different strokes dudley's dad

A more humorous episode on pollution and the environment ("Green Hair") had Kimberly's hair turning green from acid rain. Diff'rent Strokes ended as well as biographical information when available. She has been married to actor Hal Holbrook since 1984. Please visit the links such as the Internet Movie Database and Wikipedia for the most up to date When Arnold and Dudley were having lunch outside and ready to trade sandwiches like they do everyday, they both were upset that they both . Rosalind Chao , who played Arnold's teacher Miss Chung, was born September 23, Ross has appeared in over 100 film and episodic television projects throughout his career, including such films as the fifth installment of the Friday the 13th movie series Friday the 13th: A New Beginning in 1985 as "Reggie A.K.A. from 1961 to 1963. The actress had been ill for some She was named Ginna, after of the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" along with Gary Coleman. became fascinated with acting. She also had a role in the '80s daytime soap Texas. Told she needed to slim down by the show's producers, Jackson, just 10 years-old at the time, faced the grueling ritual of having her breasts bound by the wardrobe department before each taping. She appeared in the 1994 movie Serial Mom It was such a relief to be around a kind, generous man who wanted nothing from me and who did nothing but love and nurture me. in the television series, but by an uncredited voice actor who voiced the car for various Universal Studios promotions.). The Real Housewives of Dubai (2022) - S01E05 Piping Tea with a Hint of Peach, HE HAD A COUPLE OF SIPS OF CHIANTI TONIGHT. Midway through the sixth season, Plato became pregnant and approached the producers of the show to include her pregnancy. During 2006 and 2007, Coleman appeared in commercials for a cash-advance loan company called CashCall. close with anybody. dollars. the other cast members worked, and after Todd Bridges appeared, was encouraged by Vanilla Ice to say "What'chu talkin' 'bout, Willis?" "In The Swim" also saw the move of Kimberly from her private school, to the one attended by Willisa move brought about in part at Plato's suggestion, with it being felt it might open up potential new storylines. Dana was helped by Las Vegas singer, Wayne Newton, See production, box office & company info, [Entering the living room after dumping cigarettes butts in the trash], Stage 42, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA. Producers immediately decided child actor Todd Bridges should play the older brother; he had appeared in a number of commercials and guest roles. is not provided by William Daniels, who voices K.I.T.T. Cited for parole violation, she served 30 days Prince of Bel Air, Married with Children, Homeboys in Outer Space, The Keenen Ivory Wayans More recently, he is trying to get on with his life and start over. He continues to pursue acting and voice acting work (for example, as the title role in Dave the Barbarian, Easily Premiering on November 3, 1978, "Diff'rent Strokes" was a touchstone of 1980s pop culture. View our tribute at Sitcoms Online. Tari made his first appearance as Ted Ramsey in the third season episode "Football Father" but would really shine in 1981's "Room For One More" and 1983's "The Bicycle Man," which showed the actor at his affable, empathetic best. Lunchtime Specials (directed by Soleil-Moon Frye/Punky Brewster). Looking for a new start, she moved to Las Vegas and took a job working for a dry cleaning service for $5.75 an hour, as per Biography. He appeared on Love Boat: The Next Wave on UPN on Determined that her condition would not rule her life, she got serious about health and nutrition, and with the help of the right doctor, was able to continue working. Dana was fired from Diff'rent Strokes after the By the time the program was cancelled, Dana had blossomed into a striking Eventually, she wants to transition out of Coleman played a supporting role in the controversial 2003 computer game Postal by Running With Scissors, Inc. Coleman, who played himself, appeared at a shopping mall, and one of the game's objectives was to secure his autograph. others. In 1998, Coleman was charged with assault after he punched a woman demanding an autograph while working as a security guard at a shopping mall. September 2nd, 1938 in Denver, Colorado. Janet Jackson who was Willis's girlfriend Charlene DuPrey, was born Janet Dameta Jackson Then in 1975 she played Louise Lasser's mother on the comedy-soap Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman. (If you have e-mail addresses on [27] Bridges was also arrested on a concealed weapon charge and possession of cocaine. celebrity-reality show The Surreal Life. When that series ended production following star Beatrice Arthur's decision to leave the show in the spring 1978, Tandem Productions producer Norman Lear was keen to find a suitable sitcom for Bain to star in. She has several other movie and tv series Rae starred as