Gary Coleman and untreated depression in the black community

Though the pint-sized Coleman was a giant talent, with incredible success in his early years, his life post-"Diff'rent Strokes" was anything but...

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From Black Voices:

The sad and fascinating saga of the late Gary Coleman continues unabated. Best known for his role as the lovable, smart mouthed “Arnold” on the television show “Diff’rent Strokes,” Coleman passed away last month of an intracranial brain hemorrhage, after an alleged fall in his home. He was taken off of life-support by his ex-wife, Shannon Price, and died instantly.

Though the pint-sized Coleman was a giant talent, with incredible success in his early years, his life post-”Diff’rent Strokes” was anything but. He suffered from numerous health problems, including seizures and kidney failure. Eventually he underwent a kidney transplant.

But this was just the tip of the iceberg, because his emotional conflicts dominated his adult life. After the cancellation of “Different Strokes” in 1986, Coleman was eternally viewed by the public as the 10-year-old “Arnold,” even though he was nearly 18 years old.

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