Gary Coleman
His cherubic face and catchphrase 'Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?' made him a 1980s TV phenomenon, overshadowing a complex and troubled life.
1968–2010 (age 42)·American actor·Birthday: February 8·Generation X
Biography
Gary Coleman's story is a quintessential, and cautionary, tale of American child stardom. Plucked from obscurity after a childhood battle with a kidney condition that stunted his growth, he became a national treasure at age ten as Arnold Jackson on 'Diff'rent Strokes.' His diminutive stature, impeccable comic timing, and signature line made him one of the most recognizable faces on the planet. The show tackled social issues with a sitcom sheen, but behind the scenes, Coleman's life was fraught. The enormous wealth he generated was mismanaged, leading to lifelong financial distress and a very public estrangement from his adoptive parents. His adult years were a difficult transition, marked by bit parts, legal battles, and occasional brushes with the law, as he struggled to escape the shadow of the precocious character he once played. Coleman's later life was defined by health problems related to his congenital condition. He passed away in 2010, leaving behind a legacy of immense childhood fame and a stark reminder of the industry's human cost.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Gary was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gary Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Gary's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2010Died at 42
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
Key Achievements
- Became a global star playing Arnold Jackson on the hit NBC/CBS sitcom 'Diff'rent Strokes' from 1978 to 1986.
- Nominated for a Young Artist Award for his role in the 1982 television film 'The Kid with the Broken Halo.'
- Appeared in numerous commercials and public service announcements, becoming one of the most marketed child stars of his era.
- His character's catchphrase, 'Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?', entered the popular lexicon of the 1980s.
Did You Know?
He was a spokesperson for the Ad Council's 'Keep America Beautiful' campaign in the early 1980s.
He ran for governor of California in the 2003 recall election, receiving approximately 0.2% of the vote.
He worked as a security guard at a shopping mall in the late 1990s.
He had two kidney transplants, one at age five and another in 1991.
“"I'm not Arnold. I'm Gary."”