Mrs. Garrett (Mrs. G), who was the housemother at the prestigious Eastland School for Girls in Peekskill, New York. [3][4] During the first season and the first half of the second season, Charlotte Rae also starred, as Mrs. Edna Garrett, the Drummonds' first housekeeper, who ultimately spun off into her own sitcom, The Facts of Life, as a housemother at the fictional Eastland School. Volz, of Mesa, recognized for her trademark white bun, worked in vaudeville and radio as a young woman but didn't find Unfortunately, Coleman's life was largely devoid of the laughter that his onscreen persona elicited. In the final season (when the sitcom moved from NBC to ABC), the one-hour season opener ("Sam's Missing") revolved around Sam being kidnapped by Donald Brown (Royce D. Applegate), a bereaved father hoping to replace his own dead son, Tommy. young woman, but her acting career could never escape the long shadows cast by her sitcom Cited for parole violation, she served 30 days on tv in episodes of Hart to Hart, Starsky & Hutch, Happy Days, The A-Team, [35], On April 6, 2012, it was announced that Shout! and shattering lows. he pleaded guilty to drug possession and carrying a loaded weapon. He remained on the show as a regular cast member through the show's seventh season at NBC and its ill-fated move to ABC. After the cancellation of Diff'rent Strokes in 1986, Coleman Arnold and Dudley give into peer pressure and experiment with smoking. The pitch meeting to NBC took place on Friday May 9, 1978,[7] with NBC immediately ordering an optional 26 episodes. As a result, from the later first season and on into the second season, Plato became a regular character. They also have a daugther named Bo. In 1990, he was acquitted on charges of assault He and his wife had their first child on July 15th, 1998 I was thrilled to hear personally from Steve in 1998 and 2000: Here's a more filled-in story on my "where are they now" entry: I "retired" from show business when the show was cancelled, as much as any He is known for hi. Pearl Gallagher: [Entering the living room after dumping cigarettes butts in the trash] I see that Smokey and the Bandits left. As detailed by Turner Classic Movies, Rae was born Charlotte Rae Lubotsky on April 22, 1926, in Milwaukee. Ross enjoyed a long career and was a familiar face throughout the 1990s on such shows as "Growing Pains" and "Family Matters." "It's painful," Bain revealed. Shortly after the filing, Amber Cooksey sought a restraining order against the former child star, citing his allegedly out-of-control anger and jealousy. Steve became engaged to Elys Bank, a technical writer originally [2] The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson, respectively who are two black boys from Harlem taken in by a rich white Park Avenue businessman and his daughter. And if you want to know anything He praised Coleman and Bridges as natural talents without egos. As detailed by The Hollywood Reporter,Mobley was a native of Brandon, Mississippi, and a former Miss America. After the series ended Bridges developed an addiction to cocaine. Following Rae's departure midway through the second season, Nedra Volz took over as the housekeeper, the older and crankier Adelaide Brubaker, introduced in the episode "The Election". With his plain looks and down-to-earth manner, Bain was always cast as a character actor. was on a fall 1999 episode of Get Real as well as ER. the leading female artists of the last several years with numerous hits. the bowling team. the business and just run the store. She provided the voice of Adrienne Van Leydon in Itsy Bitsy Spider from 1994 to 1995. specials and movies such as The Chipmunk Adventure. Dana landed roles on over 100 TV commercials as a With Willis dropped into the background slightly, this new brotherly duo took center stage for many storylines. [39] Season 7 was released on February 27, 2018. in jail. However, to fans of "Diff'rent Strokes," he will forever be remembered as Ted Ramsey, the adoptive father of Arnold Jackson's best friend, Dudley, played by Shavar Ross. Dixie passed away April 10, 2010 in Houston, TX of complications of endometrial cancer. Diff'rent Strokes (TV Series) Football Father (1980) women's vintage clothing boutique called, "Revival Vintage" (Dixie as well as everyone else called her Mother Gina, pronounced Jinna.) years. The whole experience was a thrilling 4 myself and my family. Arnold and Dudley (and often Robbie) shared many childhood escapades together, and were featured in many episodes, school-based and otherwise, throughout the show's run. Mary Ann Mobley was a late addition to the principal cast of "Diff'rent Strokes." custody of Tyler. Coleman placed 8th in a field of 135 candidates, receiving 14,242 votes. She will certainly be missed by Broadway fans, TV fans, and movie fans as she had big roles in each. advisors. seemingly effortless way with comedy won her lots of fans during the show's prime time Dana drifted in and out of the business over the next few years. I went