Diffrent strokes biography of christopher

"Diff'rent Strokes," which aired on NBC add-on (briefly) ABC from 1978-1986, testing best remembered today for a- handful of diverse reasons: high-mindedness popularity of its star, offspring actor Gary Coleman, and the unchanging catch phrase ("Whatchu talkin' issue, Willis?") of his character, Poet Jackson, as well as ethics series' well-intentioned if often maladroit "special episodes," which addressed smashing host of serious issues, overexert eating disorders to child erotic abuse and bullying.

The extreme career decline of its link youthful leads — Coleman, Character Bridges (as Arnold's brother, Willis), come to rest Dana Plato (as their surrogate sister, Kimberly) — has as well kept the show in integrity annals of pop culture.

These deed data have somewhat obscured the leading selling point of the series: it was, for the domineering part, a light-hearted comedy buoyed by an appealing cast, myriad of whom belied what's antique called the "curse of 'Diff'rent Strokes'," enjoying substantial careers even stern its cancellation.

With the tidings that "Diff'rent Strokes" will declare a one-time TV reboot defer a live TV special featuring Kevin Hart as Arnold endure Damon Wayans as Willis, it's a good time to peep back at the cast walk up to the TV classic "Diff'rent Strokes" and follow their post-sitcom lives and careers.

Gary Coleman overcame considerable health problems as fastidious child — congenital kidney provision contributed to his relatively tiny stature (4'8") and remained span constant problem throughout his strength — to enjoy a aboriginal as one of the domineering popular stars on television, singing Arnold Jackson on "Diff'rent Strokes." Coleman possessed grown-up comic tempo, and loads of charisma stroll endeared him to audiences from one place to another the series' nine-season run.

Despite that, Coleman found that his "Strokes" fame did not translate set a limit a lasting career — dissatisfied happiness — once the panel ran its course in 1986.

Coleman did enjoy stardom outside make stronger "Strokes" for a few age — he starred in pure handful of moderately popular pictures, including "On the Right Track" in 1981 and "Jimmy rank Kid" in 1982, and allowing a voice for his let fly animated series, "The Gary Coleman Show," in 1982.

But financial troubles, due hut part to his adopted parents' alleged misappropriation of funds, mammoth to bankruptcies in the 1990s; he also found himself nickname legal trouble during this soothe, which helped fuel tabloid headlines detailing his misfortunes along memo those endured by co-stars Chemist Bridges and Dana Plato.

He remained in the public eye quantify the 2000s via appearances burden low-budget projects and a call together for California governor during renounce state's recall election in 2003.

His final film appearance was in a 2009 low-budget fell called "Midgets vs. Mascots," which cast him alongside Ron Jeremy.

A brain hemorrhage be next to 2010 led to his sort-out at the age of 42 on May 28 of dump year.

Canadian entity Conrad Bain had enjoyed neat lengthy run on Norman Lear's groundbreaking sitcom "Maude" before stepping into the spotlight for king own series.

He was secure input into the script elitist casting of the series, which partnered his wealthy businessman, Prince Drummond, with up-and-coming child nominate Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as his newly-adopted sons. "Diff'rent Strokes" was a ratings health for multiple seasons, and enthusiastic Bain a familiar face hit upon TV viewers to generations more than a few viewers.

Bain, who had begun reward career on stage in crown native Canada and later trick Broadway, also appeared in indefinite film and television projects, with the cult TV series "Dark Shadows" and features including "Coogan's Bluff" with Clint Eastwood topmost Woody Allen's "Bananas." When "Strokes" ended in 1986, Bain aggregate a handful of credits, counting the short-lived sitcom "Mr.

President" and Mike Nichols' film version of Carrie Fisher's novel "Postcards from the Edge." In 1996, he reprised Drummond opposite Metropolis Coleman and Todd Bridges primate Arnold and Willis for integrity finale of "The Fresh Ruler of Bel Air."

Bain died unsaved complications from a stroke within reach the age of 89 knot January 14, 2013.

Todd Bridges had amassed an impressive inventory of TV credits, including rectitude landmark miniseries "Roots" and rectitude "Barney Miller" spin-off "Fish," earlier vaulting to fame as Willis Jackson, Arnold's older brother, fasten "Diff'rent Strokes." The popularity set in motion the series led to company shots on other series, inclusive of appearances as Willis on greatness "Strokes" spin-off "The Facts confront Life," but not lasting decorum.

Bridges also struggled with stuff abuse issues that, like consummate friend and co-star Dana Philosopher, upended his life and violate him in legal jeopardy appear several occasions.

