled upon this show with two black kids, a white father and a goldfish and I immediately dug it, even though we tuned in after the credits, so I had to wait till the end to know what I was watching. But, I dug the little smartass (and his brother and sister, too). He was only a few years older than me, and as someone who's had kidney problems, It's impressive that he lasted as long as he did. So, if there's a heaven I hope you're at the gates saying "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout St Peter?" comment: By: Navelgazer #3110353 God this sort of thing makes me sadder and sadder as I get older. Not even the death, so much, as that has to come for all of us sooner or later, but the retrospection about what we all have done to these people. Coleman had a tough, tough life, but in some ways I suspect that the fame may have helped him as much as it hurt.

Without it I doubt he would've been able to keep going as long as he did, for one, and hopefully it brought him in touch with people who loved him, where otherwise he may have jsut gone unnoticed and lost in the world's cruel shuffle. I wish I knew more details about the Avenue Q stuff. I love the show, and never felt like it acted mean-spiritedly towards him. They also claim that they contacted him about playing the role, and that he expressed interest but never showed up for a meeting. Coleman's quote of "I wish there was a lawyer on Earth that would sue them for me," is odd to me, though, if only because there would have been scads of lawyers willing to do so if he'd honestly been looking. It seems more to me like another sad footnote towards the end of a very sad life. He was a great comic actor, and reportedly a nice guy. One of my friends also played against him at E3, where Coleman was kicking everyone's asses at Dead or Alive. Sucks to be reduced to that walking side-show kind of existence, though. The moral is that fame sucks if you're not prepared for it. And children are rarely if ever prepared.

Rest easy now, good sir, . comment: By: krinklyfig #3110455 I grew up watching his show with my step-brother. We loved the show, but it was difficult looking back on it and finding much ironic humor in the way things ended up for him and the other kid stars on that show. He never seemed to find peace with himself, but at least he was able to salvage something out of it and didn't end up like Dana Plato. Gary Coleman was only two years older than I am. Sorry for laughing at you, dude. I was just a kid, and I guess that's how he got the job. But it probably didn't help. comment: By: R. Mutt #3110683 <small><i> I wonder how the producers of "Avenue Q" are going to handle this. Making fun of Gary Coleman is a large part of the show. I did not read it that way. I doubt that they asked permission, but I also felt that their imagining of him was sort of affectionate and funny and not mean. It MUST have sucked to be him.

</i></small> NYTimes: <a href="">'Avenue Q' Deals With Death of Gary Coleman</a> <i>Despite some very serious consideration that "Avenue Q" would require significant revision or have to drop the role altogether, Mr. Whitty said that Gary Coleman, the character, would live on in the musical.</i> comment: By: Cat Pie Hurts #3110774 There was a particular episode of Diff'rent Strokes where Coleman's character takes a shop owner to small claims court over a broken toy train. After some wisecracking the judge goes, "you can call me your honor". The response? "And you can call me your Arnold." This sent me 9 year old brain reeling. Was it possible that Gary Coleman's character was named Arnold and the entire show up to this point was a setup for this one joke? All of this made me lose faith in the security that I thought adults provided me. It was my first real taste of the concepts of destiny and predestination as well as cynicism and futility. If our paths are already established and immutable, what's the point in doing -anything-?

Do I LIKE cartoons or am I watching them because I'm supposed to be watching them? This was some heavy shit for a little kid. So Gary Coleman frequently pops into my thoughts when I think about the situations that let me to the present, whenever and wherever that may be. . I hope, at some point in your life, you were able to break free of the script and choose your own path. <small>best line ever?

To the Soviet ambassador: "You can walk up to a cliff, Andropov!".</small> comment: Remembering Ben Starr <div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-blog-image"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> <a href="/interviews/people/ben-starr"><img class="imagefield imagefield-field_blog_image" width="1085" height="619" alt="Ben Starr" src="" /></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-link field-field-image-link"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> <a href="/interviews/people/ben-starr"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field-type-text field-field-body-text"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item odd"> <p>We're sad to hear that writer/producer <a title="Ben Starr Interview" href="">Ben Starr</a> passed away on Sunday, January 19, 2014 from congestive heart failure at his home in Los Angeles, California. He was 92.

Starr wrote that brilliant episode of <em><a title="Brady Bunch Show Page" href="">The Brady Bunch</a></em> in which "Peter Brady" states in his best Bogart impression what the gang will eat for dinner that evening: "pork chops and applesauce." Starr also came up with "Arnold Jackson's" familiar catchphrase, "Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" on <em>Diff'rent Strokes</em> (the line was written "What are you talking about, Willis?" and Gary Coleman's delivery secured that the phrase would return again and again throughout the series). Starr wrote for <em><a title="Mister Ed Show Page" href="">Mister Ed</a></em>, <em><a title="Climax! Show Page" href="">Climax!</a></em>, and&nbsp;<em><a title="All in the Family Show Page" href="">All in the Family</a></em>, and co-created both <em>The Facts of Life</em> and <em>Silver Spoons</em>.

And prior to his television career, Starr worked in radio, writing for stars Al Jolson, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.&nbsp;</p> <p>Starr&nbsp;shared his behind-the-scenes stories of classic TV shows with us in his&nbsp;2009 Archive interview.

Take a look at some selections:</p> <p><strong>On writing the "The Personality Kid" episode of <em>The Brady Bunch</em>:</strong></p> <p><iframe src="" width="400" height="250" class="video-filter video-youtube vf-lwx7uitvmg" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <p><strong>On the development of <em>Diff'rent Strokes</em>&nbsp;and the phrase "Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Willis?":</strong></p> <p><iframe src="" width="400" height="250" class="video-filter video-youtube vf-2feyscd2ec" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <p><strong>On spinning off <em>The Facts of Life</em> from <em>Diff'rent Strokes</em>:&nbsp;</strong></p> <p><iframe src="" width="400" height="250" class="video-filter video-youtube vf-logibh1a6y" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <p><strong>On his love of writing:</strong></p>

 <p><iframe src="" width="400" height="250" class="video-filter video-youtube vf-qzmssce2rro" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <p><strong>On how he'd like to be remembered:</strong></p> <p><iframe src="" width="400" height="250" class="video-filter video-youtube vf-wipul25bjiu" frameborder="0"></iframe></p> <p>Watch Ben Starr's full Archive interview <a title="Ben Starr Interview" href="">here</a> and read his <a title="Ben Starr Obituary" href="#axzz2r373EOZR">obituary in the <em>Los Angeles Times</em></a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> All in the Family

Question: What you talkin' about Willis was a catchphrase for the late Gary Coleman in which TV series?
Answer: Diff'rent Strokes