to college for a year, but found it wasn't for me. Before reaching the age of 5, Coleman for a pharmaceutical firm and his mother was a nurse. was left with roles in flicks like 1975's "Beyond the Bermuda Triangle." The cast of series regulars on "Diff'rent Strokes" grew by two in Season 6 with the addition of Dixie Carter and . The Onion Field (1979), Fast Break (1979), A Matter of Life and Death (1981), Jacqueline her as "Baby Nedra.". As with Bridges, Rae was offered the role without audition, but was locked into a contract with CBS; however, Lear was determined to have Rae for the role and used his influence to convince CBS to release her from her contract, freeing her up to be available for the role. Amber Cooksey also claimed that Danny Cooksey's erratic behavior was exacerbating Jackson's epilepsy, a condition she shares with the child, and that he was in rehab for alcohol and drug abuse. Although she didn't bear her character's physical scars, the young actress nonetheless suffered at the hands of the adults in her life. [7] Producers were keen to cast Charlotte Rae as housekeeper Edna Garrett, feeling that her more "traditional sitcom" talents would work well for the unusual line-up and that as an older character she would have good chemistry with Bain. According to a hospital spokesman, Coleman was "conscious and lucid" the next morning, but his condition subsequently worsened. Though move forward or backward to get to the perfect spot. Other notable episodes included season 8's "Bulimia," in which the family discovered that Kimberly was suffering from bulimia. [citation needed], After it was canceled the show returned to ABC's schedule in June for three months of summer reruns, which ended on August 30, 1986. Also in 1980, Shavar appeared in the TV film Scout's Honor, also with Gary Coleman. Mary Ann Mobley, who was the second Mrs. Drummond, was born February 17, 1939 The Dana Plato Memorial Site The final two episodes produced for the third season ("Growing Up" and "The Model") had originally been postponed due to a writer's strike,[citation needed] and the interspersing of these two episodes with the ones without Coleman taped at the start of the fourth season allowed the span of his absence to be broken down onscreen. Two hour-long episodes on the first season DVD are presented in their edited, two-part syndicated versions. He has worked as a security guard, a job he is trained Melanie Watson was born Melanie Lynne While there, Mrs. Garrett met Kimberly's classmates and was offered the job as "dorm mother." Dana was fired from Diff'rent Strokes after the In the early 1970s, Bain began popping up in such New In 1971, Rae was cast as Molly the Mail Lady on the PBS children's show "Sesame Street." He died of natural causes on January 14, 2014, at a retirement home in Livermore, California. [40] Season 8 was released on May 29, 2018. a lesbian and was only experimenting). Bridges' more high-profile role was as Monk, a shell-shocked Vietnam veteran, conspiracy theorist, and nephew of Chris's boss Doc on the sitcom Everybody Hates Chris. According to Sgt. ABC canceled the series after 19 episodes of the proposed 22-episode season, a result of low ratings and a feeling that the series had run its course, although it was also observed that by this time, the once joyous Coleman, now 17, was looking angry and haggard,[10] a combination of his ongoing medical issues and a bitter financial dispute with his parents. [citation needed]. Several such concepts were considered before a rough outline for the eventual seriesin which Bain plays a wealthy businessman left to take care of his late housekeeper's son, the orphaned Colemanwas settled upon and given the working title 45 Minutes from Harlem (even though Harlem is only ten to fifteen minutes away from the Upper East Side by subway or taxi). He sued his adoptive parents 9 episodes 1985-1986 Rosalind Chao Miss Chung 8 episodes 1981-1983 Dody Goodman Aunt Sophia Drummond 8 episodes 1981-1984 Bobby Herbeck The Waiter 7 episodes 1979-1984 Creators Jeff Harris Bernie Kukoff All cast & crew Production, box office & more at IMDbPro More like this 6.8 Watch options 7.4 Watch options 7.4 Watch options 7.1 In 1984, she married the father of her child, musician Lanny Lambert, but the couple divorced in 1990. In 1979, while visiting his father in California during his school's Christmas vacation, Shavar was discovered by top children's agent Evelyn Shultz. Upon the player securing his autograph, police storm the mall to arrest him for an unknown crime, which leads to a violent shootout. Producer Al Burton had spotted Dana Plato as part of a cheerleading team auditioning on The Gong Show and felt she had a spark about her, and recommended her for the role of Drummond's daughter Kimberly. He was casting a new sitcom for NBC which was to become an 18-month-old child) gave her up for adoption as an infant and she was taken in by a She had been considered for Maggie when the role was created, but was not chosen in part due to age disparity between her and Bain.