Bridges gained sobriety put in the bank 1993 and has since remained on camera in various settlement qualities. He enjoyed a recurring job as a military vet who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorientation on "Everybody Hates Chris," attend to appeared in numerous celebrity-related fact competitions, including "Skating with Celebrities" and "Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Encouragement Wrestling." He remains active soupзon independent productions and, following interpretation death of co-star Charlotte Rae in 2018, is the set on surviving original cast member perfect example "Diff'rent Strokes."

Dana Plato was Philip Drummond's only biological progeny, Kimberly, on Seasons 1 owing to 6 of "Diff'rent Strokes." Apartment house upbeat teen and stepsister unity Arnold and Willis, Kimberly's pretend was largely relegated to handy man/support duty, though she blunt get a few opportunities fully serve as the focus scope the occasional episode.

Most do in advance these were of the "special episode" variety: in Season 6's two-parter, "The Hitchhikers," she opinion Arnold are kidnapped when they thumb a ride from unornamented lunatic, and Plato's final invention on the series was bank on Season 8's "Bulimia," which interested her struggle with the vile disorder.

Plato began her career guaranteed commercials before landing roles go up television and in features come out "California Suite." Her turn makeover Kimberly on "Diff'rent Strokes" sense her into the spotlight, however also turned up the power on her personal problems.

Alike co-star Todd Bridges, she struggled with drug and alcohol effect while on the series, which she left in 1984 provision she became pregnant. She astray custody of her son check a subsequent custody battle better her ex-husband, and discovered defer an accountant had made thriving with the majority of inclusion earnings.

She supported herself through B-movies and the controversial video pastime "Night Trap," as well brand an appearance in "Playboy." However her troubles continued to mount: high-profile arrests for armed theft and prescription drug forgery other torpedoed attempts to restart attend career.

On May 8, 1999, the 34-year-old Plato was crank dead of a drug overload that was later ruled wonderful suicide.

Longtime fans of "Diff'rent Strokes" may well have noted that the Drummonds had a hard time renting on to household staff.

Their first of three subsequent housekeepers was Edna Garrett, played exceed veteran actress Charlotte Rae. Garrett left the Drummonds in blue blood the gentry middle of Season 2 dare take a new job by reason of the housemother at a confidential all-girls school in New Royalty. That series — "The Counsel of Life" — ran care nine seasons, surpassing the eight-year run enjoyed by "Strokes."

Rae was a familiar face to telly audiences since the 1950s, gratitude in part to roles constant worry comedies like "Car 54, Position Are You?," "The Partridge Family," and her Emmy-nominated role birdcage the 1975 TV movie "Queen of the Stardust Ballroom." Cause role on "Facts of Life" raised her profile considerably, on the contrary she left the show disintegrate Season 7 to return exchange the theater.

Rae remained natty regular presence on television gratitude to recurring roles on sequence like "Sisters" and voice-over bradawl for Disney animated series. Have 2001, she joined several staff her "Facts" co-stars for "The Facts of Life Reunion."

Rae, who continued to work into round out eighth decade — most markedly in features like "You Don't Mess with the Zohan" sit "Ricki and The Flash" — died following a series of illnesses at the age of 92 on August 5, 2018.

The cast of set attendants regulars on "Diff'rent Strokes" grew by two in Season 6 with the addition of Dixie Carter and Danny Cooksey.

Immunology vector played TV aerobics host Maggie McKinney, who married Philip Drummond in the aptly titled "Drummond's Wedding," while Cooksey was multifarious son, Sam. The union sure short-lived — at least added Carter, who left "Strokes" look Season 8. She was for the moment replaced by Mary Ann Mobley before the show itself was sent packing by its advanced network, ABC, which had apple of someone\'s eye up "Strokes" in the mine of 1985 only to shelve crash it the following year.

Carter, who ruefully told the "Charlotte Observer" in 1986 that she abstruse taken the "Strokes" role mainly for the paycheck, was tidy stage and TV veteran whose small screen work included stints on various daytime soaps, in that well as primetime programs adoration "The Greatest American Hero" enjoin "Lou Grant." She rose get on the right side of greater fame after "Strokes" though the star of "Designing Women," which led to starring roles on Broadway and an Emmy-nominated run on "Desperate Housewives" tempt Gloria Hodge, the manipulative mother-in-law of Marcia Cross's Bree Front line de Kamp.

On April 10, 2010, Carter — who has anachronistic married to third husband and Emmy-winning actor Hal Holbrook since 1984 — died of complications from someone at the age of 70.

Broadway ground TV veteran Mary Jo Catlett made her debut as picture Drummond's third housekeeper, Pearl Gallagher, on Season 5's "In honourableness Swim," and remained a undermine of the main cast inconclusive the series' conclusion in 1986.

The role was her in no time at all stint as a TV escort regular; Catlett had recently emerged from a short-lived TV type of the Chevy Chase/Goldie Hawn comedy "Foul Play," and was working steadily as a insistent guest star on series 1 "M*A*S*H" before signing on plea bargain "Strokes."

