Gary Coleman Biography

Fast Facts

• Suffered from focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, an autoimmune kidney disease, which stunted his growth as a small child
• Made his screen acting debut in the TV series "Medical Center" in 1974
• Quote: "I want to escape that legacy of Arnold Jackson․ I'm someone more․ It would be nice if the world thought of me as something more․"
• Following the conclusion of "Diff'rent Strokes," he often voiced his displeasure about working as a child actor and would eventually sue his parents and advisers for mishandling his affairs as a minor
• Ongoing medical expenses often stymied his financial situation and he filed for bankruptcy in 1999
• Best known for his role as Arnold Jackson in "Diff'rent Strokes" and as Nick Newell in "The Kid with the 200 I․Q․"
• Wrote the 1985 "Diff'rent Strokes" episode "Street Smarts․"
• An avid model train collector, he was often a supporter of Amtrak after years of enjoying train rides as a young child traveling cross-country for acting jobs
• Satirically placed on the 2003 recall ballot of the governor's race in California and would eventually receive more than 14,000 votes
• Played the iconic role of Arnold Jackson on five different television series, including "Diff'rent Strokes," "Hello, Larry," "The Facts of Life," "Amazing Stories," and "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air․"