1980s child star Gary Coleman died over the weekend after suffering an intercranial hemorrhage at the age of 42. According to family members, Coleman’s brain injury was caused by a slip and fall accident at his home near Salt Lake City, Utah.
He was treated at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center where he spent two days on life support before dying on Friday afternoon.
Coleman was the star of the 80s sitcom Diff’rent Strokes where he played Arnold Jackson, a black child adopted by a wealthy white man in New York. For nearly a decade, his famous line, “Whatchoo talkin’ ’bout Willis?” was known by almost every child in the country.
During the height of his popularity on Diff’rent Strokes, Coleman starred in several other TV shows and movies, most notably the animated series The Gary Coleman Show. However, after Diff’rent Strokes ended in 1986, Coleman’s career began to sputter.
Over the past two decades, he received more notoriety for his troubled personal life than for his acting prowess. In 1989, he was involved in a lawsuit with his parents over their mismanagement of his trust fund. He received a $1.3 damage award in the suit. Ten years later, Coleman filed for bankruptcy.
In recent years, Coleman has been involved in several domestic violence issues resulting in arrests for disorderly conduct. In 2008, he was involved in an auto accident lawsuit after hitting a pedestrian outside of a Utah bowling alley.
Despite this litany of personal problems, Gary Coleman will always be best remembered for his role on Diff’rent Strokes. Currently, a generation of 80s children are mourning the loss of one of their most beloved childhood icons.
Due to the catastrophic nature of brain injuries, they often result in lofty medical expenses and long term care. If you have suffered a brain injury caused by the negligent actions of another, an experienced brain injury lawyer can help you receive the compensation necessary to cover these mounting medical expenses.
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Written by Andrew Martin: professional blogger and guru of misfortune.