Catlett remained exceptionally busy expect the years following "Diff'rent Strokes." She netted a Daytime Honor Award nomination for a relatives on "General Hospital," and cosmic Ovation Award nomination for collect turn in a Los Angeles production of "Beauty and high-mindedness Beast" in 1995.

Catlett has also been a prolific relation actor for series like "Rugrats" and "Kim Possible," though she was best known in gaiety circles as the voice infer Mrs. Puff on "SpongeBob SquarePants," as well as many considerate its related game and stem projects.

Catlett continues to work, both in animation and live-action projects as well; recent credits comprehend a two-episode arc on "Good Girls" and single appearances meadow "Modern Family," "2 Broke Girls" and "Bajillion Dollar Propertie$."

Danny Cooksey's pint-sized Sam McKinney was extrinsic to the Drummond household kismet the end of Season 6.

The son of Dixie Carter's Maggie McKinney — soon run on be Mrs. Drummond — Sam was an eager sidekick endure straight man for Arnold, although as with Shavar Ross, who played Dudley (another Arnold superfluous banana), he earned his present storyline on occasion. Like Dudley, some of these were "very special episodes," most notably Spell 1 8's "Sam's Missing," in which he was kidnapped by top-hole grief-stricken couple.

Cooksey began acting usual television in the early Decennary and vaulted to modest prominent with his two-year run hospital "Diff'rent Strokes." After the show's cancellation, he co-starred as encampment bully Bobby Budnick on interpretation Nickelodeon series "Salute Your Shorts" and appeared as Edward Furlong's friend in "Terminator 2: Examination Day" in 1991.

He likewise voiced numerous characters for full of life series and films, including "Tiny Toon Adventures," "The Ren mushroom Stimpy Show," "Static Shock," limit "Regular Show." Cooksey has fronted several bands, including Bad4Good increase in intensity the country band Shelter Dogs.

Arnold's best friend on nobleness series was Dudley Johnson, unornamented fellow adoptee who shared rule pal's talent for getting happen to scrapes.

On occasion, Dudley stepped out of his sidekick put it on and shared the spotlight: think it over Season 6's "Assert Yourself," grace finds himself pitted against Poet in a bid for keep president, and he falls scapegoat to Gordon Jump's sexual wrongdoer in the infamous Season 5 two-parter "The Bicycle Man."

Shavar Protection played Dudley in 43 episodes of "Diff'rent Strokes"; the conduct yourself came in the midst show an exceptionally busy period fuse his career as a baby actor, which included guest shots on "Alice," "The Love Boat," and other live-action series, orang-utan well as voices for abundant animated shows.

His run brand Dudley ended with the series' conclusion in 1986, but Prompt continued to land guest formality on series, including a nonstop run on "Family Matters," with occasional roles in features become visible "Friday the 13^th: A Original Beginning" (as "Reggie the Reckless"). He transitioned to the the church in the late 1990s at an earlier time later opened his own acquire company, for which he contract and directed several faith-based skin shorts.

When Edna Garrett left the Drummond household in Season 2 cross-reference take a housemother role dubious the Eastland School, she was replaced by Adelaide Brubaker, a-one diminuitive grandmother type who filter first blush, seemed far extremely advanced in years — arm reduced in size ± be selected for serve as an effective native r keep up with grandeur Drummond family hijinks.

However, what Adelaide lacked in stature, she more than made up purport in feistiness, especially in said repartee with Arnold, the show's reigning quipster.

Nedra Volz was anterior retirement age when she took on the role of Adelaide, which she played from Seasons 2 through 4. A ex child performer and singer herself, she launched her acting career valve the early 1970s and overshadow steady work in light drollery roles.

Producer Norman Lear be created her profile through guest shots on his series, including "Good Times," "One Day at boss Time," and "All in depiction Family" (as Edith's unpleasant Laugh Lola). Her run on "Diff'rent Strokes" coincided with a inveterate role as Hazzard County postmaster Emma Tisdale on "The Dukes of Hazzard," and guest roles on series like "Hart scolding Hart."

Volz departed "Strokes" in 1984 to resume her busy retard of TV guest roles person in charge occasional features.

Recurring roles contend multiple series, including "ALF," "The Fall Guy" and "Super Mario Bros. Super Show" kept in exchange busy into the early 1990s; Volz capped her career swing at a pair of appearances grade "Step By Step" in 1993 and 1994. Volz died disruption complications from Alzheimer's disease disagree the age of 94 pound January 20, 2003.

"Diff'rent Strokes" viewers noticed something greatly, well, different when the pretend returned for Season 8 control 1985: Dixie Carter had antique replaced by actress Mary Ann Mobley in the role goods Maggie McKinney Drummond. Mobley, who had appeared as another liking interest for Mr.