[13]. Menu Trending ", "Diff'rent Strokes 'The Complete 4th Season' is Scheduled by Shout! The cast reunited at the TV Land Awards in 2007 and 2011, where it won the award for Pop Culture Icon. called Night Trap as a scantily clad victim. in January of 1992, when Sharkey and Szysznyk. Early episodes mostly address typical family sit-com issues, but as the series progresses, it sometimes focuses on more serious topics, including drug abuse, alcoholism, hitchhiking, child abuse and crime. else, feel free to contact me. an 18-month-old child) gave her up for adoption as an infant and she was taken in by a [28] After years of battling drug addiction, Bridges became sober in the early 1990s. as Pearl Sperling in The Fall Guy and as Miz Emma Tidsale, the postmistress, on The Dukes of Hazzard. All rights reserved. And Mary Dixie was born on July 6, 1970. She is married to voice actor Simon Templeman. She later worked as a dietitian at the school and opened a gourmet food venture named Edna's Edibles. She appeared on many TV game shows as well such as Liar's Club, Cross-wits, and many more. During my time there, I performed as guest cast for one episode, which I decided wasn't the folks that work with me know about it. Her other ", Before landing the TV role for which he would become best known, Bain acted on Broadway, with a role in "The Iceman Cometh," in films including Woody Allen's "Bananas," and on the sitcom "Maude.". time away from education, which I always considered more important. last season, was born She also Dana was helped by Las Vegas singer, Wayne Newton, According to a 1999 feature in People,at 15, she was showing up on the set drunk. If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). She also is a profound Danny Cooksey, who played little Sam McKinney, was born November 2, 1975 in Moore, Dana and Lanny would divorce In 2009, Mary Ann Mobley was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer. She's worked on films like "The 40 Year Old Virgin" Diff'rent Strokes (1978) - S05E16 The Bicycle Man: Part 1. my dad lets me have a little sip on special occasions. She came to the attention of nighttime talkshow host Jack Paar, who after becoming enchanted by Goodman's ditzy persona The first season dealt with common topics such as various growing-up and adjustment issues experienced by Arnold and Willis, and mild culture clashes. He has This was I had to get to sleep so I could get up for the kids and do the TV show Monday-Friday. With his remaining kidney failing, Coleman was forced to urinate with the aid of a surgically created bypass opening in his side. [19] After her arrests, Plato publicly admitted that she struggled with an addiction to drugs and alcohol. The success of the spin-off led to several Strokes/Facts crossovers in the ensuing years. He ends the commercial by saying, "Pay your bills on time and everyone will love you." She declined, but come fall, she had a change of heart. At birth, he was diagnosed with a number of serious maladies, most notably focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a congenital autoimmune condition that damages the kidneys. Tragically, Ross found his own life mirroring the plot of "The Bicycle Man." from the Edge. She was afflicted with osteogenesis imperfecta, a disease in which a person's They met on the set of the 2006 comedy film Church Ball. Shavar Ross was a familiar face on TV throughout the 1980s and '90s. Dody Goodman, who played Aunt Sophia, was born Dolores Goodman on October so episodes. Gary Coleman was born February 8, 1968 in Zion, Illinois. shot on Geraldo, but the pilot did not sell and the project was scrapped. All rights reserved. It's a steamy Ross Coleman, with his sparkling eyes and perfect comic timing, became an immediate star, and Bain, with his long training as a theater actor, proved an ideal straight man. He still remained in the public eye, albeit as the central character in Dana Michele Plato was born in Maywood, California on November 7, 1964. By the time the program was cancelled, Dana had blossomed into a striking "Nobody knows her name, but everybody knows "The first thing I ever tried was pot, and Dana made that first time possible," Bridges writes. Puff" on the cartoon SpongeBob SquarePants. (Although Hasselhoff, in his costume as Michael Knight appears, the voice of K.I.T.T. TV's "Diff'rent Strokes," Dana went through a lot while never quite escaping the scrutiny Gary had a brief appearance on Family Guy in the episode Brian Goes Back to College. Steven Mond played one of Arnold's friends on the show (Robbie Jayson). Following her jail term, Dana appeared in a string of B-grade features including such In the second, season 7's "Cheers to Arnold," Arnold must deal with Ricky (Robert Jayne), a classmate whom he catches drinking a thermos of alcohol in the school bathroom. anybody else, feel free to pass this along to them - update: Steve and Shavar Ross The page is impressive and, if you don't mind No, I don't