By Burnett Munthali
Gary Coleman, a beloved child star from the iconic TV show Diff’rent Strokes, endured a heartbreaking financial and personal saga throughout his life. At the height of his career in the early 1980s, Coleman earned approximately $70,000 per episode, accumulating around $18 million in total earnings from his acting roles. However, this financial success was overshadowed by a scandal involving his adoptive parents, Willie and Sue Coleman.
The Colemans had established a trust fund for Gary’s earnings, but they meticulously structured it to benefit themselves. They were listed as paid employees of Coleman’s production company, allowing them to siphon off a significant portion of his salary. By the time the trust fund was dissolved in 1986, when Coleman turned 18, his parents had accumulated $770,000 from the fund, leaving Coleman with only $220,000 of his earnings.
In response to this financial exploitation, Coleman filed a lawsuit in 1989 against his adoptive parents and managers for misappropriation of funds. He sought $3.8 million in damages and eventually secured a settlement of $1.28 million. Despite this legal victory, the personal cost was steep. Coleman’s relationship with his adoptive parents and former managers became irreparably strained, leading to estrangement.
In the final years of his life, Coleman faced considerable financial hardship, working as a security guard. His life came to a tragic end on May 28, 2010, when he died from an epidural hematoma, a complication resulting from a fall at his Utah home on May 26. His ex-wife, Shannon Price, who was present during the fall, made the 911 call and ultimately decided to remove Coleman from life support.
Gary Coleman and fellow actor Dixie Carter, who passed away from endometrial cancer on April 10, 2010, were both lost within a short span of just over a month. Coleman’s death at age 42 marked the end of a life marred by financial mismanagement and personal strife, overshadowing the promising career that had once brought him fame and fortune.