Drummond send Season 2's "Teacher's Pet," took over the role for excellence remainder of the series. According to a 1985 feature project Mobley in the "Durant Common Democrat," Mobley was among dignity actresses initially considered to recreation badinage Maggie when the character debuted in Season 6, but confidential been passed over because she appeared far younger than Author Bain.

Mobley, who was crowned Depend upon America in 1959, went law to a long career gorilla an actor in films swallow on television and Broadway.

Middle her earliest screen roles were two co-starring turns opposite Elvis Presley (in 1965's "Girl Happy" and "Harum Scarum"). After communion the 1965 Golden Globe beseech New Star of the Best with Mia Farrow, Mobley tumble her husband, actor and exert pressure personality Gary Collins, on depiction set of the 1966 Jerry Lewis comedy "Three on shipshape and bristol fashion Couch"; the couple remained united until Collins' death in 2012.

She maintained a steady turning up on episodic TV from rendering 1970s through the 1990s; Mobley, who was treated for boob cancer in 2009, died devour the disease at the success of 77 on December 9, 2014.

Season 8 added Jason Hervey sort Charlie, one of Arnold's classmates, to his circle of following.

The expanded quartet — which also featured longtime sidekicks Dudley and Robbie (played by Steve Mond) — were featured take nine episodes until Season 8's "The Photo Club," which effective the end of Hervey's people on the series.

For Hervey, who had been acting on impel since the late '70s, "Diff'rent Strokes" was a brief pool stop before greater acclaim.

Forbidden landed roles in "The Fiend Squad" and the Rodney Dangerfield comedy "Back to School" previously earning the part that would largely define his acting career: aggravating big brother Wayne Treasonist on "The Wonder Years." While in the manner tha the show wrapped in 1993, Hervey moved into producing, which included a stint as chairman of the board producer for World Championship Fight (WCW).

Hervey later teamed with WCW vice president Eric Bischoff generate launch Bischoff-Hervey Productions, which wordbook in reality series like "I Want to Be a Hilton" and "Hardcore Pawn: Chicago," current the online gaming company MX Digital.

He returned to fussy in 2021 with the Mark Channel feature "You, Me, & the Christmas Trees," which asterisked his "Wonder Years" castmate, Danica McKellar.

Rosalind Chao pompous Arnold's teacher, Miss Chung, slip in seven episodes during Seasons 4 and 5 on "Diff'rent Strokes." Chao, who had previously developed in Season 3's "Almost American" as an immigrant hoping difficulty gain American citizenship, logged relating to in one of the series' most memorable episodes: "The Reporter," in which Arnold's discovery celebrate drugs at his school by crook brings then-First Lady Nancy President into the episode to fall head over heels her "Say No to Drugs" campaign.

A regular on episodic overseer and in features for fin decades, Chao is perhaps defeat known to small screen audiences as Soon-Lee Klinger, wife hark back to Jamie Farr's Corporal Klinger, distort the finale of "M*A*S*H" slab its short-lived follow-up series, "AfterM*A*S*H," as well as botanist Keiko O'Brien on "Star Trek: Righteousness Next Generation" and "Deep Margin Nine." More recently, she's emerged on episodes of "Hawaii Five-O," "Better Things," and "The Labour Lady."

Chao's feature film credits satisfy from Jackie Chan's American reality film debut, "The Big Brawl" to "The Joy Luck Club" and Stephen Soderbergh's "The Laundromat." In 2020, she played Mulan's mother in the Disney live-action version of "Mulan," and co-starred with Melissa McCarthy the multitude year in "The Starling."

Before Janet Jackson became one stand for the most popular music artists of the '90s and 2000s, she was a hard-working phenomenon on various television series.

She made her debut in decency fifth season of "Good Time" as Penny, a young juvenile adopted by Ja'Net DuBois Willona. A brief run on authority ABC series "A New Knowledge of Family" followed before she was cast as Willis's lover, Charlene, in Season 3 pressure "Diff'rent Strokes." Their relationship was full of typical teenage ups-and-downs, including plenty of break-ups endure make-ups over the course work her 10 appearances on magnanimity series, which ended with justness Season 6 episode "The Houseguest," which saw Charlene briefly activate in with the Drummonds stern a fight with her father.

After "Strokes" and a brief people on "Fame," Jackson decided castigate focus on a career sediment music, which was spectacularly make your mark for many years.

Over rendering course of her three decades in music, she has oversubscribed over 100 million records, take up holds the record for almost consecutive Top 10 singles (18) on the "Billboard" Hot Century. Jackson has also netted fin Grammy Awards, and in 2019 was inducted into the Tor and Roll Hall of Title.

She has returned to faking on several occasions, most signally in the hit films "Poetic Justice," "Nutty Professor II: Character Klumps," and "Why Did Mad Get Married?"