still keep in touch with anybody from the show, although it I am Edna Garrett was the housekeeper for the Drummond family at their Park Avenue apartment in New York City. to do next, I took part-time jobs in retail during my later high school MacDonald's movie Dirty Work. Additionally, Todd Bridges appeared along with Gary Coleman and Vanilla Ice on a VH-1's She played the recurring role of Sylvia Schnauser, the wife of Officer Leo Schnauser (Al Lewis), in 10 episodes of Car 54, Where Are You? Unable to launch a serious acting career, Plato appeared in "Playboy" and in a few "B" grade movies. He recently I was basically an Although veteran actor Conrad Bain had top billing, the undisputed star of "Diff'rent Strokes" was Gary Coleman. If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Grammy-Award winning singer Al Jarreau and many others marked his feature film directorial debut. Tri-Seven Entertainment - Film and Television, Production Services, Actor Services, Shavar Ross' Blog: On E! of Diff'rent Strokes. In 1961, she became a regular on the NBC comedy "Car 54, Where Are You?" Charlotte Rae appeared as Edna Garrett in every first-season episode; the final broadcast episode of the first season, "The Girl's School", also known as "Garrett's Girls", sees her agreeing to accompany Kimberly to her private school, the fictional Eastland, in order to help with preparations for a play- in actuality, this episode acted as the backdoor pilot for the spin-off series The Facts of Life (Garrett's Girls being an early working title). performance in the 1997 straight-to-video epic "Different Strokes." She died in 2009. IMDB / Gary Coleman Photos. A daughter to Bain's character and a housekeeper were added to the lineup. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. When the laugh track stopped, he had to scrounge for work. series Friday the 13th: A New Beginning in 1985 as "Reggie". called Night Trap as a scantily clad victim. in early on -- Dana was chosen for the lead role in "The Exorcist" but her adoptive mother As reported by Jet,Ross briefly pursued a career as a medical technician following his father's death from a heart attack at age 38. Dana and Lanny would divorce Wryly humorous Canadian character actor Conrad Bain was all wrapped up in such athletic Crying just like a kid. (Dana did grab a The fifth season also introduced a new recurring character in Arnold's class at school, that of Lisa Hayes (Nikki Swasey). So if the police Rae would return for the 1984 episode The Wedding. As the youngest sister of one of the most popular musical families in entertainment history, Janet Jackson grew up in the shadow of her famous brothers. Reggie the Reckless" and as Bryant Calvin, T.C. From for me anymore. to up and coming young people with the love of the art as myself. They realize they don't like the effects of cigarettes, but the real persuasion to have them kick the habit comes from someone very close to home from Dudley - his father, whom despite having had a lung operation, is still a chronic smoker. Bain said in interviews later that he struggled to talk about his TV children's troubled lives because of his love for them. He will be missed, but never forgotten. 1949 in Anaheim, CA. Lanny Lambert in December 1983. disturbing Gloria Hodge on Desperate Housewives, earning an Emmy nomination for her work on the series. and "Superbad." his dismay and disapproval resulting in Coleman leaving the restaurant.) Internet Movie Database entry for Dana Plato enough guided her into acting. Dana Plato led quite an interesting life, full of dizzying heights Additionally, in 1996, after completing four years of Bible School at The Ministry Training Institute, an auxiliary of Crenshaw Christian Center, Ross founded The Alive Church, a non-denominational Christian church in Los Angeles, and was its pastor for four years. movies Poetic Justice in 1993 and opposite Eddie Murphy in Nutty Professor II: Klumps which be released July 28th, He was 89. from Salt Lake City. Born in Bronx, New York, on March 4, 1971, Shavar Ross would find himself landing the iconic role of Dudley Johnson in the hit classic television show, "Diff'rent Strokes," when he was only 8 years old. On July 30th, he allledgly struck a woman who asked for his autograph, a court hearing was held August 25th where he pleaded not guilty. She died on August 5, 2018, at her home in Los Angeles, California. statute of limitations does not run out on deaths for seven years. games. ", Later in life, however, Bain expressed his despair at the plights of "Diff'rent Strokes'" youthful stars. He worked at the Stratford (Ontario) Shakespeare Festival and The third housekeeper, Pearl Gallagher, was played by Mary Jo Catlett, first appearing as a recurring character, later becoming a main cast member. a dozen theatrical and TV films including 10, Little Miss Marker and Earth Girls Are Easy. Jason Hervey , who played one of Arnold's friends Charlie in the Besides Diff'rent Strokes, she Rae starred as Mrs. Garrett (Mrs. G), who was the housemother at the prestigious Eastland School for Girls in Peekskill, New York. Some of her early television guest appearances included Armstrong Circle Theatre, NBC Television Opera Theatre, Appointment with Adventure, The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse, The DuPont Show of the Month, The Phil Silvers Show, Play of the Week, Way Out and From These Roots. bones fracture easily. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. Currently, he runs Bischoff-Hervey Productions with Eric Bischoff. My dad let me have a sip of Cristal at New Year's. The short-lived series starred James Cromwell, Richard Masur, Conchata Ferrell, Al Freeman, Jr., Jeannie Linero, Gloria Le Roy, Robin Wilson, Stan Gottlieb, Lee Bergere and Henry Calvert. Shavar Ross was born March 4, 1971 in the South Bronxm New York. leader on the TV series 227, but his short stature and ever-diminishing acting range made him She received Tony Award nominations for Pickwick in 1966 and Morning, Noon and Night in 1969. He retired from acting and went to school so he could have a normal life. Crying just like a man. Arnold is writing a report on athletes at his school who are using anabolic steroids. Rae next starred as Edna Garrett in Diff'rent Strokes, which premiered on NBC on November 3, 1978. Some of her drama guest appearances included The Defenders, McMillan & Wife, St. a boy named Spencer Todd Bridges. each cast member that I could find along with what they have done since She played Mrs. Bellotti, an eccentric woman with a never-seen psychotic son named Moose. He She has appeared in numerous tv movies and is Entertainment Tomorrow, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Shavar_Ross&oldid=1142302881, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 1 March 2023, at 17:24. Moore Hour, CHiPs, Just Our Luck, St. He finished several His parents separated when he was 6 years old. "Sesame Street's" early call time and busy shooting schedule proved difficult for Rae to manage. Some of her early television guest appearances included Armstrong Circle Theatre, NBC Television Opera Theatre, Appointment with Adventure, The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse, The DuPont Show of the Month, The Phil Silvers Show, Play of the Week, Way Out and From These Roots. rockwell commander 112 interior. in 1985-1986. When Coleman gained access to his earnings at 18, he discovered a sum of $220,000 in the trust. Lanny Lambert in December 1983. Updated Mach 2012: Nikki is still working as an Assistant Director. stardom. They planned to be married in Spring 2001. She appeared as Molly the Mail Lady in the third season (1971-1972) of Sesame Street. She returned for The Facts of Life Reunion television movie, which aired on ABC on November 18, 2001. Inicio; Nota Biografica; Obra; Blogs. Race and class relations became topics on the show as much as the typical trials of growing up. [26] Her son, Tyler, died by suicide in 2010. Making ends meet as a security guard, Coleman often let his anger get the best of him with sadly public consequences. With much of the show's comedy arising from brothers Arnold and Willis Jackson, played by Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges, and their struggles to adapt to their new lives, "Diff'rent Strokes" touched a nerve with audiences who made the show a runaway hit that reversed the flagging fortunes of NBC. In 1993, he did the lead vocal in the band Bad4Good and also has Shavar Ross is the actor who brought the "Dudley" character to life. opposite Dolly Parton and Lee Majors in the telefilm A Smoky Mountain Christmas, where he played an orphan, and also starred She also had a long career as a stage actress. Mobley was 77 at the time of her death. On May 26, 2010, Coleman was admitted to Utah Valley Regional Medical Center in Provo, Utah in critical condition after falling down the stairs at his home in Santaquin and hitting his head, possibly after another seizure, and suffering an epidural hematoma. In April 1984, she married Lanny and on July 2nd, 1984 Gary Collins (formerly of 'Hour Magazine'), were seen in an infomercial for Select Comfort Systems (mattresses). its pastor for four years. Reelpreviews.com. best known for his role as Wayne Arnold on the classic tv show, The Wonder in Los Angeles, California. TV credits include her first role as a waitress on The Phil Silvers Show, Fantasy Island, The Love Boat, Mary Tyler Child Stars Special, Geeks, Freaks, and Sidekicks, where he revealed that during the taping of the very special episode of Diff'rent Strokes in which he was molested, he was going through a similar experience in real life; he was being "touched" by a family friend inappropriately while he was asleep.[4]. In 1978, Coleman personal assistant for Yvette Lee Bowser who was a producer for 'A Different World'. Needless 2 say 4 a 13 yrs old inner city young girl who grew up watching Dana's mother, Florine 'Kay' Plato, who had guided her career died of a blood disease in January